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What do back pain, stress and breast cancer have in common?
Recent research shows that massage therapy provides relief for
people suffering from each of these conditions and that it is an effective complement to
medical care.
Consumers have long suspected that massage helps promote a healthy
and balanced lifestyle. As more research demonstrates the effectiveness of massage therapy
for helping to treat common ailments like low back pain, more
consumers are seeking massage to improve their overall wellness and health.
Consumers aren’t the only people recognizing the benefits of
massage. Physicians and other healthcare providers are increasingly recommending massage
therapy to their patients as a supplement to traditional health care. According to one
national survey, 54 percent of primary care physicians and family practitioners would
encourage their patients to pursue massage therapy as a treatment. Consumers surveyed over
the last three years say that when they discuss therapeutic massage with their physicians,
more than 70% responded favorably.
Massage Therapy:
An Effective Treatment for Low Back Pain
A study conducted by Beth Israel-Deaconess Center for Alternative
Medicine Research and Education and the Center for Health Studies in Seattle concluded
that therapeutic massage was an effective treatment for providing long-lasting benefits
for patients suffering from chronic low back pain. In fact, researchers hypothesize that
massage might be an effective alternative to conventional medical care for persistent low
back pain. Researchers hope to continue their research to determine which components of
the massage therapy experience contribute to its effectiveness.
Helping Breast Cancer Survivors Cope Emotionally and Physically
Research shows therapeutic massage is an effective complement to
traditional medical care for women suffering from the trauma of undergoing a lumpectomy,
mastectomy or breast reconstruction. Pre-surgery, massage relaxes muscle tissue and
increases the flow of lymph. Post surgery, women who use specialized lymph drainage
techniques from a well-trained massage therapist as part of their treatment for lymphedema
may experience less pain and swelling, as massage helps disperse build-up of lymphatic
fluid.
Although the physiological benefits are important, many women
who’ve undergone breast cancer treatment report that the emotional benefits of
massage are paramount. Women report that massage helps them reconnect with their bodies
after this invasive surgery.
Easing Pain After Bypass Surgery
According to a pilot study conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles, massage therapy reduces pain and muscle spasms in patients who have
undergone heart bypass surgery when patients are treated at the hospital after their
surgery. Because of its effectiveness, 60 percent of the massage group expressed a
willingness to pay for massage therapy out-of-pocket.
Boosting Immune Function
During periods of stress, the effectiveness of the body’s
immune system is reduced. Research indicates that massage can increase the immune
system’s cytotoxic capacity (the activity level of the body’s natural
"killer cells") and decrease the number of T-cells, which improves the
body’s immune functioning overall.
Finding a Massage Therapist
To get the answers to questions you may have about your health, check
with your doctor, then contact a Professional member of AMTA by using AMTA’s
free Find A Massage Therapist national locator service by phone at
888-THE-AMTA (1-888-843-2682) or through
AMTA’s Web site.
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American Massage Therapy Association®
