MASSAGE THERAPY: Uncover the many benefits you’ll receive from a quality massage

Massage therapy has a longer history world-wide than you might think.  In fact, the numerous health benefits of massage have been known throughout history.  As such, it’s been part of a traditional holistic system of healing for thousands of years.  That makes it one of the earliest methods used to relieve pain.

These days, you have a variety of massage-therapy options available for many health-related issues.  But of course, you don’t need to have health problems to benefit from it.  A good massage will revive your senses and provide true relaxation.  Also, it physically prevents many of those health concerns before they set in – it enhances your wellness.

All around the world, massage therapy is considered a complementary and alternative medical practice.  Therefore, a good massage therapist will work all of your body’s soft tissues.  Those include your muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and your skin itself.  Now, continue reading to uncover the many health benefits you will receive from a quality massage.

Many formal massage-therapy techniques are used based on the physical issues they resolve. The most common massage-therapy technique is called Swedish or Classical massage, which is the core of most massage training programs.  Other types of massage include:

• Sports massage to relieve sports-related injuries
• Clinical massage to relieve muscle spasms
• Eastern massage techniques that work with the flow of energy through your body

Eastern massage is simply a collection of massage techniques from various Asian countries.  They tend to be grouped together, but are all quite unique – they vary greatly.  Examples of Eastern massage include Shiatsu (Japanese), Amma and Tuina (Chinese), Marma/Varma Adi (India), Nuad Bo Rarn (Thailand), and Lomi Lomi (Hawaii/Pacific Island).  Due to their differences, it would not be accurate to place them under one “Asian” umbrella.  Be sure and subscribe below to stay informed about new articles that cover each type of massage in detail.

For pain, massage therapy has you covered.  Regardless of the type of massage you choose, you’ll receive wonderful pain relief throughout your body.  Each type of massage targets your soft tissues differently.  But the benefits cover many types of pain that are just waiting for the right touch for relief.  Some examples of pain you may be experiencing include lower-back pain, neck and shoulder pain, pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, and headaches.  Below, see what the science says for each type of pain:

A number of studies of massage for headache relief looked at different types of massage for different types of headaches.  A 2016 study using over 60 participants with migraine headaches evaluated both lymphatic drainage and traditional massage.  Performed once per week, the treatments spanned eight weeks.  The frequency of migraines had decreased in both groups.

In a 2015 study, over 50 people with tension headaches received one of two treatments.  They either received massages at myofascial trigger points or an inactive treatment called a detuned ultrasound.  These treatments were performed twice per week for six weeks.  Both those who received massage therapy and those who received the inactive treatment had a decrease in the frequency of headaches.  There were no differences between the two groups except for the obvious – those who received massages left each session more relaxed.  See the NCCIH’s sheet on headaches to learn more.

A 2013 review of 12 studies using over 700 participants found that massage therapy was helpful for both neck and shoulder pain.  Then, a 2016 review of four studies conducted in the United States using over 500 participants was performed.  It found that massage therapy provides effective neck-pain relief if massage sessions are long enough and frequent enough.  This is indeed great news for your upper body!

Back in 2016, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality evaluated nondrug therapies for low-back pain.  They examined 20 studies that compared massage therapy to other interventions and found evidence that massage was helpful for chronic low-back pain.  The agency also reviewed six studies that compared different types of massage.  Although, it found insufficient evidence whether specific types of massage were more effective than others.  That means, it’s a great idea to try each of them to find the best one for you.

25 studies reviewed back in 2015 using 3,096 participants revealed something amazing.  Both acute and chronic lower-back pain improvements occurred after massage therapy.  After that, clinical-practice guidelines were issued by the American College of Physicians back in 2017.  Those included massage therapy as a beneficial option for treating acute and sub-acute lower-back pain.

Although there has only been a small amount of research about massage therapy to relieve pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, it suggests there are confirmed benefits in relieving this type of knee pain.  Of six studies evaluating massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee using over 400 participants, five revealed that it provided confirmed pain relief.  Two of the studies showed pain relief involved the use of essential oils with aromatherapy massage.  Check out NCCIH’s sheet on osteoarthritis for more information.

The most important factor to consider when finding a massage therapist is their skill level and experience.  As such, check their credentials and read their reviews.  Then, start small.  Schedule a basic massage to experience their work and their personality for yourself.  If they have what it takes, and you enjoy their work, have a discussion with your new massage therapist about your best options.

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