Benefits of Massage Therapy for Cancer-Related Distress
What does research reveal about the benefits of massage therapy for cancer-related distress? Cancer-related distress affects almost every person diagnosed with cancer at some level, and anxiety and depression are the most prevalent mental health challenges that accompany distress. Research supports that massage therapy helps in the reduction of anxiety and depression, with a course […]
Massage Therapy for Chronic Pain Beyond the Physical
What does research show about massage therapy for chronic pain beyond the physical? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 51.6 million U.S. adults live with chronic pain. Chronic pain is persistent discomfort lasting beyond 3 to 6 months, which includes: headaches, migraines, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and many other common conditions. […]
Massage Therapy for Hip Replacement Surgery Recovery
Does massage therapy provide benefits for patients recovering from hip replacement surgery? Approximately 544,000 hip replacements are performed annually in the U.S., and this number is expected to continue growing as the population ages. Some of the most common post-surgery complaints and complications include: Misalignment in muscles and joints can produce prolonged pain, and Scar tissue […]
Benefits of Massage Therapy for Abdominal Recovery Surgery
Does massage therapy provide benefits for patients recovering from abdominal surgery? 4 million abdominal operations are performed in the United States each year. Muscle inhibition and adhesions can become tighter even years after surgery and back pain often results because patients compensate for abdominal muscle inhibition and scarring. Studies indicate that massage helped patients with […]
Massage Therapy Benefits for Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
Does research support the benefits of massage therapy for post-surgery rehabilitation? More than 40 million surgeries are performed in the United States every year, and research shows persistent or chronic post-surgical pain lasting two to three months is responsible for nearly 1 in 4 cases of chronic pain. Studies support that massage therapy offers benefits […]
Research on Massage for Premature Infant Weight Gain
Does massage therapy benefit premature infants for weight gain? Many premature babies also have trouble with feeding and coordinating their sucking and swallowing. This can mean a longer process to achieve weight gain. There is research evidence that premature infants who are massaged may have improved weight gain. Studies involving 1,250 infants evaluated the effect […]
Does Research Support Massage for Headaches?
Does research support the efficacy of massage therapy for headaches? A small number of studies have looked at massage for headaches, and the results include: A 2011 systematic review of two studies concluded that massage therapy might be equally effective as propranolol and topiramate in the prophylactic management of migraine. A 2016 randomized controlled trial […]
Research on Massage for Low-Back Pain
What does research find about the efficacy of massage therapy for low-back pain? A 2015 Cochrane review found evidence that massage may provide short-term relief from low-back pain, but the long-term effects of massage for low-back pain have not been established. Clinical practice guidelines to External Link Policy issued by the American College of Physicians in […]
Massage Therapy As Supportive Care for Cancer Patients
Can massage therapy be an effective support of care for cancer patients? Massage therapy can be part of supportive care for cancer patients with appropriate precautions. A 2014 clinical practice guideline for the care of breast cancer patients includes massage as one of several approaches that may be helpful for stress reduction, anxiety, depression, fatigue, […]
Research on Massage Therapy for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Does massage therapy provide benefits for neck or shoulder pain? Research shows: 4 randomized controlled trials found that massage therapy may provide short-term benefits from neck pain. 2 studies of massage for neck pain (757 total participants) found that massage therapy was more helpful for both neck and shoulder pain than inactive therapies. A randomized […]