Arthritis Pain Management Through Massage Therapy

Age, infection and joint trauma all contribute to arthritic pain. Most common in people over fifty-five, it is a leading basis of disability. The most commonly contracted form of joint pain is osteoarthritis. This disease mostly associated with chronic joint pain is debilitating, sometimes making even simple tasks impossibly painful. Message therapy as cure for arthritis has yet to be determined but its short-term effectiveness in liberation from discomfort has been shown to be valuable.

Massage therapy, when administered by a trained professional, can stimulate blood flow, improve joint movement and bring nutrients, that would otherwise never reach them to, underlying tissues. Arthritis can be chronic and painful. One major benefit of massage is that the relief that comes with the therapy can eliminate the need for anti-inflammatory drugs. A convenient way to obtain pain relief associated with arthritis and joint pain is through chair massage.

Although the long-term benefits have yet to be established concretely, the short-term benefits of massage on arthritic pain are undisputed as an effective form of therapy and pain relief. The way in which massage helps people suffering from arthritis to manage their pain is in its ability to get the body moving again. Muscle stimulation reduces inflammation, calms sore muscles, and can help with painful swelling. It is also known to improve the range of joint motion, which can encourage patients to become more active.

Besides general osteoarthritis, arthritis in the hands particularly, has become a trend in America. The Touch Research Institute (TRI) studied the effectiveness of massage on a group of 22 adults with hand and wrist pain. They found that subjects who received massage therapy had increased grip strength, lowered stress and less pain found in the hands and wrists in general. This study proves that increased blood flow and muscle stimulation around effected joints can alleviate arthritic pain.

Some different techniques that are utilized by massage therapists to relieve arthritic pain are: Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, shiatsu and reflexology. However when you cannot get to a masseur, self massage works to relieve pain as well. Especially for hand and wrist pain, a side effect of massaging yourself is increased hand and wrist movement. Kneading your palm with thumb and fingers can help to relieve muscle cramps. Blood flow increases to the fingers making joints less stiff. Another self-help massage technique is stroking. Firmly pressing your hand down the length of a muscle, in your leg for example will also help to relieve tension.

Massage therapy has been found to help people suffering from arthritis manage their pain. The benefits of this type of pain management are that, although it is not a ‘cure’, it can help people return to a more active lifestyle. This contribution to people suffering form arthritis, helping them live their lives fully, should not be underestimated. Although massage therapy is not curing arthritis it does make living with it a much less painful.

Brandon Thomas is a nationally certified massage therapist and founder
of JoyLife Therapeutics. JoyLife Therapeutics provides chair massage,
corporate massage, office massage, special event and trade show massage
throught the US.