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Medical
Benefits of Massage Therapy
A recent survey by the
American Hospital Association shows that nearly 82% of hospitals that use
some form of complementary or alternative care use massage therapy, with
70% of those hospitals using massage for pain management and pain relief.
A consumer survey
commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association reveals that more
people than ever are seeking massage to manage and relieve pain. The
survey shows that nearly half, 47%, of those polled have had a massage
specifically for pain relief. A 2003 survey of 1,998 massage clients
showed that 63% believed massage therapy provided them greater pain relief
than chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy or other bodywork.
Although massage therapy
may not be the cure to all that ails you, it can help alleviate a variety
of maladies from stress to pain. Some physicians are prescribing
therapeutic massage for a wide range of medical conditions, including
allergies, arthritis, headache, myofascial pain, sinusitis and sports
injuries.
People with the following
conditions have reported that therapeutic massage has lessened or relieved
many of their symptoms:
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chronic and acute pain
- Circulatory problems
- Fibromyalgia
- Frozen shoulder
- Gastro-intestinal
disorders
- Headache
- Immune system disorders
- Reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries
- Stress
- TMJ dysfunction
For more research
information please visit www.massagetherapyfoundation.org
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. Massage relaxes muscle tissue and increases the flow of
lymph which can lessen pain and swelling. 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.
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 determining which components of the massage therapy
experience contribute to its effectiveness.
Easing Pain After Bypass
Surgery
According to a pilot study
conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, massage therapy
reduced pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass
surgery when patients are treated at the hospital after their surgery.
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.
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