Do you suffer from headaches, migraines, or other musculoskeletal pains? Massage can help to relieve body pain. Proper management of body pain is vital since pain impacts your quality of life.

Economic cost of pain

Body pain limits us from functioning well and therefore it decreases our work and productivity. In the United States, the annual cost to business for employee sick leave or time off is $560 to 635 billion, which according to Gaskin and Richard, is “nearly 30 percent higher than the combined cost of cancer and diabetes.”¹

Because of the high cost of medical care, people have found alternative medicines, physical and massage therapies to be very helpful in managing their pain.

Studies on the effects of massage on pain relief

The growing popularity of massage has prompted researchers to conduct studies to evaluate the effects of massage on pain relief. Here, a very brief summary of two research studies and one meta-analysis published by NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) is given.

Study #1: Studying the effectiveness of one type of Iranian traditional massage on lumbar radiculopathy²

Hashemi et al. noted that the prevalence of low back pain – “one of the most common human morbidities worldwide…” – is rising. The authors compared the effectiveness of “Kermanshahi family”, a type of Iranian massage to conventional treatment on sciatica. When the sciatic nerve is irritated, we experience sciatica pain, which starts from the lower back and radiates down to the knee. Fifty patients participated in the study. The results of the study indicated that the severity of pain significantly decreased in patients who received massages compared to those who were administered traditional treatment. The authors concluded: “Iranian traditional massage may be useful for the treatment of non-acute sciatica…”

Study #2: Effectiveness of Ayurvedic massage (Sahacharadi Taila) in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial³

This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of Ayuverdic massage in patients with chronic low back pain. Sixty-four patients with a mean age of 54.8 years participated. Participants were divided into two groups: the Ayurvedic group and thermal therapy group. The results suggest that Ayurvedic massage effectively relieves chronic pain in the lower back though for a short term only.

Meta-analysis: Effectiveness of different styles of massage therapy in fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis⁴

The authors reviewed ten studies that investigated the effects of massage on adult patients with fibromyalgia. Their meta-analysis revealed that myofascial release, connective tissue massage, manual lymphatic drainage, and shiatsu effectively relieve body pains.

The results of the above studies and meta-analysis are very encouraging. Of course, it is always best to get the advice of your doctor. Getting the services of professional massage therapists is an excellent option. Massage clinics in Millcreek City offers excellent massage services for managing pain and stress. You can also check out our services through https://myohealingmassage.com/.