Scientific Support for Massage and Chronic Pain Relief

“59% report a greater than 50% reduction in chronic pain symptoms”

In a scientific study conducted by T. Lundeberg in 1984, 267 patients with chronic neurogenic (nerve generated) or musculoskeletal (muscle and bone related) pain were followed for 18 months.  Of those, over 157 patients reported a greater than 50% reduction in pain symptoms at the end of 18 months…”[1]

With over twenty years observing clients in my private Massage Therapy practice, I make the loose claim that, “my client’s with chronic pain regularly report a 50-100% reduction in chronic pain symptoms within a few massage therapy sessions,” when using a combination of Deep Tissue Massage and Neuromuscular Therapy techniques.  After four sessions, a recent client has this to say:

“…one hip in particular was so painful that it interfered with my daily activities, not to mention hampered sports and dancing.  Kristen pretty much worked a miracle, as the pain disappeared entirely…” [2]

Most of us have a gut feeling about the benefits of massage, so this may not be a complete surprise.  But when time, money and health are on the line, the scientific support is sure nice to hear.

So you may be interested to know that there is an enormous amount of research-based data supporting the positive impact Massage Therapy has on all kinds of health conditions.[3]

The following is a list of conditions I treat in my practice in Northampton, MA, for which Massage Therapy is shown to have a measurable and positive impact (the conditions most commonly treated are in bold).

• ADHD adolescents – increased focus
• Aggression in Adolescents – decreased levels of hostility
• Arthritis – less pain and greater strength
• Asthma – increased pulmonary function
• Cancer  – increased natural killer cells, decreased pain, better sleep
• Chronic Fatigue – lower stress levels, better sleep, decreased somatic symptoms
• Chronic Muscle Pain – decreased pain symptoms
• Depression – better sleep, less anxiety, elevated moods
• Diabetes – decreased glucose levels
• Fibromyalgia – diminished pain
• Headaches – decreased pain and frequency
• High Blood Pressure – lower diastolic numbers
• HIV – enhanced immune function
• Insomnia – Less frequency
• Job Stress – decreased anxiety
• Labor Pain – decreased pain and duration
• Leukemia – decreased white blood cell counts
• Life Transition – decreased anxiety, better sleep, better mood
• Low Back Pain – decreased pain levels
• Parkinson – greater functioning in daily living activities
• Post-partum depression – increased moods, better sleep, less anxiety
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – more relaxed, less anxiety, elevated mood
• Pre/Post-Surgery Patients – decreased pain, anxiety, and tension
• Pregnancy – better sleep, less back pain, less nausea
• Preterm Infants – enhanced growth
• Stress – decreased stress hormone levels

Thanks to those whose work paves the way for massage becoming an increasingly popular healthcare choice!

Read about Kristen’s Massage Therapy practice.