Research Supports Massage Therapy for Pain Management
Article source – American Massage Therapy Association
Massage therapy, compared to no treatment, should be strongly recommended as a pain management option. Massage therapy is conditionally recommended for reducing pain, compared to other sham or active comparators, and improving mood and health-related quality of life, compared to other active comparators.
Pain is multi-dimensional and may be better addressed through an integrative approach. Massage therapy is commonly used among people seeking pain management and research has generally supported its use. But, until now there has been no published, rigorous review of the available research and evidence for its efficacy for people with various types of pain.
Research Analysis Indicates Massage Therapy Strongly Recommended for Pain Management
Based on the evidence, massage therapy can provide significant improvement for pain, anxiety and health-related quality of life for those looking to manage their pain. This is the conclusion of a collaborative meta-analysis of research on massage therapy for pain conducted by the Samueli Institute and commissioned by the Massage Therapy Foundation, with support from the American Massage Therapy Association. The first part of the three-part review and analysis published online by the journal Pain Medicine indicates:
- Pain is a major public health concern, affecting approximately 100 million Americans
- It is recognized as the most compelling reason to seek medical attention and accounts for approximately 80% of physician visits
- Chronic pain accounts for approximately $600 billion in annual health care expenditures and lost productivity
- This annual cost is greater than the cost of other national priority health conditions, highlighting the significant economic burden of pain