Scientific Evidence for massage reducing muscle pain

I would say the number one reason for booking with Vitality Therapy is muscle pain in either

  • Shoulders
  • Neck
  • Lower Back
  • Knees
  • Elbows
  • Headaches

I know that new clients often come to us because we were recommended by their colleagues; who came to us with muscle pain and found massage relieved it.  So my clinical experience is consistent with the view that massage has been traditionally used to relieve pain.  But what about the scientific evidence?

Lower back pain is the most common reason for visiting your GP and hence one of the most studied areas of massage.  Several scientific studies have concluded that massage therapy is more effective than a placebo for sub acute and chronic lower back pain.  The evidence suggest that massage therapy achieved significant client satisfaction and reduction in pain levels, both in the short and long term.

References

  1. Cherkin D, Sherman K, Deyo R, Shekelle P. A review of the evidence for the effectiveness, safety, and cost of acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal manipulation for back pain. Ann Intern Med 2003; 138(11): 898-906.
  2. Chou R, Huffman L. Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med 2007; 147(7): 492-504.
  3. Dryden T, Baskwill A, Preyde M. Massage therapy for the orthopaedic patient: a review. Orthop Nurs 2004; 23(5): 327-34.
  4. Furlan A, Brosseau L, Imamura M, Irvin E. Massage for low-back pain: a systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group. Spine 2002; 27(17): 1896-910.
  5. Imamura M, Furlan A, Dryden T, Irvin E. Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with massage. Spine J 2008; 8(1): 121-33.
  6. Tsao J. Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for Chronic, Non-malignant Pain: A Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007; 4(2): 165-79.
  7. van Tulder M, Furlan A, Gagnier J. Complementary and alternative therapies for lower back pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2005; 19(4): 639-54

 

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