Arthritis Pain & Massage

In brief, arthritis is inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. The question is, can massage therapy really help the arthritis sufferer? Yes it can. I personally think that the myofascial aspect of arthritis pain complaints is all but completely ignored. Muscle tension can cause weakness at the attachment points. This weakness causes pain in the joints involved and can refer pain to areas in close proximity of the muscle. If the muscles around the extremities affected can be effectively treated to relieve the tension than the tension on the attachment point will be relieved.

Don Maher, LMT, MTI
Founder - Myochanics
www.myochanics.com

Hope for Pain Sufferers

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. Surveys by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) reveal that more people than ever are seeking massage to manage and relieve pain: 47 %, nearly half, of those polled have had a massage specifically for pain relief 63 % believed massage therapy provided them greater pain relief than chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy or other bodywork Clinical research has shown massage therapy can: - Be more effective for chronic back pain than other complementary therapies. - Promote relaxation and alleviate the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients. - Reduce post-traumatic headaches better than cold pack treatments. - Lessen pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass surgery when part of hospital-based surgery treatment. - Stimulate the brain to produce endorphins. - Improve confidence by encouraging patients to effectively cope with their pain.