Massage Therapy

Chronic Pain and Massage

How it Works

• Massage is considered to be an alternative form of therapy, but a doctor can give you a referral for massage therapy.

• Chronic pain leads to increased levels of stress and places you into a state of chronic fight-or-flight. The body is not meant to experience fight-or-flight for long periods of time.

• It is also common for muscles to become tighter which leads to increased pain and decreased mobility.

• There are also increased levels of fatigue making it harder to participate in physical activities.

• The stress and pain cycle needs to be broken in order to heal from chronic pain.

Benefits

• The body has a stress hormone called cortisol. Massage therapy can decrease cortisol levels by 31%.

• Massage therapy can increase serotonin levels by 28% and dopamine levels by 31%

  • Serotonin increases happiness and promotes a sense of well-being

  • Dopamine plays a role in how we experience joy and pleasure; it can also increase motivation

  • More serotonin and dopamine allow us to have a positive mindset and stable mood

• Positive thinking reduces stress which in turn reduces pain

• Massage releases tension in the muscles which decreases pain and increases your range of motion

• Massage increases blood flow throughout the body and improves lymphatic drainage

  • Decrease inflammation

• People with fibromyalgia have improved sleep after receiving massage according to one study

  • People with chronic pain often suffer from insomnia. Massage can improve sleep.

• There is also a decrease in Substance P

  • Substance P is a neurotransmitter that sends pain messages throughout the body

  • Found in areas with inflammation

• Closes the “pain gate”

  • Stimulates nerve fibers and prevents pain signals from traveling to and from the brain

• Massage therapy can be highly effective when combined with other treatment modalities

  • Best results when combined with exercise and pain neuroscience education

• One study showed a reduction in hand pain and increased grip strength

• Another study found that 3-4 massage sessions a week for 4 weeks helped relieve chronic neck pain

• Massage therapy decreases anxiety and improves your quality of life

Types of Massage Therapy

• Swedish massage

  • Involves kneading and rolling muscles to relieve tension

  • Pressure can vary depending on what you need

  • Can be uncomfortable

• Hot stone

  • Heated stones are placed on the back

  • Increase relaxation and decrease pain

• Deep tissue massage

  • Massage therapist uses lots of pressure to relax tense muscles

  • Can be painful

  • You may feel sore for a few days 

• Trigger Point Massage

  • Pressure is placed on specific trigger points

  • Pressure is applied to trigger points until they relax

• Myofascial release

  • Massage therapist massages out the fascia which is a thin layer of tissue that covers all of our muscles

• Shiatsu

  • Pulsing and applying pressure throughout the body

  • Pressure will be applied to acupressure points

• Thai massage

  • Gentle pressure on pressure points and yoga

  • The massage therapist will move your body into certain yoga poses that are meant to relieve tension

• Foam rolling

  • Self massage that can be done at home with a foam roller

  • Used to “roll” out areas with tension

  • There are YouTube videos that provide instructions on how to use a foam roller

When to Not Get a Massage

• Do not have a massage over an inflamed area of skin

• Do not have a massage over an area that is infected because this could cause the infection to spread

• You may need to avoid massages if you have heart problems, an infectious disease, phlebitis, or some skin conditions

Sources

D’arcy-Sharpe, A.-M., & u. (2020, February 24). How can massage therapy treat your chronic pain? Pathways. Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.pathways.health/how-can-massage-therapy-treat-your-chronic-pain/

Therapeutic massage for pain relief. Harvard Health. (2016, July 1). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/alternative-and-integrative-health/therapeutic-massage-for-pain-relief

Crawford, C., Boyd, C., Paat, C. F., Price, A., Xenakis, L., Yang, E. M., & Zhang, W. (2016, July 1). The impact of massage therapy on function in pain populations-a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: Part I, patients experiencing pain in the general population. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4925170/