What Conditions May be Helped by Therapeutic Massage?

An increasing number of research studies, together with literally thousands of years of anecdotal eveidence, show massage can reduce the effects of stress, reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, increase blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxe muscles, promote deeper breathing and deeper/more restorative sleep, offer pain relief for many acute AND chronic conditions, increase endorphins (enhancing medical treatment), improve over-all circulation, flexibility/range of motion, digestion, elimination, and energy flow. Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury.

People with the following conditions have reported that therapeutic massage has lessened or relieved many of their symptoms.

* Arthritis 1
* Asthma 2
* Carpal tunnel syndrome 3
* Chronic and acute pain 4
* Circulatory problems 5
* Gastrointestinal disorders (including spastic colon, colic and constipation)
* Headache 7
* Immune function disorders 8
* Insomnia 9
* Myofascial pain 10
* Premature infants 11
* Reduced range of motion 12
* Sports injuries 13 (including pulled or strained muscles and ligaments)
* Stress 14
* Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction 15

Contraindications

* Certain forms of cancer
* Phlebitis
* Some cardiac problems
* Some skin conditions
* Infectious diseases

1 Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Seligman, S., Krasnegor, J., Sunshine, W., Rivas-Chacon, R., & Schanberg, S. Jrnl. Ped. Psychology, 1997.
2 Field, T., Henteleff, T., Hernandez-Reif, M, Marting, E., Mavunda, K., Kuhn, C., & Schanberg, S. Jrnl. of Ped., 1997.
3 Sheon R.P., Postgrad Med., 1997.
4 Weintraub, M. American Journal of Pain Management, 1992.
5 Meek, S.S., J. Nurs. Sch., 1993.
6 Klauser, A.G., et.al. Z. Gastroenterol, 1992.
7 Puustjarvi, K., Airaksinen, O., Pontinen, P.J. Acupunct. Electrother. Res., 1990.
8 Ironson, G., et.al. Intl. Jr. Neurosc., 1996.
9 Richards, KC., Am J Crit Care, 1998.
10 Danneskoild-Samsoe, B., et.al. Scand J Rehab Med., 1982.
11 Scafidi, F.A., Field, T., Schanberg, S.M. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr., 1993.
12 Crosman, J.L., et.al. Jr. Orthop. & Sports Phys. Th., 1984.
13 Goats, G.C. Br. J. Sports Med., 1994.
14 Field, T., Ironson, G., Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T., Goncalves, A., Burman, I., Pickens, J., Fox, N., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. Intl. Jrnl. of Neurosc. ,1996.
15 Blood, S.D. Jrnl. of Am. Osteop. Assoc., 1986. Canadian Lifeline Massage Therapy Clinic