The benefits of massage have been touted for years. Aside from being a sweet hour of pampering just for you, massage boasts numerous health benefits that make that hour more than just luxurious. It can potentially be live-changing, especially when it means relief from the pain, stress, and anxiety commonly seen with arthritis patients.
As a regular form of therapy, massage alleviates low back pain and improves your range of motion. It can enhance your overall immune system by stimulating your body’s natural defense system. It allows for increased joint flexibility, lessens the effects of depression and anxiety, and can improve your circulation. Massage can even decrease one’s dependency on medication. That’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Although I would love to get regular massages from a professional, time and resources do not necessarily allow for that endeavor at the moment, and whenever I put my foot up on my husband’s lap as a minor hint or playful suggestion, it is typically overlooked. Further, my teenage boys are now too heavy to walk on my back, a game in which I engaged them when they were smaller so that I could get some form of massage therapy! At present, the dogs don’t seem to stay on my back much longer than a second or two, so there goes that idea. As such, I merely dream of the day when regular visits to the massage therapist are posted on my calendar.
If you are one of millions who suffer from arthritis, the benefits of massage should not be overlooked. According to the Arthritis Foundation, massage reduces the muscle pain that is typically caused by spasms. It also increases the body’s ability to produce endorphins which alleviate pain. Studies have shown that arthritis patients who undergo massage therapy notice less stiffness, decreased pain, and increased mobility in their joints.
In 2006, a study was done with a focus on individuals who suffer from arthritis in their hands. The Touch Research Institute discovered that when massage was performed regularly on a focus group of patients, it eased the symptoms associated with their arthritis. Not only was the pain and inflammation reduced, but the related anxiety and depression had dissipated significantly. Patients reported feeling less pain, had increased gripping power in their hands, and felt overall improvement in general.
For the arthritis sufferer, massage helps to loosen up the joints, most notably in the muscles and ligaments that break up the adhesions that tend to slow down or prohibit movement. Gentle stretching of the joint can actually stimulate the production of the synovial fluid that acts like a cushion. This can aid in reducing associated inflammation and pain.
Of course, as with any treatment, it can take up to several sessions to reap the full benefits. In your first visit, you should notice some relief. However, to get the most out of this form of therapy, it is important to participate in repeated sessions and to find a massage therapist who is well-versed and skilled in working with arthritis patients.
At first, you will probably want to see a massage therapist weekly for a month. Subsequent visits can occur on a monthly basis.
It has been my experience that some chiropractors offer massage therapy as part of their practice and that in many instances, such therapy may be covered by insurance, or, at the very least, you can use any flex money you have from your place of employment to cover the cost. Be sure to check with your provider first.
As for me, well, I suppose I need to go find those dogs and see if I can teach them a new trick. My back is sore!
(Information for this article was found at www.arthritis-glucosamine.net/blog/arthritis-massage.php)