Massage

Massage has been used as a therapeutic treatment for more than 2,000 years in cultures around the world. Today massage therapy is a popular treatment for a variety of health conditions. Some Canadians with arthritis have tried massage therapy for pain relief, in addition to the treatment prescribed by their doctors. However, the effectiveness of massage as a treatment for arthritis is not well supported by scientific evidence.

Massage therapy involves manipulation of the body’s soft tissues including the muscles, tendons and ligaments. In most cases this is done by therapists using their hands and fingers to press or rub the areas being treated.

Although there is limited scientific evidence for the effectiveness of massage therapy for specific health conditions such as arthritis, there is evidence that it can be effective for reducing pain for some people. For example, regular sessions of massage therapy appear to help reduce the pain of osteoarthritis of the hand for some patients. Similarly, regular massage and exercise appear to offer benefits for some patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

The general therapeutic benefits associated with massage can include increased blood circulation, decreased pain and inflammation, and a reduction of muscle ache and stiffness. However these benefits are not consistent for all patients and there is little scientific understanding of how massage works to relieve pain. One theory suggests that the stimulation produced by massage could block pain signals sent to the brain. Another theory is that massage could trigger the release of pain-suppressing chemicals in the body. Further study is needed to test these and other theories of how massage works to reduce pain.

Massage therapy is currently a regulated health profession in only three provinces, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Ontario. For these provinces this means that standards of practice are relatively consistent. Other provinces have established similar standards of practice through their massage therapy associations.

If you are interested in trying massage, it is recommended that you choose a registered massage therapist. The provincial massage therapy association for your province can provide you with the names of registered therapists in your area.

Before beginning massage with a therapist, be sure to inform them about your arthritis. It may also be advisable to avoid massage when your joints are especially tender or inflamed.

This page was last reviewed/updated on : 02/23/2008