Massage as Medicine

August 30, 2006 Massage is a form of therapy that has its roots in early times. Ancient Chinese texts listed massage as a treatment for fever, chills and paralysis. Hippocrates recommended massage for injured athletes and soldiers. As modern medicine evolved, massage began to fall out of favor among physicians. By the 1970s, massage started to regain popularity among athletes. Today, there are a number of different types of massage in use. The most common form is Swedish massage, a system of long strokes, kneading and friction to relax muscles. Deep tissue massage uses slow strokes and deep finger pressure over an area of muscle to reduce tension and tightness. It is often used to treat muscle injury, such as back pain. Sports massage is the application of pressure to specific areas of the body. It is used to improve flexibility and provide relief after injury. A report by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) found 47 million Americans had received a massage between August 2004 and July 2005. Women are more than twice as likely as men to have a massage. About 32 percent of adults use massage for rehabilitation or relief of muscle pain; 26 percent have a massage for relaxation. Massage is gaining some acceptance among the medical community. Currently about 74 percent of HMO plans cover massage therapy to some degree. Expanding the Usefulness of Massage Many people associate massage with relaxation and relief of muscle pain. However, researchers say the health benefits of massage are much broader. Studies suggest massage may ease the stress of coping with serious illness, like cancer, or recovery from bypass surgery. Massage has been shown to increase the number of immune cells that may help defend the body against breast cancer. In patients with anorexia, massage was associated with lower levels of stress and anxiety and better body image perception. At the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami, researchers are currently involved in a study to determine if massage can help reduce the risk of pre-term labor and birth in pregnant women. Director, Tiffany Field, Ph.D., says massage reduces the levels of a stress hormone, called cortisol, which may stimulate pre-term labor. In a prior study, pregnant women who received a 20 minute massage twice a week had significantly decreased levels of cortisol. Field says there are benefits for the giver of the massage as well. Her group has found massage givers are more relaxed and have lower levels of stress hormones. She recommends family members learn how to give massage and practice it on each other. AUDIENCE INQUIRY For general information on massage or referral to a certified massage therapist: American Massage Therapy Association, http://www.amtamassage.org BIBLIOGRAPHY "Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms are Reduced by Massage Therapy," Eating Disorders, Winter 2001, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 289-299. Cohen, Michael, J.D., and Kathy Kemper, M.D., "Complementary Therapies in Pediatrics," Pediatrics, March 2005, Vol. 115, No. 3, pp. 774-780. Corbin, Lisa, M.D., "Safety and Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Patients with Cancer," Cancer Control, July 2005, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 158-164. Dillard, James, M.D., and Sharon Knapp, "Complementary and Alternative Pain Therapy in the Emergency Department," Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, May 2005, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 529-549. Field, T., "Pregnant Women Benefit From Massage Therapy," Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, March 1999, Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 31-38. Fouladbakhsh, J., et al., "Predictors of Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies Among Patients with Cancer," Oncology Nursing Forum, November 3, 2005, Vol. 32, No. 6, pp. 1115-1122. Gordon, Chrisanne, M.D., et al., "Use of a Mechanical Massage Technique in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia," Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, January 2006, Vol. 87, No. 1, pp. 145-147. Hernandez-Reif, M., et al., "Breast Cancer Patients Have Improved Immune and Neuroendocrine Function Following Massage Therapy," Journal of Psychosomatic Research, July 2004, Vol. 57, No. 1, pp. 45-52. Hernandez-Reif, M., et al., "Natural Killer Cells and Lymphocytes are Increased in Women with Breast Cancer Following Massage Therapy," International Journal of Neuroscience, April 2005, Vol. 115, No. 4, pp. 495-510. "How to Find a Qualified Massage Therapist," Evanston: American Massage Therapy Association, downloaded from website (http://www.amtamassage.org), August 1, 2006. Hsieh, Lisa Li-Chen, et al., "Treatment of Low Back Pain by Acupressure and Physical Therapy," British Medical Journal, March 25, 2006, Vol. 332-, No. 7543, pp. 696-700. Huth, Myra, et al., "The Effects of Massage Therapy in Improving Outcomes for Youth with Cystic Fibrosis," Pediatric Nursing, July-August 2005, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 328-332. "Massage," Atlanta: American Cancer Society, downloaded from website (http://www.cancer.org), July 13, 2006. "Research Confirms Massage Therapy Enhances Health," Evanston: American Massage Therapy Association, downloaded from website (http://www.amtamassage.org), August 1, 2006. Sherman, Karen, et al., "A Survey of Training and Practice Patterns of Massage Therapists in Two US States," BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2005, No. 5, p. 13. "Some Things You Should Know About Massage," Evanston: American Massage Therapy Association, downloaded from website (http://www.amtamassage.org), August 1, 2006. "2005 Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet," Evanston: American Massage Therapy Association, downloaded from website (http://www.amtamassage.org), August 1, 2006. Research compiled and edited by Barbara J. Fister