by Melanie L. Bowen
Massage therapy can be an effective pain remedy for people with cancer, arthritis and other diseases. Recent studies indicate that most Americans rate massage as effective as medication for pain relief.
According to studies commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), massage is one of the best alternative treatments for pain. Most people who receive therapeutic massage recommend the practice to others, which contributes to its growing popularity.
A study conducted ranked massage therapy at least as high as medication for providing pain relief. As alternative therapies go, massage ranked ahead of chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and biofeedback.
Massage Therapy and Cancer Treatment
The medical community shows a growing interest in massage therapy for cancer treatment. The temporary feeling of relaxation that massage promotes helps patients cope with the physical and emotional pain of cancer. This feeling may result from the release of endorphins, natural mood-altering chemicals in the brain.
Reports from the, American Cancer Society, say massage can reduce anxiety, depression and stress caused by emotional fatigue and pain.
Medical professionals also recognize massage as an effective remedy for the physical pains of cancer. Massage therapy is a natural complement to medical treatment, and many doctors now recommend this alternative practice for their patients.
Cancer patients may receive massage from professional therapists or trained caregivers. From clinical studies to anecdotal reports, massage has been shown to relieve pain and stiffness, rehabilitate injuries, increase mobility, minimize backaches and reduce headaches.
One massage style in particular, myotherapy, is said to reduce up to 95 percent of muscle pain. In some cases, it may even replace pain-relief medications.
Massage Therapy and Hospice Care
A NIH study examined the impact of massage on cancer patients in hospice care. It measured the effects of therapeutic massage on pain, fatigue, appetite, nausea, bowel patterns, breathing, insomnia and other symptoms. The findings are encouraging. Massage therapy for end-of-life stages and palliative care offer benefits after only a single massage. The patients in the NIH study reported a reduction in pain, a lift in mood and an overall feeling of relaxation.
Massage can greatly improve quality of life, even for those with breast, colon cancer, leukemia and late-stage cancers and rare diseases like mesothelioma. This can make all the difference in the day-to-day lives of cancer patients and their family members.
Can Massage Therapy Cause Harm?
Research indicates that massage therapy is safe and possible for most cancer patients. The specific techniques used in therapeutic massage depend on cancer type, treatment method, cancer stage and other factors.
Massage should be avoided in people with rheumatoid arthritis, bone cancer and other diseases that are made worse by physical manipulation. Cancer patients with heart disease should consult their doctor before choosing massage as a complementary therapy.
Massage therapy is not a cure for cancer, and relying on this treatment alone could delay necessary life-saving treatments or cause further health complications. All cancer patients should talk to their oncologists before seeking alternative pain remedies, including massage therapy.
According to studies commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), massage is one of the best alternative treatments for pain. Most people who receive therapeutic massage recommend the practice to others, which contributes to its growing popularity.
A study conducted ranked massage therapy at least as high as medication for providing pain relief. As alternative therapies go, massage ranked ahead of chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and biofeedback.
Massage Therapy and Cancer Treatment
The medical community shows a growing interest in massage therapy for cancer treatment. The temporary feeling of relaxation that massage promotes helps patients cope with the physical and emotional pain of cancer. This feeling may result from the release of endorphins, natural mood-altering chemicals in the brain.
Reports from the, American Cancer Society, say massage can reduce anxiety, depression and stress caused by emotional fatigue and pain.
Medical professionals also recognize massage as an effective remedy for the physical pains of cancer. Massage therapy is a natural complement to medical treatment, and many doctors now recommend this alternative practice for their patients.
Cancer patients may receive massage from professional therapists or trained caregivers. From clinical studies to anecdotal reports, massage has been shown to relieve pain and stiffness, rehabilitate injuries, increase mobility, minimize backaches and reduce headaches.
One massage style in particular, myotherapy, is said to reduce up to 95 percent of muscle pain. In some cases, it may even replace pain-relief medications.
Massage Therapy and Hospice Care
A NIH study examined the impact of massage on cancer patients in hospice care. It measured the effects of therapeutic massage on pain, fatigue, appetite, nausea, bowel patterns, breathing, insomnia and other symptoms. The findings are encouraging. Massage therapy for end-of-life stages and palliative care offer benefits after only a single massage. The patients in the NIH study reported a reduction in pain, a lift in mood and an overall feeling of relaxation.
Massage can greatly improve quality of life, even for those with breast, colon cancer, leukemia and late-stage cancers and rare diseases like mesothelioma. This can make all the difference in the day-to-day lives of cancer patients and their family members.
Can Massage Therapy Cause Harm?
Research indicates that massage therapy is safe and possible for most cancer patients. The specific techniques used in therapeutic massage depend on cancer type, treatment method, cancer stage and other factors.
Massage should be avoided in people with rheumatoid arthritis, bone cancer and other diseases that are made worse by physical manipulation. Cancer patients with heart disease should consult their doctor before choosing massage as a complementary therapy.
Massage therapy is not a cure for cancer, and relying on this treatment alone could delay necessary life-saving treatments or cause further health complications. All cancer patients should talk to their oncologists before seeking alternative pain remedies, including massage therapy.
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