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Reducing Osteoarthritis Pain with Massage Therapy

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“For individuals managing osteoarthritis, could massage therapy provide added treatment benefits?”

Osteoarthritis Massage Therapy

Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage between the joints wears away, causing stiffness and pain. Massage therapy is a treatment used to relieve various types of pain symptoms.

  • There are many types of massage therapy, that healthcare providers utilize to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues to relieve symptoms, relax muscles, increase circulation, reduce inflammation, release trigger points, and restore mobility, flexibility, and function. (Ergonomic Trends. 2023)
  • Professional therapists can help relieve osteoarthritis joint pain by relaxing the surrounding muscles and other soft tissues to release stiffness. (Adam Perlman, et al., 2019)

Massage Objectives and Types

Massage therapists use their hands and fingers, forearms, elbows, and/or instruments to manipulate the body’s soft tissues. Soft tissues support and surround body structures and include muscle, fat, tendons, and ligaments.

  • The goal of osteoarthritis massage therapy is to relax muscles and soft tissues, increase blood and oxygen circulation, warm the affected area/s, relieve pain, and restore mobility and function.
  • Depending on the location of the muscles being massaged, individuals may be seated or lie down on a specialized table.
  • The amount of pressure and direction of movement depend on the body area.
  • Therapeutic oils and/or massage creams may be used to increase the therapy.

Types include:

Swedish

  • The therapist uses long strokes, kneading, and friction on the muscles.
  • Joints are moved to increase flexibility.

Deep Tissue

  • The therapist uses deep finger or instrument pressure, focusing on muscles that are tight or knotted.

Trigger Point

  • Trigger points represent a source of radiating pain symptoms.
  • The therapist focuses pressure on these myofascial tissue points using various strokes to release them.

Shiatsu

  • The therapist applies rhythmic pressure with their thumbs, fingers, and palms to redirect and increase energy or chi/qi.

A massage session lasts around 30–60 minutes depending on the severity of the condition and the number of sessions the patient has undergone. Chronic pain patients usually go through a series of specialized sessions that focus on specific areas and gradually build.

Risk Factors

Certain precautions must be taken before getting osteoarthritis massage therapy. Although there are a few serious risks, certain individuals are not suitable candidates and should not receive massage therapy. The conditions include: (Medical Massage Therapy Resource & Reference. 2023)

  • Damaged nerves.
  • Damaged blood vessels.
  • Infection and inflammation in the area to be massaged.
  • Open wounds.
  • Fever.
  • Taking a blood thinner.
  • Deep vein thrombosis – blood clots.
  • Bleeding disorders.
  • Osteoporosis – weak and brittle bones.
  • Recent fractures – broken bones.
  • Tumors.
  • Cancer.
  • Individuals who have recently undergone surgery.
  • Individuals with a skin condition that is contagious, like warts or herpes, or noncontagious, like psoriasis, could be aggravated by touch or pressure.
  • Individuals who have cancer, fragile skin, heart problems, or dermatomyositis are recommended to discuss osteoarthritis massage therapy with their healthcare provider.

Research on the effects of massage therapy on various health conditions is ongoing. Massage therapy promotes relaxation while reducing stress, which can help with chronic joint issues like osteoarthritis.


Arthritis Explained


References

Ergonomic Trends. 20 most common types of massages and their benefits explained.

Perlman, A., Fogerite, S. G., Glass, O., Bechard, E., Ali, A., Njike, V. Y., Pieper, C., Dmitrieva, N. O., Luciano, A., Rosenberger, L., Keever, T., Milak, C., Finkelstein, E. A., Mahon, G., Campanile, G., Cotter, A., & Katz, D. L. (2019). Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of general internal medicine, 34(3), 379–386. doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4763-5

Medical Massage Therapy Resource & Reference. When not to get a massage: 26 reasons you cannot get a massage.

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Reducing Osteoarthritis Pain with Massage Therapy" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.

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