The participants were assigned to three different groups, one received a full-body relaxation massage, the other underwent specifically targeted deep tissue massage, and the third received usual care assigned for chronic low back pain including medication and physical therapy. After 10 weeks, significantly reduction in pain or completely relief was noted in two-thirds of the patients who had received either type of weekly massage, while only one third of those receiving the traditional remedies experienced comparable relief, researchers wrote in the in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "We found that patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function," said lead author, Daniel Cherkin. [3] Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: structural massage, relaxation massage or usual care. Those in the massage groups were given hour-long massage treatments weekly for 10 weeks. At 10 weeks, more than one-third of those who received either type of massage said their back pain was much better or gone, compared to only one in 25 patients who received usual care, the study said. Those in the massage groups were also twice as likely in that period to have spent fewer days in bed, used less anti-inflammatory medication and engaged in more activity than the standard care group. Six months out, both types of massage were still linked to improved function, Cherkin said, but after one year, pain and function was almost equal in all three groups. Noting that most Americans will experience low back pain during their lifetime, Cherkin said another benefit of massage is its relative safety. "Maybe one of 10 patients felt pain during or after massage, but most of those thought it was a 'good pain,'" he said. [1] Participants in the two massage groups received about one hour of massage per week for 10 weeks. All participants answered questionnaires at baseline, 10 weeks, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks to rate how bothersome their back pain was. The study revealed that both types of massage therapy resulted in less pain and better mobility than usual care patients after 10 weeks. Both types of massage showed improved function at 26 weeks, but their benefits were of questionable significance at the one-year mark. The authors are careful to note that the reasons for the benefits are unclear, but they speculate that massage may trigger beneficial tissue and nervous system responses. Another possibility is that being touched in a relaxing environment produces the positive effects that the massage groups experienced. [4]
The third group received no special care and served as controls. The three groups were similar in the other kinds and frequency of treatments they used, including painkillers or sedatives, back exercises and bed rest. Each of the massage groups received 10 weeks of treatment, and at the end of that period, all three groups had some improvement, as measured by their answers to 23 questions about performing routine activities without help for example, climbing stairs without using a handrail or getting out of an easy chair by themselves. They were also asked to rate the degree of their back pain symptoms on a 10-point scale. Those who received massage scored significantly better on both symptom and function tests, and they spent less time in bed, used less medicine and were more satisfied with their current level of back pain. At 26 weeks after treatment, those in the usual care group continued to function less well than those who had gotten massage. [5] The research included around 400 patients who were suffering from lower back pain from three months. These patients were assigned three different treatments which were structural massage, relaxation massage or usual care. The massages were given to the patients for 10 weeks and it was found out that one in three patients who received massages and one in 25 patients who got usual care have reported that their back pain has completely vanished and now their bodies are functioning properly. Researchers have concluded that people should opt for massages for back pains as they are more effective than the medication and the medicines like pain killers. [6] By comparison, one in 25 patients who got usual care reported improvements. "For people who've tried more conventional treatment with no results, massage is a reasonable thing to try," said Daniel Cherkin, leader of the study and an investigator at Group Health Research Institute, whose research has shown that massage is as effective in relieving chronic back pain as other treatments such as yoga, exercise and medication. [7] The pain was still there. Anderson was paired with a physical therapist, who in 2008 suggested she join the clinical trial conducted by the Group Health Research Institute. She would continue regular treatment with an added bonus: A weekly, hourlong massage. The 10-week trial was for those with chronic back pain that had no identifiable cause. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: pressure-point massage, relaxation massage or usual care what they would have received anyway, most often medication. [7]
Group Health Research Institute researchers studied the effectiveness of massage in 401 patients with chronic low back pain with no definite cause. [3] A senior investigator at Group Health Research Institute, C. Cherkin said: "We found that massage helps people with back pain to function even after six months. This is important because chronic back pain is among the most common reasons people see doctors and alternative practitioners, including massage therapists." [6] A study headed by epidemiologist Daniel Cherkin, senior investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, enrolled 401 people with chronic lower back pain that had no identifiable cause. [8]
"The massage therapists assumed structural massage would prove more effective than relaxation massage," said Karen Sherman, a senior investigator at Group Health Research Institute. "They were surprised when patients in the relaxation group got so much relief from their back pain." [9] Daniel Cherkin of the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle says researchers looked at ordinary relaxation massage, as well as structural massage provided by therapists with more advanced training. He says at the end of 10 weeks, both kinds of massage turned out to be reasonable treatment options for people with persistent pain that hadn't been adequately addressed by other means. [10]
A new study has found that massage therapy helps relieve not only chronic low back pain, and also helps a person to function properly. Researchers conducted a randomised controlled trial to compare structural and relaxation (Swedish) massages, and discovered that both types worked well, having only a few side effects. [11] Massage therapy may provide more relief for patients with chronic low back pain than thought -- at least in the short term -- according to a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. [2] Massage therapy may help some patients with chronic low back pain find relief, though the results may not be long lasting. [2]
Many people seek out alternative therapies for lower back pain relief, and massage is one of the most popular, accounting for over one-third of the more than 100 million annual massage therapy visits, according to the study. The authors note that while recent studies have found limited evidence that massage helps chronic back pain, none compared different massage methods for lower back pain relief against usual medical therapy, which is what the researchers did in this study. [4] The other possibility is that spending time in a relaxing environment or being touched by a sympathetic therapist may help improve the symptoms. Based on their findings, researchers concluded that massage has few adverse effects and is a reasonable and inexpensive treatment for low back pain. "We tested this on people who had not been getting better from the usual medical approaches," Cherkin said. [3]
After a year, the difference between the massage groups and the group receiving usual care was not significant. Dr. Andrea Furlan of the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto says the findings are important, because if people with chronic low back pain can feel better quicker, they might be able to resume regular activities sooner. [10] The study included 401 participants 20 to 65 years old who had chronic low back pain whose cause was not known. They were randomly divided into three groups: 133 participants received usual medical care without massage, 132 participants received structural massage, which identifies and massages muscular and skeletal causes of lower back pain, and 136 participants received relaxation massage, which is also called Swedish massage, and is intended to produce a general relaxed state. [4] One group received a full-body relaxation massage. The second received specifically targeted deep tissue massage, and the third group got the usual care assigned for chronic lower back pain: medication and physical therapy. [8] The researchers said usual care was what the patients would have received anyway, which most often was medication. • At 10 weeks, more than one in three massage patients said their back pain was much better or gone. That was true of only one in 25 in the usual care group. • About two-thirds of the massage patients said they were functioning significantly better. [9] TORONTO - A new study finds that patients with low back pain who got a one-hour massage once a week for 10 weeks fared better than those receiving the usual care for the nagging condition. [10] The new study followed 400 lower back pain patients with weekly one-hour massages or with standard care. It went on for 10 weeks. [12]
Massage helps back pain 07/05/2012 05:43:19 07/04/2011 19:00:00 wbmd_publication 091e9c5e8042e57a BMJ Health News 3 BMJ Group News wbmd_dept 091e9c5e80410f27 BMJ wbmd_company 091e9c5e8042dc3d BMJ Massage helps people make a quicker recovery from long-term back pain, a new study has found. Back pain eventually went away for people who didn't have massage, but it took them around 26 weeks to recover instead of 10. 07/05/2011 05:43:19 Massage helps people make a quicker recovery from long-term back pain, a new study has found. Back pain eventually went away for people who didn't have massage, but it took them around 26 weeks to recover instead of 10. [13] A weekly massage helps people with low back pain recover more quickly than standard treatment which usually involves medication according to a new study. [9]
Some people had relaxation massage, which uses a fairly light touch to help people feel relaxed. Others had structural massage, which aims to correct abnormalities in muscles and other soft tissue. Added to the treatment people were already getting, both types helped people get on with their lives and be less bothered by back pain. At the start of the study, the average rating people gave to their level of disability was 11, on a scale from 0 to 23, with higher scores meaning more disability. [13]
A clinically meaningful difference cant fall within the standard error of measurement. What this study demonstrates that neither type of massage provides any functional benefit for people who have chronic low back pain. [4] Part of the problem may be that while massage addresses muscular issues, many cases of chronic low back pain involve skeletal and nerve problems as well. "It is difficult to conceive that massage therapy would have long term benefit," said Dr. Gunnar Andersson, an orthopedic surgeon at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. [2] Whether the reported benefits actually point to a therapeutic benefit to massage -- or are simply an example of the placebo effect -- has yet to be determined. While the benefits of massage therapy appeared to last up to six months after the beginning of treatment, they tended to dissipate after a year. Doctors pointed to this latter finding as evidence that the benefits of massage for low back pain were, at best, transitory. [2]
Although there was an immediate benefit to massage, after 26 weeks there was no obvious difference between massage and usual care. After a year, everyone rated their disability at around 6 or 7 points, whether they'd had massage or not. This suggests that massage helps in the short term, but over longer periods people tend to recover from back pain without it. [13] Almost immediately, pain seized her. Collapsing to the floor, crying, she inched toward the phone. This was the first time in the decades she has been managing her back pain the result of years of tennis, golf and "the crazy high heels you wear when you're young" that she couldn't move. Until then, she kept the pain at bay with regular exercise, the sporadic massage, and trips to the chiropractor. She also took aspirin, but those instances were rare. This afternoon was different. It took four hours, but Anderson made it to a phone and called for help. Her situation is not uncommon; 70 to 85 percent of Americans experience back pain at some time in their lives, and it is the most frequent cause of limited activity in people under 45, according to the National Institutes of Health. [7] "More likely the benefit is one of short term decrease in pain and associated increase in function." For those affected by low back pain -- the second most common neurological ailment in the United States and the most common cause of job-related disability, according to the National Institutes of Health -- even the temporary benefits of massage may be time and money well spent. This is particularly the case, Andersson said, if the relief from massage reduces the amount of painkillers a patient must take. [2]
• The massage patients spent fewer days in bed, were more active and used less anti-inflammatory medication. "This is important because chronic back pain is among the most common reasons people see doctors and alternative practitioners, including massage therapists," Dr. Daniel Cherkin, the lead investigator, said in a statement. "It's also a common cause of disability, absenteeism, and 'presenteeism,' when people are at work but can't perform well." [9] Only a third of patients receiving the traditional remedies for back pain experienced comparable relief. "We found that both types of massage were equally effective in helping people improve their function and diminish their symptoms," Cherkin told NPR. He says massage relieved the pain for six months or more. [8] Researchers found massages provided pain relief and helped people function better. It didn't make much difference whether the patient received a relaxation (Swedish) massage or a structural massage, which focuses on specific pain-related tissues, such as muscles and ligaments. [9] Anderson was assigned to the relaxation massage group. "Almost immediately, it felt better and lasted a couple of days" she said, adding that subsequent massages offered longer relief. She wasn't alone. At 10 weeks, more than one in three patients who received massages said their back pain had lessened or ceased. [7] The hour-long massage treatments were given weekly for 10 weeks. It emerged that more than one in three patients who received either type of massage--but only one in 25 patients who got usual care--said their back pain was much better or gone. [11] Structural massage, commonly referred to as deep tissue massage, targets more specific pain-related tissues, ligaments and joints. After 10 weeks, the results were impressive: nearly two-thirds of the patients who received either type of weekly massage said their back pain was significantly improved or gone altogether. [8]
The patients, who had back pain with no identified cause, were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Swedish massage, structural massage and usual care. [9] Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, et al. Comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. [13] Objective: To compare the effectiveness of 2 types of massage and usual care for chronic back pain. [14]
Massage is a common alternative treatment for chronic low back pain, but most recent studies have found little evidence that it works. A group of researchers designed a study to see if they could find a difference between back pain sufferers who got massage and those who did not. [5] The study appeared online Monday in Annals of Internal Medicine. It is unclear how massage eases back pain, but the researchers suggest it may stimulate tissue locally or cause a more generalized central nervous system response. It is also possible that just spending time in a relaxing environment or being touched and cared for by a sympathetic therapist could have led to improvement. Those in the control group knew that the other groups were getting massage, and the knowledge that others were getting the treatment while they got none may have led them to underestimate their own progress. [5] A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds that massage may be an effective therapy for treating lower back pain, when compared with conventional medical treatment. [4] A new study reinforced what physical therapist have long suspected: Massage, when coupled with traditional medical treatment, provides significant relief from chronic back pain. [7]
According to a new study, it was revealed that massage therapies can help in relieving the lower back pains and also helps the body of the person to work properly. Researchers have conducted some trials and found out that these therapies are effective but have some minor side effects. [6]
TUESDAY, July 5 (HealthDay News) -- Massage therapy may be better than medication or exercise for easing low back pain in the short term, a new government-funded study suggests. [1] Despite controversies, a new research suggests that massage therapy is an effective method in alleviating the symptoms of chronic low back pain. [3]
I have suffered from chronic, severe back pain for years and have tried every non surgical procedure, treatment and therapy there is, and yes I do know the cause of rather in my case causes of the pain. I am not telling anyone not to try it, as in certain instances such as unknown pain, pain caused by muscles or due to diminished circulation just to name a few massage therapy may indeed offer a significant reduction. [4] Conclusion: Massage therapy may be effective for treatment of chronic back pain, with benefits lasting at least 6 months. [14]
Amongst the research are studies indicating that massage provides long-lasting relief to people with chronic low-back pain, decreases the pain intensity in cancer patients, and reduces the incidence of tension headaches. Massage therapy exerts its benefits in a variety of ways. It alleviates muscle spasms and knots, increases circulation, and triggers the release of pain-relieving substances in the body. [15] Most people today are looking for alternatives to pills, steroid injection overuse and invasive surgery, why wouldnt you try regular massage therapy before going under the knife? Massage has many benefits even when pain is not a factor, it moves the lymphphatic fluids which cleanse inflammation causing bacteria; thus helping to rid the body of toxins. It helps reduce stress, we know that stress has been proven to break down our immune systems responses which can lead to damaged cells which further can become cancer. [4]
Yoga. One survey of 3,000 people with various health ailments found that 98 percent of those with back pain claimed a benefit from yoga, and 94 percent of those with migraines did, too. Another study of chronic low-back pain sufferers found that those who began a yoga program that included gentle postures and relaxation strategies reported a one-third decrease in pain scores and an 80 percent reduction in the use of pain medicine as compared to the control group, which reported only a 5 percent decrease in pain. [15] The study looked at 400 people aged between 20 and 65. A slight problem with the study is that, compared with the people who continued seeing their usual doctor, the people having massage were getting more treatment and spending more time with health professionals. This could have given them extra reassurance and led them to expect an improvement in their back pain. This would have biased the study in favour of massage. [13] "A good massage therapist will be in tune with the patient and will ask what hurts." One of the study's weaknesses was that those who were assigned to usual care knew that others were receiving massage therapy and may have been disappointed to be excluded, tainting their reported improvement, said Dr. Robert Duarte, director of the Pain and Headache Treatment Center at North Shore-LIJ Health System in Manhasset, N.Y. [1] Results after 10 weeks favored massage. "We found that patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function," Dr. Cherkin said. [12]
There is no evidence, though, that it lowers the cost of health services related to back pain. "We tested this on people who had not been getting better from the usual medical approaches, Dr. Cherkin said. [5] While the massages were monitored closely, the standard care group was not. These findings also did not answer some questions. Most people, whether they have back pain or not, usually feel better after a massage. [12] Combine that with the discovery that there were no differences in outcomes between the type of massage and one may consider that massage, while usually pleasant, really has no significant value in the treatment of low back pain. This reminds me of the study where they compared true accupuncture to sham accupuncture where both groups marginally improved to pretty much the same degree. [4] The study suggests that massage may be worth trying if you have back pain that has lasted longer than three months. Other treatments for back pain include exercises, painkillers, therapy to help you cope with pain, and spinal manipulation. [13] When patients visit the doctor with lower back pain, the usual treatments include medications for pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms, as well as prescribing physical therapy, back exercises and educating patients about possible causes of back pain and methods for preventing future injuries. [4]
As well as massage, people were given exercises to do at home. These could also have contributed to the improvements people saw. Everyone in the study had had back pain for more than three months, and people with some more serious types of back pain, such as sciatica, were excluded. [13] "The data does not fit with most of what is known about low back pain," said Dr. Donlin Long, professor of neurosurgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. "We have data from nearly 2,000 patients collected in a nationwide study which showed no lasting benefit with any, manipulation, and massage. [2] While massage may help some patients with low back pain, as do other therapies, it will not, unfortunately, be the answer for everyone. Strengthening both the back and the core muscles can be important and helpful. [12] While the mechanism through which massage alleviates low back pain remains unclear, scientists believe the technique may help relax spastic muscles, stimulate tissue locally or cause a more generalized central nervous system response. [3] One third got specific structural massages, intended to identify muscle spasms that can cause low back pain. [12] Some got relaxation massage, a full-body technique intended to induce a generalized sense of relaxation to ease low back pain. Others got structural massage, which aims to identify specific musculoskeletal contributors to pain and to release restrictions on muscles causing the distress. [5]
Press news service file photo A weekly massage is shown to relieve low back pain and improve functioning in a study reported today. [9] A new study has looked at whether massage can help people with long-term back pain. [13]
Massage is an effective treatment for lower back pain, dulling the chronic pain experienced by some patients for six months or longer. [8] "I think massage therapy can be useful for patients with back pain, but more as a. supplemental therapy," Duarte added. [1] The findings suggest that massage therapy provided greater relief of back pain when compared to conventional approaches alone. [7] In certain cases massage therapy may do more harm than good so it is important to know why you are having back pain before running out and signing up for therapy. [4]
"If you're having continuing problems with back pain even after trying usual medical care, massage may be a good thing to do. [1] "The standard primary care for back pain involves medications," said Dr. Daniel Cherkin, of the Group Health Research Institute. [12] The trial enrolled 400 Group Health Cooperative patients who had low back pain for at least three months. Their pain was 'non-specific,' meaning with no identified cause. [11] Anderson is one the 400 members of Seattle's Group Health Cooperative whose persistent back pain was included in a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on Monday. [7] The scientists recruited 401 members of a large group health plan who had moderately severe back pain unconnected with any disease and generally related to strains and sprains. [5]
The researchers conclude that massage has few adverse effects and is a reasonable treatment for low back pain. [5] Background: Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of massage for chronic low back pain. [14] I wish I could afford a theraputic massage weekly! I pay $60 for an hour theraputic and it does wonders for my chronic low back pain caused by spina bifida. [4]
The research involved about 400 patients aged 20 to 65 with chronic low back pain. [10] Patients: 401 persons 20 to 65 years of age with nonspecific chronic low back pain. [14]
Low back pain is very common. It often goes away after several days or weeks, but it may last for months or years or periodically recur. This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract. [16]
Americans spend at least $50 billion each year to to treat lower back pain, the second most common neurological problem in the U.S. after headaches, according to the National Institutes of Health. [4] After years of searching I found something that works and has lasting results for lower back pain. [4] Each year around 5 million people go to their GP with back pain. [13] I got a lot of relief from ROLFing, which is a deep tissue technique. Like its been said before, this is only for people with muscle/facia related back pain, not for people with bone and disk ailments. [4] While certain back pain needs more serious intervention, the majority of back pain sufferers really do need at least 1 of the following a. lose weight! Big Belly equals Back Pain- We are not supposed to be overweight! b. Exercise- Strengthening core muscles (from the back all the way around including abs and stretching! How many people actually do this every day? Not many. c. simple ergonomics- how we sit around at the office or at home. [4]
You make several valid points, not the least of which is determining the cause/causes of that lower back pain before trying massage or anything else. [4] "A number of patients with chronic back pain today are in my opinion over-medicalized and are taking a large number of medications, some of which are narcotic and some of which have significant side effects and costs." [2] NEW YORK (WABC) -- Almost everyone gets lower back pain at one time or another, but for some, it's a chronic condition. [12] Chronic lower back pain is one of the peskiest conditions to treat. Sometimes it goes away on its own, other times it keeps returning. [12]
Having worked with several persons with chronic back pain I can vouch for yogas effectiveness. [4]
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on low back pain. [1] I had four bulging discs in my back including L4 and L5 (among the most common associated with low back pain). [4]
I still have back pain. My breasts are way too large, but insurance will only pay for a reduction if I remove them completely (it also means I cant exercise properly or get into certain yoga positions regardless of how flexible I am). [4] Before, I never believed in the needle stuff, but after my first visit, seeing how a small needle could cause my lower back muscle involuntarily spasm (in a good way) and I could walk a bit longer, I returned for my second visit and well, I could walk 1 hour afterwards. Third visit, pain in my hip and leg were completely gone, but a spot remained on my lower back. (a great improvement) Then I tried a Chiropractor who really adjusted my spine (I could hear crackling noises when he did it) and voilla, after another week, with some reasonable walking exercises (30 minutes at a time), pain no more. [4]
There have been some medical studies done which indicated that massage therapy, at the onset of cervical stenosis, can slow the progression of the disease. Since some people cant handle the pain killers or anti-inflammatory meds, its another option for them along with neck exercises. If nothing more, it gives them some additional time before reaching the surgical option. [4] The doctor for anti inflamitory meds as well as chiro twice a month and massage therapy twice a month. If I miss either the chiro or massage therapy, I am in a greater level of pain and, at times, require pain meds. For me this is enough to confirm that I require all three areas of expertise. [4]
Use Massage Therapy for my chronic muscle spasm, OA issues and residual pain from waiting months for Ins. to approve surgery. [4]
I believe that a multi-pronged approach is best. Massage, chiro, yoga, swimming, meds if needed can all work hand in hand to help these chronic pain sufferers live a more normal life. Unfortunately, many people want the doctor, or chiropractor, or massage therapist to fix them. [4] Dr. Richard Deyo of Oregon Health Sciences University told NPR that scientists aren't sure how exactly massage works to relieve pain. "It may be that it helps with relaxation of muscles that are tense," Deyo said. [8]
Massage patients also reported improved physical function, fewer days in bed, more activity and decreased use of anti-inflammatory medications. "This seems to offer clinicians another option for managing a challenging group of patients," said study coauthor Dr. Richard Deyo, professor of evidence-based family medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. "Some patients are eager to avoid medications, injections, or surgery, and this may offer some relief." [2] The study also found that after six months massage recipients still reported pain relief. [7]
After one year, reported benefits were no longer significant. The one surprising finding was that both massage types were found to be equally effective. [7] "As expected with most treatments, the benefits of massage declined over time. At six months after the trial started, both types of massage were still associated with improved function," Cherkin said. [11]
"I thought structural massage would have been at least a little better, and that's not the case," Cherkin said. [1] Structural massage, which focuses on soft-tissue abnormalities, requires more training and may be more likely to be paid for by health insurance plans, which may equate it with physical therapy, said Cherkin. [1] I tried every alternative offered to delay surgery and after surgery when I was diagnosed with AA, there are only medications to ease the pain and spasms. Exercise, massage, accupuncture and physical therapy can only be effective if you can tolerate them. [4] While medication and physical therapy are beneficial modalities, many people are turning to massage, acupuncture, and yoga for relief. [15]
Find a massage therapist with a medical background like my wife. She an Masters in Athletic Training, Massage Therapy degree & is a Wellness Coach. She has over 100 courses she has completed outside of here schooling and understands the picture. I have seen her save so many people from pharmageddon and mainstream medecine. [4] I pay a huge amount each year in medical insurance but chiropractic and massage therapy are what truly give me relief and my insurance does not pay for massage at all and limited visits to the Chiropractor. [4]
Massage Therapy (Deep Tissue) is not a covered treatment under my Medicare/Humana unless within the care of a Chiro and paid at a much lower amount than the $70/ hour charged by a LMT. So, unless you are fairly well off, spending $70 a week for a LMT is financially impossible. [4] Reread the article. It just presenting basic information, that the Greeks, Romans, Asians and all ancient civilizations knew centuries ago. Remember, they knew massage worked. we know for a fact Roman soldiers even used massage therapy as their healing medicine after battles. Its not just about muscles, its about all the soft tissue, and the nervous system. [4]
I've used massage for years and what is does is relieve muscle pain while the patient improves spontaneously, but only in a well-chosen few." [2] Researchers also observed that patients in the massage groups spent fewer days in bed, were more active and used less anti-inflammatory medication than the usual care group. [11] The adjusted mean RDQ score was 2.9 points (95% CI, 1.8 to 4.0 points) lower in the relaxation group and 2.5 points (CI, 1.4 to 3.5 points) lower in the structural massage group than in the usual care group, and adjusted mean symptom bothersomeness scores were 1.7 points (CI, 1.2 to 2.2 points) lower with relaxation massage and 1.4 points (CI, 0.8 to 1.9 points) lower with structural massage. [14] Disability fell to 6.5 among people having structural massage. People who didn't have massage, but carried on getting the usual care from their doctor, rated their disability at 9 points after 10 weeks. [13]
The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments i.e. structural massage, relaxation massage or usual care. [11] Intervention: Structural massage ( n = 132), relaxation massage ( n = 136), or usual care ( n = 133). [14]
Participants were blinded to massage type but not to assignment to massage versus usual care. [14]
Usual care could mean any treatment recommended by a doctor, including painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or physiotherapy. [13]
Daniel C. Cherkin, the lead author and an epidemiologist with the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, mentioned some of the study's considerable strengths. It had a randomized design, a high follow-up rate, good adherence to the treatment and a large sample size. He said, the study was done on a mostly white, middle-class population in otherwise good health, which may limit its applicability to other groups. [5] The road to better health is paved with the small decisions we make every day. It's about the choices we make when we buy groceries, drive our cars and hang out with our kids. Join columnist Tara Parker-Pope as she sifts through medical research and expert opinions for practical advice to help readers take control of their health and live well every day. [5] Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. Theyll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. [4]
Health care providers now recommend it as part of a holistic pain-management plan for addressing chronic low-back pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. [15]
If you want to succeed then you must have patience and stick with yoga for at least 6 months AND also find a good teacher who takes a holistic approach and not just a structural approach which looks at back pain due to a structural defect in the spine. [4] Im a 40 year old male who suffered with bad lower back pain for nearly 20 years following a snowboarding accident which broke several bones in my lower back. [4] Our bodies are not made to sit as we do and we are not there yet in an evolutionary sense. It really is not so difficult but yet we still refuse to take the easiest and most common preventive and solution laden methods. These do not fix every type of back pain, but certainly many of the types. [4] Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, menstrual cramps, and back pain all respond to the disposable, hair-thin needles that are strategically placed at specific points on the skin. [15] In a survey of 1,000 adults, 25 percent reported back pain, 12 percent had knee pain, 9 percent were dealing with migraines and headaches, 7 percent had shoulder pain, and 5 percent had aching feet. [15] Most of my back pain is associated with my enormous breasts. I cant drop the weight from them. [4] Tried 3 different chiropractors using iice, electric message, nothing worked. Then I tried acupuncture (I know its hard to believe), but it worked beautifully. 3 visits, pain in my hip and leg were gone, but a spot remained on my lower back pain. [4] I and many of my fellows with back pain fight every day just to walk. Maybe if you werent so quick to insults you would realize that there are always extenuating issues to those of us that are fat azz Americans. [4] Ive suffered from lower back pain and headaches (with occasional migraines) for as long as I can remember. [4] The loss of weight can in fact relieve some of the pain associated with lower back pain. [4] How effective this is going to be really depends on the reason for the back pain. [4]
The pain is caused by whiplash from a car accident as well as lower back arthritis. [4]
The reason the massage was of questionable significance at the 1 year mark can often be because they continue to aggrevate their back through occupational or lifestyle activities so they will need regular maintenance treatments. [4] At six months, the massage patients still reported improved function, but after a year, the difference was no longer significant. [9] One in six American adults had a massage in the past year 25 million more Americans than 10 years ago, according to an annual survey by American Massage Therapy Association. [7] "If you can achieve a decrease in the use of medication by providing massage therapy, then I'm all in favor of that," Andersson said. [2] If it is caused by something like a herniated disc, stenosis or some other mechanical defect/problem then it really is unlikely that massage therapy is going to do much good. [4]
A trained, licensed massage therapist will help you determine which form of therapy is best for you. [15] Research suggests massage stimulates injured tissue and calms the central nervous system. "I knew I should not have tried lifting that," Anderson, 68, said of the 40-pound box more than a third of her weight. Since that incident in 2006, she keeps heat therapy packs strategically scattered throughout her three-story town house. "It taught me to be prepared." [7]
Using massage to decrease the spasm is, will in fact reduce one of the pain mechanisms. In other words the person may not get total pain relief but may have some pain relief which is associated with the accompanying spasm thus allowing them to perform their Activities of daily living (ADLS) in a decreased pain environment. [4] While the original PT worked (20+ years ago) now, the only thing that brings me relief is massage. My husband has very sensitive hands and he can usually zoom in directly on the spot that is aching or spasming. [4] Wow gupta, nice that you are telling us something that has been known for years and that any chiro or massage therapist will know when they open the door of their office the first time. [4] Not trying to be mean but a few questions for you. Are you overweight? Do you sit in a chair for long periods of time? Do you stretch? Do you exercise? Do you get massage? I dont know your situation so I dont want to generalize but these are some of the causes of sciatica. It is up to you to get better. [4]
After having an hour of massage every week for 10 weeks, the average disability score among people having relaxation massage fell to 6. [13] Pressure-point massage, which targets injured ligaments and muscle, is often more expensive and requires additional training, while relaxation massage, the most common form of massage, focuses on promoting a feeling of relaxation throughout the body. [7] In relaxation, or Swedish massage, a range of different maneuvers are used to promote a feeling of relaxation throughout the body and muscles. [8] I love massages, which, provides relaxation to my muscles and I get a good night sleep. [4]
No clinically meaningful difference between relaxation and structural massage was observed in terms of relieving disability or symptoms. [14] The researchers said previous studies focused on structural massage, which generally is more expensive but is more likely to be covered by health insurance. [9]
Check out the site which can help you find a Rolfer in your area http://rolf.org/. Similar to massage but Rolfing is more of a targeted precise massage that should be done by a certified Rolfer found with help from the the Rolf.org site. [4] Contact a good Massage Therapist before surgery or injections if that doesnt work get a few opinions before invasive treatments of any kind. [4] Several treatments seem to help, including exercises, painkillers, and spinal manipulation. People often try several treatments before they find something that works for them. [13]
I had some relief after the first treatment and after about three weeks, I was pain free. [4] At a friends suggestion, I started having accupuncture done at the first sign of pain now, and it helps every time. [4] From Swedish to deep tissue to orthopaedic, there are a variety of techniques available to help manage pain. [15]
Three quarters of the volunteers had had pain for more than a year. The volunteers, average age 46, two-thirds of them women, were randomly assigned to one of three groups. [5] Although in use for 5,000 years, scientists can't pinpoint the exact mechanism by which acupuncture works. It's believed that this healing method decreases pain by releasing substances in our body that naturally block pain. [15] IMO, you have to start with the medical doctor to find out the reason for the pain and then progress from there as to what works best for you. [4]
With our sedentary lifestyle, the abs get short, preventing you from standing straight. If you have a forward lean, all the pressure goes straight to the low back and these muscles become overworked and strained. Although its not very pleasant, some good psoas work will do wonders for LBP. [4]
Although chiropractic care is great but some chiropractors do recommend massage. My chiropractor has a massage therapist in her office, they are both magnificent. [4] I agree Terri, Insurance companies could likely save alot of money if they covered Doctor prescribed Massage sessions and lowered the price of co-pays for Chiropractic care as well. [4]
The beneficial effects of relaxation massage on function (but not on symptom reduction) persisted at 52 weeks but were small. [14]
1. Massage Beats Meds for Lower Back Pain, Study Says - US News and World Report
2. Massage Helps Chronic Low Back Pain for Some - ABC News
3. PressTV - Massage relieves chronic back pain
4. Got lower back pain? Massage may help! The Chart - CNN.com Blogs
5. Massages Ease Low Back Pain - NYTimes.com
6. Massage Therapies for Chronic Back Pains | TopNews United States
7. Local News | Massages really can make the pain go away, study finds | Seattle Times Newspaper
8. Massage Proven to Help Chronic Back Pain Sufferers | ThirdAge
9. Massage provides more relief for low back pain than 'usual care,' study finds | MLive.com
10. Massages for lower back pain improves health: study - CTV News
11. Massage therapy heals chronic back pain - The Times of India
12. Lower back pain and massage treatment | 7online.com
13. Massage helps back pain
14. A Comparison of the Effects of 2 Types of Massage and Usual Care on Chronic Low Back Pain
15. Most Americans plagued by pain - Health - GoErie.com/Erie Times-News
16. A Comparison of Massage Therapy and Usual Medical Care for Chronic Low Back Pain
