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Pain Unbearable? Survey Touts Power of Massage

Posted on: Sunday, 31 October 2004, 03:00 CST

Pain.

It's one of the worst four-letter words around.

Concerns over how to deal with unremitting pain have been heightened since the popular pain-relieving drug, Vioxx, was pulled from the market because of risks to heart health.

With the safety of similar drugs in question and under study, a recent survey by the American Massage Therapy Association is particularly relevant.

The survey found that consumers are beginning to acknowledge the power of massage for relieving pain and, in fact, have found it helpful, along with chiropractic, physical therapy and drugs.

"Clinical research has shown that massage is effective in caring for a broad range of ailments, and can be more effective for chronic back pain than other complementary therapies," said AMTA President Laurel J. Freeman in a press statement.

The power of touch is undisputed.

The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine has conducted 78 studies on the positive effects of touch as part of massage therapy.

Those studies found massage diminished pain in diseases such as fibromyalgia, while increasing pulmonary function in asthma, decreasing glucose levels in diabetes, and enhancing immune function in those with HIV.

Research has also found massage beneficial for alleviating pain and anxiety in cancer patients, lessening pain in those who have undergone heart bypass surgery, and stimulating the brain to produce those happy endorphins.

Massages further are effective for relieving overall stress and reducing heart rate and blood pressure. And no surgery is required!

But that doesn't mean that massages can't be hurtful. AMTA urges prospective clients to check the credentials of their therapist.

The organization sponsors a free Find a Massage Therapist national locator service, which can be reached either online or through its toll-free phone number - www.amtamassage.org and (888) 843-2682.

The group urges consumers to ask their massage therapist:

- Are you licensed to practice massage?

- Where did you receive your massage therapy training?

- Are you nationally certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork?

You might also want to be certain the therapist has your medical history, especially regarding prior conditions and injuries.

That should assure a positive experience.

The point of getting a massage is to relax, feel better during and after, and relieve pain and stress, otherwise, what's the point?

A professional massage is not intended to beat you up or to rub places considered off limits.

So if you are dealing with pain, massage therapy might be the route to take for relief, if your doctor approves. Prices vary, but if you need a massage for medical reasons, your physician might be able to write you a prescription, provided your insurance covers it.

On Health is a weekly column on health issues. If you have questions or comments, write Carolyn Susman at The Palm Beach Post, P.O. Box 24700, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33416, call 820-4433 or e- mail carolyn_susman@pbpost.com

Source: Palm Beach Post

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