Routine Massage Supports Bone and Joint Health

When your muscles are tight, achy and sore, it is common to turn to massage therapy to help relieve muscle pain and discomfort. But, did you know that massage can also be beneficial to helping relieve pain and soreness associated with common bone and joint conditions? 

Alleviates Pain

According to the United States Bone and Joint Initiative, bone and joint conditions are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability worldwide, affecting hundreds of millions of people. While massage in most cases can’t cure common bone and joint conditions, it can improve circulation throughout the body, which in turn can help alleviate the common pain associated with such conditions.

Promotes Functionality

People who suffer from common bone and joint conditions such as arthritis tend to lose range of motion as inflammation builds up in certain joint capsules. Through the use of various massage techniques, pressures and strokes around the inflamed joint area, licensed massage therapists can help improve blood flow, reduce pain, and ultimately improve overall range of motion and functionality.

Research Points to Massage

Research has shown that massage is one of the most popular complementary therapies used by Americans today. And, when it comes to the benefits of massage for bone and joint health, many leading organizations have found routine therapeutic massage to help with relieving pain, improving circulation and increasing range of motion. Some industry findings include:

• A 2010 review concluded that massage therapy may help temporarily reduce pain, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.  
• Various recent studies on the effects of massage for arthritis symptoms have found that regular use led to improvements in pain, stiffness, range of motion, hand grip strength and overall function of the joints. 
• A recent study found that a weekly 60-minute Swedish massage therapy session was beneficial for relieving pain due to osteoarthritis. 

Ultimately, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach to well-being based on the body's natural ability to heal itself.