Massage relieves back pain

Posted on Mon, 22 Aug 11

Regular massage is a great way to relieve back pain with a new study showing 10 weeks of massage had effects that lasted 6 months or more. The study also found that relaxation massage was just as good as a structural massage.  

Patients with chronic low back pain who received 10 weekly sessions of structural or relaxation massage therapy experienced clinically important improvements in pain and function with the benefits lasting for at least 6 months. There were also improvements in physical limitations (days in bed, reduced activity, and days off work), use of pain relieving medications and mental health.

Interestingly there was no apparent difference in effect between the 2 types of massage with relaxation massage producing the same effects as the more specialised structural massage. A possibility, speculate the investigators, is that they share similar effects such as local stimulation of tissue, effects on the nervous system, time spent in a relaxing environment or increasing body awareness.

“Our findings suggest that both relaxation massage and structural massage are reasonable treatment options for persons with chronic low back pain” concluded the study.

Source:

Cherkin DC, et al. A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jul 5;155(1):1-9.