If you find yourself suffering from low-back pain you shouldn’t feel alone. Around 31 million Americans are experiencing low-back pain at any given time. Low-back pain can result from a variety of conditions, including injuries, illnesses or mechanical problems in the back.
Many studies have shown the benefits of massage as a complementary therapy for reducing pain, relieving stress and anxiety, and to help improve overall wellness. Now a research study has found massage is the best therapy for low-back pain.
A research study funded by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), reached this conclusion: “Massage therapy helped reduce pain and improve function more rapidly than usual medical care in people with chronic low-back pain.”
In the study, 410 patients who had been suffering from chronic low-back pain were divided into three groups. Each group was given a different treatment for ten weeks:
- Structural Massage uses myofascial, neuromuscular and various soft-tissue techniques to address musculoskeletal causes of low-back pain.
- Relaxation Massage is similar to Swedish massage. It uses smooth and gentle motions and vibration to promote a sense of relaxation.
- Standard Medical Care included medication, back exercises and other forms of physical therapy.
The people in the massage groups received one hour of massage therapy, once each week for ten weeks. The results of the study found that the patients from the massage groups were better to perform daily activities without pain killers or anti-inflammatory medicine than the group who had the standard medical care.
After six months some of the benefits of massage were still being by participants from groups. After one year the benefits of massage treatment were about the same as the group who received standard medical treatment; all participants showed about the same amount of improvement.
If you are experiencing low-back or other back, muscle or joint pain, massage therapy may be able to help your condition improve. Call us to schedule an appointment, and see how massage can you to feel better.
