Chronic pain and suffering is an issue that troubles a significant number in the U.S and throughout the world.
Although at times there is little help or solution to the pain, new findings show that a simple massage may have a noteworthy impact on individuals who are desperate for relief.
Back pain eventually affects all of us at one time or another, caused by moving something too heavy, a sports injury, a car accident.
At any one time, about one-quarter of all Americans suffer from lower back pain for a period of more than three months, according to a 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Those statistics were confirmed four years later in a follow-up survey.
In a new study published Tuesday by Annals of Internal Medicine, it was determined that patients suffering from chronic lower back pain found significant relief after receiving a massage.
In the study, researchers used 401 Group Health Cooperative patients who suffered from unexplained lower back pain for more than three months. Participants in the massage group of the study received a massage once a week for an hour at a time.
At the end of a ten-week period, researchers found that the participants who received the massage were better able to perform daily tasks in comparison to the group that did not receive daily massages.
According to Daniel C. Cherkin, Ph.D, leader of the study and an investigator at Group Health Research Institute, “Chronic conditions now affect nearly 100 million Americans, of whom 41 million have their daily activities limited in some way because of their condition, and 12 million cannot live independently.”
Generally someone who suffers from any type of chronic pain will be desperate for an effective treatment. Massage therapy has been used in various cultures for centuries and has proven to be a safe alternative that is fairly inexpensive and involves no drugs.
After the study, Cherkin agreed with the effectiveness of massage therapy. "This is important because chronic back pain is among the most common reasons people see doctors and alternative practitioners, including massage therapists,"
Although painkillers, physical therapy and rest are common recommendations for treatment of lower back pain, many overlook alternative treatments such as massage and chiropractic therapy and its potential to aid in relieving pain that may be hindering our everyday lives.
The study found that Swedish (relaxation) massage, which is what most massage therapists are taught, and structural massage, which focuses more on specific areas that may be troubling a patient, were equally effective in treating those suffering from chronic lower back pain.
In conclusion, Dr. Cherkin stated that, “The benefits of massage are about as strong as those reported for other effective treatments: medications, acupuncture, exercise, and yoga,…And massage is at least as safe as other treatment options. So people who have persistent back pain may want to consider massage as an option.”
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