Is massage helpful when you have physical pain?
"I almost cannot speak of an aspect of medicine where the application of massage therapy wouldn't apply. Massage effects...certainly are more profound than a visit to a doctor. You don't sit around feeling better at the doctor's office!" - Dr. Candace Pert, Psychoneuroimmunology researcher and pharmacologist
Well, I guess that answers the question pretty well!
Dr. Pert said she believed that if we all had a massage every week, we would have ninety percent fewer illnesses. That's a huge number!
Massage starts out affecting our skin surface and the soft structures below the skin, and as it becomes deeper, contact is made with our muscles. In fact, all of our soft tissues (everything that is not bone) are affected by massage.
"Knots" and spasm can be worked out. A skilled massage therapist will know where to work to release your areas of tightness...and it might not be where you thought it would!
There is a wide variety of massage techniques, and you will find some more useful or beneficial than others. The type of massage that will help you the most depends on what your specific problem is.
For instance, for stress relief, a general all-over relaxation professional massage will meet your needs.
But, when you have pain, you may need a massage therapist trained in sports massage, neuromuscular therapy, trigger point therapy, Rolfing or Hellerwork. This is not "feel-good" massage like a relaxation massage is, but you will feel better afterward. These types of massage are more like a "seek and destroy mission."
A well-trained and skillful massage or muscle therapist will be able to "put their finger" on your problem. They will assess the cause of your pain and work with you to reduce or eliminate it.
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