The National Institutes of Health estimates that almost 80 percent of the population suffers from back pain. Next to the common cold, it’s the leading cause of missed work days. Recently, new studies have been done to more conclusively show the benefits of massage for back pain.
New, high quality trials show that massage gives some relief from back pain that has continued for many weeks or months—and the benefit may continue at least a year after the source of massage is over.
Many hospitals and chronic pain clinics consider massage therapy an integral tool for back pain relief.
Research documented in a 2001 study led by Maria Hernandez-Reif, MD, and Tiffany Field, PhD, cited benefits that included decreased chronic low back pain, reduced depression and anxiety, increased range of motion and improved sleep. And in a 2001 study led by Daniel Cherkin, PhD, and David Eisenberg, MD, results showed therapeutic massage to be effective for persistent low back pain. The study also showed that the group of research subjects who received massage, as compared to traditional Chinese medical acupuncture and self-care education, used the least medication and had the lowest costs of subsequent care.
If you are suffering from back pain, and you haven't tried massage yet, what are you waiting for? Talk to your doctor, do your own research, and feel free to call me if you have any questions.
