You Can Do Massage for That?

Most people think about massage and think back rubs, neck rubs, and relaxation. But did you know that there are many other conditions that massage therapy can be used for? Clinical massage therapy (site-specific treatment with a goal in mind) can be an effective treatment for many medical conditions. Here is just a small sample:

1. IT band syndrome: This is an overuse injury of the soft tissue that runs from the hip to the knee and can cause knee pain/hip pain. This is common in runners and other endurance athletes, but can happen to anyone.
2. Plantar fascitis: This painful condition of the feet often responds well to massage therapy and physical therapy. A little stretching and soft-tissue massage goes a long way (especially when you start treatment right away).
3. Piriformis syndrome: This condition can be a real pain in the butt – literally! The piriformis is a muscle in the buttock region and, when tight, causes pain in the buttocks and/or down the leg.
4. Shoulder pain: Massage therapy can be helpful to those of you with shoulder pain. Postural problems and daily activities (like sitting at a computer) can strain and irritate these muscles and massage therapy can often help.
5. Headaches: I’ve blogged about this before, and I will blog about it again. Massage therapy can help decrease the frequency and intensity of headaches. Research has shown massage to be effective treating tension AND migraine headaches.
6. Fibromyalgia: There are few things that haven been shown effective at managing symptoms of fibromyalgia, and massage therapy is one of them. Massage is the safest treatment available for many chronic pain conditions.
7. TMJ dysfunction: For those unfamiliar, TMJ dysfunction is pain and/or clicking and locking of the jaw. Not all massage therapists treat this condition, but many do. If you can find an experienced clinical massage therapist, massage can help manage the symptoms and pain of TMJ dysfunction.

There are many others conditions massage therapy can help, including carpal tunnel, arthritis, and bursitis. The take-home message here is that if there is something that has been nagging you, check with a clinical massage therapist and see if they can help you. A good clinical massage therapist will also tell you when they CANNOT help, and can refer you to another appropriate medical professional (perhaps a physical therapist or physician).

Considering that massage therapy is a safe treatment without side effects for almost everyone, it is a very good place to start.  What have you successfully treated by receiving massage therapy? How did a massage therapist help you in your recovery?

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The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.