Of all of her treatments for arthritis, Margaret liked her hour of massage therapy best. It relaxed her, gave her a window of relief from pain and lifted her spirits for at least a day or two every week.

Massage is probably the oldest therapy for arthritis or for any disorder. It was practiced in China as early as 2,700 B.C. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates advocated “rubbing” as a treatment that “can bind a joint that is loose and loosen a joint that is hard.”

Margaret doesn’t need scientific evidence, but a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrated the benefits. After eight weeks of Swedish massage therapy, 68 men and women with osteoarthritis of the knee reported significant reduction of pain and other arthritis symptoms plus improved function and walking speed. A control group that received usual arthritis care did not show the same improvement until they started to receive massage therapy two months into the study.

Possible reasons for the improvements, according to the researchers, include increased blood flow to the joint and improved tone of supporting muscles, promoting greater flexibility and less stress on the joint.

Arthritis is not the only reason Americans are seeking massage therapy. Massage seekers include patients with cancer, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, asthma, eating disorders, lower back pain and sports injuries.

There are many types of massage now being practiced. The most common and the type considered traditional or classic is Swedish massage, developed by Henrik Ling in the early 19th century and brought to the United States about 1850. It’s a full body treatment on a table, covered by a towel, lasting 50 to 60 minutes.

Other types of massage practiced today, using variations of many of these techniques, include Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Reflexology, Shitsu and Acupressure.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about which type of massage might be helpful or risky for your particular medical condition.

Probably the biggest risk is relying solely on a certain type of massage when other treatments, or the care of a physician, are needed to avoid severe health consequences. Massage should never be used directly on a joint that’s inflamed or an area that’s infected, since this could make the condition worse.

Another risk involves massaging the legs when there is deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot. A good massage therapist should be aware of risks associated with certain medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer or rheumatoid arthritis.



Rupp is information and assistance case manager with the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority Area Agency on Aging.