Massage Lessens Osteoarthritis Pain and Stiffness

That lingering pain in a knee, hip, elbow or wrist could be a sign of osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. Massage Helps Relieve Osteoarthritis Pain
​Several published studies have indicated that massage helps relieve osteoarthritis pain.

1. Better posture. Massage to realign posture will reduce unequal weight distribution throughout the body, which the joints usually receive with unhealthy posture. Joints properly stacked vis-à-vis each other will witness a healthy distribution of body weight and ground reactive force. This will reduce the weight burden load upon each joint.
2. Joint flexibility. Friction strokes will positively impact joint structures by aiding in the removal of collagenous tissue bound within joint structures. Collagen settles in areas of injury to patch these sites. These patchwork scars contribute to the lack of mobility and stiffness felt by people with osteoarthritis. Proper range of motion can be restored with massage techniques.
3. Pain management. Classic Swedish massage—effleurage, petrissage and tapotement—reduces pain by directly impacting nerves. Because joint structures have many nerve endings located within and around the local regions, osteoarthritis pain can be managed greatly with massage therapy.
4. Decreased swelling. Wringing strokes to push extracellular fluid proximally upon a limb can greatly reduce swelling of an affected joint structure. This benefit augments the prior four benefits mentioned and may expedite the body’s healing processes.
5. Movement re-education. As the massage client begins to experience proper joint mobility, the nervous system will begin re-educating itself via proprioceptive activity. Efficient movement patterns can be restored compared to pre-osteoarthritis patterns.

These benefits of massage therapy will greatly aid the osteoarthritic patient and slow the progression of this condition. (Information presented is never intended to replace advice from a medical professional. An osteoarthritic massage client should have a discussion with his primary care provider to determine how massage therapy can be implemented into the client’s treatment plan.)

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