Pain. It’s a universal experience, but it manifests in a diverse spectrum. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.” But, can massage therapy help manage pain? Today, let’s delve into the two main categories: acute and chronic pain, and explore how massage therapy can offer a natural approach to managing both.
The difference between acute and chronic pain
Acute pain is a temporary visitor, often triggered by a specific event like a broken bone, surgery, or a burn. It acts as an alarm system, alerting us to potential tissue damage. Thankfully, it usually fades as the injury heals, allowing us to return to our daily routines.
Chronic pain, however, lingers beyond the expected healing timeframe, often exceeding six months. This is because complex factors beyond the initial injury can keep pain signals firing in the brain. This makes chronic pain notoriously challenging to treat, leaving both patients and the medical community frustrated.
Beyond the physical discomfort, chronic pain casts a long shadow, impacting individuals’ biopsychosocial well-being. The constant ache can take a toll on emotional well-being, social life, and even physical health in other ways. Social connections may dwindle, cherished activities may fall by the wayside, and daily tasks can become a struggle.
This is where improving functional capacity becomes crucial. By empowering individuals with chronic pain to manage their daily activities, we can help them reclaim control and live fuller lives.
Here’s where massage therapy can help with pain:
- Reduced pain and inflammation: Massage techniques like Swedish massage and deep tissue massage can stimulate the body’s natural pain-relieving mechanisms, decreasing pain intensity and inflammation.
- Improved circulation: Massage promotes blood flow, which can accelerate healing and reduce muscle tension, further contributing to pain relief.
- Stress reduction: Chronic pain often goes hand-in-hand with stress and anxiety. Massage therapy’s calming effect can help manage these emotions and promote relaxation, creating a positive impact on overall well-being.
- Improved sleep: Chronic pain can significantly disrupt sleep patterns. Massage can foster relaxation and improve sleep quality, promoting better pain management and overall health.
Here is a quote from a continuing education class I’m currently taking provided by AMTA called Chronic Pain- Relief with Massage Therapy;
“Each client is an individual, each session is unique, and I vary my approach to the body accordingly. As a longtime massage therapist, I try to attend to the qualities of touch that I am offering. Applying a routine or protocol that is overstimulating or rough could set the client back in their healing progress. Healthy people with lots of vitality may benefit from very firm, deep pressure, but studies have shown that clients experiencing debilitating pain and a large sleep deficit will derive more benefit from comforting touch and a more parasympathetic approach to their massage.”
How else can massage therapy help with pain? There are a variety of education based techniques that are effective during a massage therapy session to relieve pain:
- Stretch, lengthen and smooth muscle tissue: Using light to medium pressure and very slow cadence, work on stretching the muscle and surrounding tissue from where it originates to where it inserts, being sure to define the edges of the muscle. The gentle nature of this work can shortened, inflamed muscle tissue to relax and lengthen.
- Use concentric contraction to activate and relax muscle: In order for a muscle to contract, the agonistic muscle (or muscle that does the opposite action), generally on the other side, has to relax. Contracting the muscle tissue that is not in pain can help the muscle tissue that is actively in pain to relax.
- Less is more: Too much stimulation during the massage session can increase inflammation and pain. Knowing when to use less jarring techniques at an appropriate depth and speed is essential for a healing, therapeutic session.
My clients know this, but for those who have not worked with me yet, this is how I show up for my clients! Each session is individual and communication is key here for assuring that the work I am doing resonates in a positive way for my clients and does not cause further discomfort. That may mean that we chat a lot during your session and you don’t get a nap on the massage table, but if your goal is to alleviate chronic pain long term, consistent communication is necessary. However, if your goal is to improve parasympathetic response and improve sleep quality, then by all means, snooze away on my table. 🙂
A Note on Opioids:
While opioids can offer temporary pain relief, they come with a significant risk of addiction and dependence. Massage therapy, on the other hand, provides a safe and non-addictive approach to pain management, making it a valuable tool for both acute and chronic pain sufferers. As one of my teachers has said “We as health care professionals have a very important role on the front line of pain management and the more we understand the complex nature of pain the better equipped we are to support our clients”.
It’s important to remember that massage therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Consulting a licensed massage therapist and healthcare professional is essential to determine the most suitable approach for your individual needs. By exploring the potential of massage therapy, you can take a step towards a life less dominated by pain and empower yourself to live a fuller, more active life.
Come see me in my Missoula, MT studio or book an in-home session with me and let’s use the science based power of massage to decrease and better manage your chronic pain.