Research Proves That Massage Reduces Low Back Pain In Just 10 Weeks!
In the July 5, 2011 Annals of Internal Medicine, a low back pain study conducted by the Group Health Research Institute revealed that getting a Swedish or structural massage (also known as neuromuscular and myofascial massage) was worth considering to help alleviate chronic low back pain.
After receiving 1 massage a week for 10 weeks, 1 out of 3 patients improved and was pain-free, compared to 1 in 25 given ‘usual care’. Usual care applies to any doctor-recommended treatment, including painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or physical therapy.
The massage ultimately helped the study participants with low back pain even after 6 months, allowing them to remain active and productive.
“This is important because chronic back pain is among the most common reasons people see doctors and alternative practitioners, including massage therapists,” says Dr. Cherkin, a senior investigator at Group Health Research Institute. “It’s also a common cause of disability, absenteeism, and ‘presenteeism,’ when people are at work but can’t perform well.”
It was reported that after one year, the benefits of the massage were no longer significant, probably because they hadn’t come in for any follow-up massage care.
The complete study protocol is available here.
In the short video below, watch as I massage a client’s low back while discussing the common causes of low back pain and how the combination of Massage and Medicupping can help decrease low back pain.
