Can Massage Help With Arthritis?
Massage therapy has been recognized as a proactive intervention for improving joint mobility and providing relief for various joint issues. So can such a massage help with arthritis?
Let’s delve into the article to get the gist of this topic further.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a common term that is used to describe multifaceted joint issues. It can occur due to various reasons including inflammation and stiffness in joints. It can affect people of all ages and tends to worsen with age. It is important to address arthritis at the beginning stage as it can significantly impact daily life by causing pain, stiffness, and limited mobility in affected joints.
How can Arthritis Impact Daily Life?
Arthritis can drain one both physically and mentally. It makes the daily activities that one can do with ease problematic. Stiffness and swelling in joints can decrease mobility and make daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, dressing, and bathing more difficult to accomplish.
It can cause persistent pain and discomfort when one stands, sits, or walks for an extended period.
For individuals with arthritis, maintaining productivity at work can be a struggle as they may lack the resilience to stand or sit for long hours. It can increase absenteeism and tamper with the stability of their job.
Chronic pain and physical limitations associated with arthritis can take a toll on emotional well-being. It’s common for individuals with arthritis to experience feelings of frustration, anxiety, depression, or isolation.
Can Massage Help with Arthritis?
Massage helps to alleviate pain by promoting the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers produced by the body. By targeting the affected joints and surrounding muscles, massage can reduce muscle tension and improve circulation, ultimately contributing to a reduction in pain perception.
Inflammation and stiffness in joints can disrupt the range of motion. Massage therapy can help loosen tight muscles and improve joint flexibility by gently stretching and manipulating the soft tissues around the joint. This can enhance mobility and make daily activities easier to perform.
Severe cases of arthritis can make one dependent. The loss of autonomy can reduce everything to tension and accelerate stress levels. Massage therapy induces relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps counteract the body’s stress response. Lowering stress levels can have a positive impact on pain perception and overall well-being in individuals with arthritis.
Massage therapy may not be a dormant healer of arthritis but it contains proactive therapeutic properties to mitigate several physical and mental misalignments of arthritis and improve the quality of living.
What are the Best Massage Therapies for Different Types of Arthritis?
Gentle techniques of Swedish massage and myofascial release can be effective in addressing osteoarthritis, a condition that involves the breakdown of cartilage in joints. These relaxation therapies aim to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation and promote relaxation without putting undue pressure on the affected joints.
Rheumatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition. It can inflame joints and limit mobility. Massage modalities like lymphatic drainage massage, reflexology and acupressure have profound benefits in managing the symptoms of the rheumatic condition. While lymphatic drainage massage helps reduce joint inflammation for better mobility reflexology and acupressure aim to alleviate pain and promote relaxation.
Swedish massage and lymphatic drainage massage are adjunctive holistic approaches to mitigate the grave manifestation of Gout. Gout is caused by the buildup of uric crystals in joints which can result in inflammation or swelling of joints. While Lymphatic drainage therapy focuses on stimulating the lymphatic system to drain out excess fluid and toxins from tissues and reduce swelling Swedish massage targets chronic stress and induces relaxation.
How Massage Techniques Should Be Adjusted for Arthritis Patients?
Tailoring massage techniques to cater to the health requirements of clients is an essential factor of a profound therapeutic experience.
- Employing gentle techniques and avoiding robust massage modalities can help minimise discomfort and reduce the risk of exacerbating inflammation.
- Restraining from applying massage techniques directly on affected joints is crucial as it may cause damage to over-sensitive joints.
- Adapting shorter massage sessions can be beneficial for individuals with drastic arthritis conditions.
- Helping clients settle into comfortable positions with supporting pillows and cushions is essential.
- Therapist-client communication before and during the session can help therapists adjust their styles and techniques to satisfy the needs of clients.
- Incorporating gentle warm-up and cool-down techniques before and after the massage session can help minimise muscle soreness.
- Encouraging clients to stay hydrated before and after the massage session can help flush out toxins and prevent dehydration, which can exacerbate arthritis symptoms.
Conclusion
Massage therapy can be an effective complementary treatment for arthritis by providing pain relief, improving joint flexibility, reducing inflammation, lowering stress levels, and promoting better sleep. While it may not be a cure, incorporating regular massage sessions into a comprehensive treatment plan can contribute to improved quality of life and greater overall well-being for individuals living with arthritis.
