Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis
Does Massage and Relaxation Help to Heal Arthritis Pain?
What is osteoarthritis and how is it treated? Is massage therapy a useful alternative?
Massage therapy is often recommended as a treatment for osteoarthritis, but experts disagree about whether or not it helps.
Massage relaxes muscles, which brings emotional relief at the very least. In addition, massage increases blood circulation, thereby bringing plenty of oxygen and nutrients while removing waste products from the surrounding cells. It stimulates the lymphatic system, which works with the circulatory system to remove loose or toxic debris from the body.
So far, so good!
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, which means that osteoarthritis is usually a result of the aging process and results from the thinning of cartilage. The most abundant type of cartilage in the human body, the tough elastic material that is sometimes called gristle, cushions joints between bones. It is constantly being worn away due to everyday activities while it is also being replaced in youthful and healthy bodies. As we age, replacement slows and the cartilage thins. When this happens and bones begin to rub, the painful result is called osteoarthritis. The physical disability, often expressed as pain in the knees, hips, back and hands, is the most common condition reported by older adults, especially after the age of fifty.
Types of Treatment
Common pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis, but many people report that they cause stomach upset. Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can result in more dangerous stomach ulcers or liver and kidney problems.
Other treatment options include antioxidants and glucosamine sulfate and avocado oil supplements; however their usefulness is still a matter of debate. Acupuncture, which involves the insertion of tiny needles at certain points on the body, is believed to balance the flow of energy and thereby relieve pain. Yoga is used to build strength and increase balance and flexibility.
As with many physical ailments, maintaining a healthy weight, exercise, and eating a plant-focused diet can improve the strain on your aching body and boost your mood.
Massage as Safe and Effective
Because there are few options for treating this age-related disease, massage has been accepted as a relatively safe and reasonably effective therapeutic or caring treatment for osteoarthritis. While some massage therapists have said that studies show that massage therapy apparently helps osteoarthritis and probably stimulates cartilage production, it should not be assumed that osteoarthritis can be healed.
However, the practice of integrative medicine, where traditional medicine and alternatives like massage are used together, is gaining acceptance among doctors and in health care facilities. Many osteoarthritis sufferers feel that a regular massage provides them with much-needed help and is less harmful than drugs and supplements. There seems to be no harm in having a massage from time to time to provide relaxation and pain reduction.
