Research through the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario indicates that massage therapy reduces inflammation of skeletal muscle acutely damaged through exercise. The study found evidence at the cellular level that massage therapy may affect inflammation in a way similar to anti-inflammatory medications. The study provides evidence for the benefits of massage therapy for those with musculoskeletal injuries and potentially for those with inflammatory disease, according to the lead author of the research.
Massage Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain
Research released in July 2011 expanded on previous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of massage therapy for chronic low back pain. Researchers found that “patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function”. The study was conducted over 10 weeks through Group Health Research Institute. Participants had a 60-minute massage once a week for 10 weeks. Massage patients also said they reduced the amount of over the counter anti-inflammatory medications they took. The study compared both relaxation massage and “structural massage” therapy and found no difference in the results from the type of massage given.
Kerry Massage 