How Massage Therapy Helps Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

"Moderate pressure massage is among the massage therapies that can help relieve rheumatoid arthritis pain." In my experience as a sports massage therapist, a weekly professional massage of areas affected by RA, such as knees, plus daily self-massage, reduces pain and can improve movement and quality of life significantly.

Article below from "Everyday Health" by Madeline R. Vann, MPH, LPC and Beth Levine

Updated on July 5, 2023

Massage isn't just an occasional feel-good indulgence — it can be a great form of rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Need proof? According to research published in Complementary Therapy in Clinical Practice, study participants reported relief from pain and stiffness after four once-a-week moderate-pressure massages on arms affected by rheumatoid arthritis, supplemented with daily self-massage at home. They also reported having a stronger grip and a greater range of motion than those who were given only a light-touch massage.

Earlier research, published in the same journal, found that massage had similar benefits for RA pain in the hands and also reported that the combination of weekly massage therapy and daily self-massage led to improved mood and better sleep.

Yet another study, published in the November 2019 issue of Chronic Pain and Management, established that moderate massage of hips also reduced pain and sleep disturbances.

Massage therapy expert Tiffany Field, PhD, founder and director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida, led the latter two studies. For the research that looked at massage for RA pain on the arms, she defined moderate pressure as “pressure that moves the skin.” In an earlier study, her team found moderate pressure was more effective than light pressure. However, each person has his own comfort level. “Massage therapists will ask you where you feel pain and also whether the pressure they are applying is enough,” Dr. Field says. If you want to duplicate the results of her research, aim for pressure that is firm but not so deep as to be painful.

Though the bodywork treatment has benefits for people with rheumatoid arthritis, the question of how long those benefits might last remains unanswered. You might need ongoing treatments or tune-up visits when your symptoms of pain and stiffness return. A review of research published in February 2022 in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice found that massage therapy for arthritic knees may lead to short-term improvement in pain, stiffness, and functionality but the benefits were not long-term.

“Massage has been shown to be useful in reducing pain temporarily,” explains A. Lynn Millar, PhD, physical therapist and professor of physical therapy at Winston Salem State University in North Carolina. And best of all, she adds, there's no reason not to include massage as part of your RA treatment. However, The Arthritis Foundation urges you to check with your rheumatologist first before starting any massage therapy to make sure it is appropriate for your individual health needs.

Types of Massage Therapy Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Although there are many types of massage, only two — moderate-pressure massage and myofascial release — have research support for pain relief for RA, but you can explore others as well.

Results are encouraging. For instance, in another study led by Field, published in Complementary Therapies in Practice, the research team found participants who received a moderate-pressure massage targeted to the knees reported reduced pain and greater range of motion. Researchers speculate that the pain relief may be tied in part to an increase in the brain’s serotonin output, which the authors note is the body’s natural pain suppressant.

A massage treatment, whether weekly or more frequently, could be a soothing addition to your RA treatment plan.

Read the full article here: https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/treatment/why-you-should-get-a-massage-for-ra-pain-relief/