Conditions that massage can help

Massage therapy feels oh so good and can help a wide variety of conditions - with a large body of empirical evidence to support it!

Musculoskeletal pain, including low back pain – Massage can treat a wide of a range of musculoskeletal presentations including pain, tension, and restriction of movement.

Mood – Anxiety reduction is one of the most well-established effects of massage therapy with evidence for this crossing multiple presenting conditions and populations.

Pre/Post Operation – Massage can help with the management of pre- and post-operative pain, anxiety and tension, and post-operative nausea.

Pregnancy, Labour and Post-natal – Reduces low back pain, pelvic pain, as well as pain and anxiety during labour.

Infant and Paediatric – Massage of pre-term or low-weight infants has been shown to improve daily weight gain by reducing anxiety.

Older adults – Helps manage behavioural, emotional and other conditions associated with dementia.

Athletes, Sports and Exercise – Reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and enhancing recovery after strenuous exercise.

Cancer – Massage can help with mood (including stress and depression) as well as reducing pain intensity/severity, fatigue and anxiety in cancer populations.

But wait, there’s more! There is also preliminary evidence for the clinical efficacy of massage therapy for the treatment of the following conditions: 

Headache and Migraine – Massage may be as effective as propranolol and topiramate in the prophylactic (preventive) management of migraine.

Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis – Massage can help with joint mobility and pain management.

Hypertension – Massage has a moderating effect on blood pressure and heart rate.

HIV – Massage can help improve quality of life as well as in managing depression.

Reference: Association of Massage Therapists Australia