Massage

Excerpts from the entry on Massage in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Massage therapy is a form of hands-on manipulation of the body's muscles and soft tissues. It is so highly effective for pain relief that many pain specialists are incorporating it into their programs, and some hospitals are using massage therapists in their pain-control programs. In addition to chiropractor's offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and physician's offices, massages are available at health clubs, resorts, salons, spas, and wellness centers. Besides the large number of massage locales available, many practitioners also make house calls. With such widespread use of massage therapy, it is not hard to understand the recent estimates of four to six billion dollars spent annually on massages, many of them to relieve chronic pain problems.

Also in this entry:

• The History of Massage
• How Massage Works
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Massage
• Advantages of Massage
• How Massage Is Used
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.