6 Research-Based Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage – to most people – means stretching and rubbing the skin and applying pressure on the muscles, tendons and other structures.

When we hear the word massage, commonly what comes to mind is the one you get in a spa with dim lights and calming scents. But medical massage therapy is a bit different.

The techniques for both – general massage therapy and medical massage therapy – are quite similar. But the client populations are different which changes the stakes.

Medical massage therapists or physical therapists have some additional techniques that they use when massaging. Some of these are deep transverse friction massage, trigger point massage and cross-fibre massage.

In this article, we’ll cover the reason why patients are prescribed medical massage therapy. We’ll also go through the benefits of medical massage therapy and share the medical literature that backs up these benefits.

On this page:

What is medical massage therapy?
It’s different from spa massage
When is massage therapy recommended?

Research-Backed Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

What is medical massage therapy?

Medical massage therapy is the use of massage for treating patients. The techniques used here are backed by science and medical research.

It involves the manipulation of your skin, muscles, fascia and other structures to help deal with pain, releasing muscle knots, stiffness, mobility issues etc.

Here are some of the types of medical massage therapy types:

Swedish massage
Sports Massage

Aromatherapy
Deep tissue massage
Prenatal and postpartum massage

It’s different from spa massage

Medical massage therapy is different from spa massage or general massage therapy. But I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now. The main question is how it’s different?

We’ve mentioned above that both have different client populations. Here are three more areas where medical and general massage therapies differ:

1. Massage therapy and spa massage have different outcome goals

While spa massages focus on relaxation, releasing body tension and easing the mind, massage therapy deals with medical issues. Here, the outcomes include improving joint mobility, helping to heal the post-surgical scars, removing adhesions and so on.

2. These work in different settings

Spa massages, as the name indicates, are given in spas, wellness centers, private clubs and homes. Massage therapy on the other hand can qualify as a medical procedure and you can get the massage in a hospital, physical therapy clinic or at home.

Also, while you can walk in a spa and request a massage, you’ll generally need a physician’s or physical therapist’s prescription for medical massage therapy. The rules are different in different countries. So you can check with your doctor in case you’re interested in more information.

3. These fields require different qualifications

You need licenses to be a general or medical massage therapist in most countries.

The qualification for a masseuse or masseur (for males) is a diploma in Massage Therapy and 300-1000 training hours. In some places, you also need to pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx).

To become a medical massage therapist, you need a general masseuse license first. Then you can get board certified by passing the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTB) Exam.^[i]

When is massage therapy recommended?

Massage therapy is indicated as a treatment for several medical conditions. These include post-surgical scars, congenital deformities in kids, mobility issues in the elderly and many more.

Massage therapy is indicated as a treatment for several medical conditions. These include fibromyalgia, low back pain, headaches, osteoartheritis, sports injuries and more.

Here are five common conditions that massage therapy is used for:

1. Fibromyalgia

This condition causes body pain with stiffness, problems falling asleep, fatigue, memory issues and emotional changes. Medical massage can help relieve the symptom.

Although most scientific literature shows only short term benefits, some studies do show long term improvement in fibromyalgia patients who receive massage therapy.^[ii]

2. Low back pain

Low back pain is a widely common musculoskeletal condition worldwide. There are a significant number of researches that indicate that massage therapy is effective for treating low back pain.

Massage therapy is usually added to other medical treatments and is not used as the only treatment. But that largely depends on the condition and the underlying pathology.^[iii]

3. Headaches

Headaches and migraines can adversely affect a person’s quality of life. Luckily, massage therapy has positive effects in reducing the frequency and duration of migraines.

It can also reduce the intake of painkillers or analgesic drugs. Again, massage therapy is not usually the sole treatment for treating headaches. It’s frequently used with other treatments.

4. Osteoarthritis

There are a few different types of arthritis but osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common one. Scientific literature shows that massage therapy when used with exercise may help improve symptoms of OA patients.

The duration of the massage and the long term effects vary between patients based on their OA grade and other factors.^[iv]

5. Sports injuries

Massage therapy helps not only treat sports injuries but also prevent them to some extent. It helps remove lactic acid, reduce fatigue, and improve circulation in athletes. A study also shows that adding olive oil while massaging can improve the outcomes.

However, the current research suggests that massage alone may not be as effective as when combined with other treatment approaches.^[v]

Research-Backed Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

Medical massage therapy is effective for treating several health conditions as we’ve discussed above. It’s offered along with other standard treatments as more scientific research is coming out explaining the many benefits of massage for patients.

Here are some scientific benefits of massage therapy:

1. It Improves Blood Circulation

Massage increases the skin temperature and that in turn increases the blood flow to the area. This effect is short-term but still a significant contributor to improving blood circulation to an area.^[vi]

You need sufficient blood flow for wound healing after strenuous exercise, sports injury or post-surgery. A 2010 study found that the nearby non-massaged areas also had improved blood flow after the massage therapy. The increased blood flow enhances the nutrient supply to the area, which can significantly aid recovery.

2. Improves Joint ROM and Muscle Flexibility

Different types of medical massage therapy increase joint range of motion. Researchers performed Swedish massage for 4 weeks in knee osteoarthritis patients and observed a decrease in stiffness and an increase in range of motions.^[vii]

Researchers performed Swedish massage for 4 weeks in knee osteoarthritis patients and observed a decrease in stiffness and an increase in range of motions.

Scientific literature also shows that massage therapy increases muscle flexibility for the long term. The level of flexibility achieved varies from patient to patient and depends on several factors such as stretch tolerance, normal flexibility for the individual and joint range of motion to name a few.

3. Improves Body Function and Mobility

Neuropathic pain is the pain that arises from the nervous system. It can happen for many reasons such as diabetes, direct injury to the nerve or degeneration. Studies show that massage therapy tends to decrease pain in diabetic patients suffering from neuropathic pain.^[viii]

That increases their mobility and body function which improves their quality of life. Another study found similar effects in patients with osteoarthritis.^[ix]

4. Helps with Rehab of Soft Tissue Injuries

Sprains and strains are the most commonly known soft tissue injuries. Massage therapy helps deal with these by breaking down scar tissue, mobilizing fascia and decreasing pain. Medical studies show that conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis when treated with physical therapy massage techniques can have positive results for up to two weeks.^[x]

5. Reduces Muscle Pain

High-quality studies show that massage therapy is effective in reducing pain as compared to no treatment. It’s useful for post-surgical patients and those with acute and chronic pain as well.^[xi]

Reduction in pain is one of the most primary reasons why people sought out massage therapy. Although some pain reduction theories, primarily the pain gate theory, might be the reason for pain reduction, the psychological effect of massage may also be responsible for reducing pain.

6. Improves sleep quality

According to studies, massage therapy can reduce anxiety.^[xii]

Healthcare professionals have done research on various patient populations to check the efficiency of massage and its relation to sleep quality. The results show significant improvement in sleep quality following various doses of massage therapy.

That’s especially helpful for postpartum women and those suffering from fibromyalgia, cancer and chronic pain. ^[xiii]^{, ^[xiv]}

Science-Backed Benefit of Medical Massage Therapy- The Takeaway

There is scientific evidence indicating the effectiveness of massage therapy. The type of medical massage therapy you need for your condition is decided by your massage therapist or physical therapist. PTs are experts in massage therapy and can help reduce pain and improve function.

Massage has limited use when applied alone but it can significantly improve symptoms when combined with other conservative treatments.

Massage has limited use when applied alone but it can significantly improve symptoms when combined with other conservative treatments

The benefits of massage therapy mentioned in this article are only six out of many. This technique also improves the immune system^[xv], posture^[xvi], and mood^[xvii] and so on.

Leave us a comment if you know of any more science-backed benefits of massage therapy. And if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of medical massage, we’d love to hear about your experience.

^[i] https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/medical-massage-therapist/

^[ii] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00296-010-1409-2

^[iii] https://ebooks.iospress.nl/volumearticle/21582

^[iv] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24867903/

^[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7028772/

^[vi] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24583315/

^[vii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17159021/

^[viii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34217127/

^[ix] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29389470/

^[x] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8133876/

^[xi] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1524904216301965

^[xii] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1524904216301965