Massage Therapy and Pain Management
by Brenda L. Griffith
 Incorporating massage therapy into comprehensive pain
management programs may yield better outcomes.
A growing body of research shows massage therapy can be an effective part of pain
relief and management. This research data, and the experience of physicians, massage
therapists, and patients should encourage pain specialists to consider incorporating
massage therapy into their pain management programs.
Some base findings about the value of massage therapy for pain relief have included the
following:
1. According to Cherkin, Eisenberg, et. al. in the April 2001 issue of the Archives of
Internal Medicine,1 massage is effective for providing long-lasting relief for
patients suffering from chronic low back pain.
2. Data collected nearly 10 years ago indicates that therapeutic massage promotes
relaxation and alleviates the perception of pain and anxiety in hospitalized cancer
patients.2 Recent studies have confirmed the findings and others indicate
positive effects for massage in decreasing pain intensity among cancer patients.3
3. In 1990, Jensen et al. published data indicating that massage was better than cold
pack treatment of post-traumatic headaches.4 The October 2002 issue of the
American Journal of Public Health reports that new research by Quinn, Chandler and Moraska
showed muscle-specific massage therapy is effective for reducing the incidence of chronic
tension headaches.5
4. A pilot study in 2000, conducted by Gregory P. Fontana, MD at Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center in Los Angeles, found that massage reduces pain and muscle spasms in patients who
have multiple incisions. When surveyed, 95 percent of patients felt that massage therapy
was a crucial part of their hospital experience, while need for medications dropped on
days they received a massage.
In the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals: The Official Handbook of the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), updated in August
2000, recommends massage as a non-pharmacological therapy that can be used successfully in
pain management. Some hospitals, because of public demand, are including massage
therapists on patient care teams to fight pain. The teams may include a physician, several
nurses, a nutritionist, a yoga instructor, a chaplain, and a massage therapist. More
research needs to be done to evaluate the effectiveness of such teams and the optimum
combination of therapies for different types of patients and different types of pain.
The effectiveness of massage lies in a simple and direct strategy: working from the
external, outer mechanisms of pain to the primary, root cause. Massage therapists utilize
a holistic approach, focusing on the entire body system and its relationship to soft
tissue — their care is not focused solely at the site of pain.
Another benefit of massage therapy — from a patient perspective — is that it
helps patients become more aware of their bodies and better familiarize them with the pain
they experience. The massage therapist not only helps relieve muscle and other soft tissue
pain, but also has an impact on the patient by virtue of human touch. This is especially
pronounced for women facing mastectomies and dealing with the outcomes of that surgery.
While women directly benefit from various forms of massage that focus on lymph drainage
and muscle pain, massage also helps them feel comfortable once again with their bodies,
improves their confidence and allows them to better deal with pain.
Although more research is needed to confirm the optimal uses of massage, the potential
for a positive impact on patients with acute or chronic pain is clear. As it stands,
enough research exists to encourage pain management specialists and massage therapists to
forge professional relationships. These pain management relationships should exist in the
hospital, in clinics, in private practice offices and in home care.
Certainly, it can be a challenge for physicians and other medical professionals to
locate qualified massage therapists. Massage therapists have specific areas of specialty
and many focus exclusively on relaxation massage. Further, the fact that only 31 states
and Washington, D.C. regulate the profession, makes finding a trained and qualified
massage therapist more difficult. Fortunately, the American Massage Therapy Association
(AMTA), founded in 1943, can help pain management specialists connect with an AMTA member
qualified to work with them. AMTA offers a free Find a Massage Therapist« national
locator service online at www.amtamassage.org or by calling 888-THE-AMTA.
Brenda L. Griffith is president of the American Massage Therapy Association, a
professional organization of 46,000 members.
References
1. Cherkin DC, Eisenberg D, et.al. Randomized Trial Comparing Traditional Chinese Medical
Acupuncture, Therapeutic Massage, and Self-care Education for Chronic Low Back Pain. Arch
Intern Med. Apr 23, 2001. 161(8):1081-8.
2. Ferrell-Torry AT and Glick OJ. The Use of Therapeutic Massage as a Nursing Intervention
to Modify Anxiety and the Perception of Cancer Pain. Cancer Nurse. Apr 1993. 16(2):93-101.
3. Smith MC, Kemp J, Hemphill L, Vojir CP. Outcomes of Therapeutic Massage for
Hospitalized Cancer Patients. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2002. 34(3):257-62.
4. Jensen OK, Neilsen FF, Vosmar L. An Open Study Comparing Manual Therapy with the Use of
Cold Packs in the Treatment of Post-traumatic Headache. Cephalalgia (Norway). Oct 1990.
10(5):241-50.
5. Quinn C, Chandler C, Moraska A. Massage Therapy and Frequency of Chronic Tension
Headaches. Am J Public Health. Oct 2002. 92(10):1657-61.
— Jan/Feb 2003
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