Massage Therapy: Benefits, Techniques, and Safety

Massage therapy = manual manipulation of soft tissues (muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments) to enhance health.

Evidence-Based Benefits

• Pain reduction: Low back, neck, shoulder, osteoarthritis, headache, fibromyalgia.
• Anxiety/depression: Lowers cortisol, increases serotonin/dopamine.
• Postoperative: Reduces pain, opioid use, length of stay.
• Sports: DOMS reduction, flexibility, recovery perception.
• Prenatal: Low back/leg pain, anxiety.
• Circulation/lymph: Edema management (MLD).

Common Modalities

• Swedish (effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, vibration).
• Deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point.
• Sports, Thai, Shiatsu, lymphatic drainage.
• Instrument-assisted (Graston, Gua sha).

Safety & Contraindications

• Absolute: acute DVT, necrotizing fasciitis, unstable fracture.
• Relative: anticoagulants, thrombocytopenia, osteoporosis, skin infection, recent surgery/radiation field.
• Communicate pressure tolerance; avoid painful techniques.

Seek licensed/certified therapist (LMT, CMT). Discuss health history.