Massage has immense potential. Research tells us that massage reduces stress, improves sleep, bolsters the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and decreases injury and post-surgery recovery time, to name just a few of its benefits. And while research about massage and bodywork is still in its relative infancy, new studies continue to validate what we already know—massage therapy is good for you in so many ways.
In this issue of Body Sense, we share what the research says about the effectiveness of massage with chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and even multiple sclerosis. Our pathology expert, Ruth Werner, searched the most recent literary archives to tell us there are some exciting things taking hold for massage when it comes to working with these conditions. See her article on page 6.
Over the past 20+years, I’ve been writing about massage and its benefits. I’ve talked with therapists who’ve seen their work do incredible things for paraplegic clients, parents who’ve seen their children transformed emotionally with bodywork, doctors who’ve seen massage prevent the amputation of a diabetic patient’s foot, and researchers who’ve seen touch help premature babies thrive and grow. And I’ve talked with you, the clients, to hear your stories of how massage changes your quality of life.
While these anecdotal testimonies help us build the context and the fabric of what we know massage and bodywork can do, it’s the research that gives us the thread to weave it all together. And it never stops being exciting to add another important research finding to the list of massage benefits. It validates what we already know—massage is a very good thing!