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Using massage as a form of therapy dates back thousands of years. There are texts that reference the healing power of massage from China, India, Egypt, Japan, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. Massage therapy involves a licensed practitioner who uses their hands or other objects to work on muscle and soft tissue to help alleviate levels of pain. There are several different types of massage therapy:
Massage was one of the re-discovered practices during the Renaissance and became widely used in Europe during the era. In the 1850s, George and Charles Taylor, two American physicians who had studied in Sweden, introduced massage therapy in the United States. The modality became popular and was promoted for a variety of health purposes. In the first half of the 20th century, scientific and technological advances in medical treatment diminished the popularity of massage in the United States. By the late 20th interest in massage was rising, especially among athletes. Today, People use massage for a variety of health-related purposes, including to relieve pain, rehabilitate sports injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, address anxiety and depression, and aid general wellness.
A 2008 research review and 2011 NCCIH-funded clinical trial concluded that massage may be useful for chronic low-back pain. A 2009 NCCIH-funded clinical trial reported that Massage may help with chronic neck pain. Massage may help with pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a 2012 NCCIH-funded study. Recent studies suggest that for women in labor, massage provided some pain relief and increased their satisfaction with other forms of pain relief, but the evidence isn’t strong. Numerous research reviews and clinical studies have suggested that at least for the short term, massage therapy for cancer patients may reduce pain, promote relaxation, and boost mood. However, the National Cancer Institute urges massage therapists to take specific precautions with cancer patients and avoid massaging open wounds, bruises, or areas with skin breakdown directly over the tumor site, areas with a blood clot in a vein, and sensitive areas following radiation therapy.
A 2010 meta-analysis of 17 clinical trials concluded that massage therapy may help to reduce depression. Brief, twice-weekly yoga and massage sessions for 12 weeks were associated with a decrease in depression, anxiety, and back and leg pain in pregnant women with depression. The women in the study had babies that weighed more than babies born to women who didn’t receive the therapy. However, a 2013 research review concluded that there’s not enough evidence to determine if massage helps pregnant mothers with depression. A 2010 review concluded that massage may help older people relax. For generalized anxiety disorder, massage therapy was no better at reducing symptoms than providing a relaxing environment and deep breathing lessons, according to a small, 2010 NCCIH-supported clinical trial. A 2010 review concluded that massage therapy may help temporarily reduce pain, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, but the evidence is not definitive. The authors noted that it’s important that the massage therapist not cause pain. Clinical trials on the effects of massage for headaches are preliminary and only somewhat promising. Massage therapy may help improve the quality of life for people with HIV or AIDS, a 2010 review of four small clinical trials concluded. Evidence supports massage therapy is effective for some conditions but the effects are temporary and treatments must be continuous.
In the United States, 44 states and the District of Columbia regulate massage therapists. Cities, counties, or other local governments also may regulate massage. Training standards and requirements for massage therapists vary greatly by state and locality. Most states that regulate massage therapists require them to have a minimum of 500 hours of training from an accredited training program. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork certifies practitioners who pass a national examination and fulfill other requirements.
• LMT: Licensed Massage Therapist
• LMP: Licensed Massage Practitioner
• CMT: Certified Massage Therapist
• NCTMB: Has met the credentialing requirements (including passing an exam) of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, for practicing therapeutic massage and bodywork
• NCTM: Has met the credentialing requirements (including passing an exam) of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, for practicing therapeutic massage
This content is provided by the non-profit organization we support: The Center for Wellness Leadership.
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