Consumer Reports “On Health”: Massage Helps Body and Mind

Image by Tim & Annette from sxc.hu

We know from experience what helps. Touch for comfort and relief is as old as earth’s population of beings with central nervous systems. Still, it helps when research validates our healthcare choices.

From the August 2016 issue of the Consumer Reports newsletter On Health: The Truth About What’s Good For You:

Among people with low back pain lasting more than four weeks, massage provided better relief than either no treatment or a “placebo” treatment — such as lightly touching skin.

Massage therapy also appeared to relieve discomfort better, on average, than treatments like acupuncture, traction, and relaxation exercises. Most important, when compared to no treatment or a placebo treatment, massage improved functions such as walking ability, sleep, and other important components of daily life.

Research suggests that massage may have benefits beyond pain relief

Including, said the research, helping relieve depression.

The study review’s author Andrea Furlan, M.D., Ph.D., a scientist at the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto, cautioned that conducting bigger and better trials were needed, but, she said:

“I really believe massage is effective.”