Are there benefits to massage?  Yes.  There have been several studies that point to many different therapeutic effects of massage.  The big question remains, however: How does a massage prompt the therapeutic effects reported?  A massage recipient might report that he or she feels relaxed, less stressed, but how does the massage create this state? How does massage lessen pain?  Certainly, theorists have ideas: positive sensations move more quickly than painful signals, for example.  But review of current literature does not turn up clear answers. 

More research is taking place with regard to massage, to measure cellular, neural, and biomechanical effects, to name a few…

The good news? Massage in many instances is covered by insurers in combination with traditional medicine—to treat pain, reduce stress, and promote healing in people with health conditions, like cancer.  It has been suggested that massage can release natural painkillers and even boost the immune system. 

If you are experiencing anxiety, pain, sports-related soreness, or treatment for cancer, massage therapy might be a natural choice.   

It’s true, that in the recent past, persons with cancer avoided massage therapy in fear that massage would increase the circulation of cancer through their bodies—but there is no medical evidence to support this.  And in many cases, the cancer patient sees immediate results with regard to stress reduction, anxiety reduction, and even pain reduction. 

Be careful, though, before you jump in.  Make sure the person administering your massage is a licensed practitioner.  You also should seek clearance from your doctor in every case when seeking massage as medical therapy.  You may have to avoid massage therapy if you are undergoing radiation, you have osteoporosis, or you have cancer that has spread to the bones. 

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