Most people think of massage as a luxury rather than a therapeutic tool. However, research shows that massage is proven to help manage pain levels, improve mood and increase health-related quality of life. This is fantastic news, especially for those who live with the effects of chronic pain.
Today we’re going to be exploring the basics about massage therapy as a complementary therapy for managing chronic pain. To learn more about this or other recommended complementary options, visit us at our Benbrook, Lewisville or Bedford pain and wellness centers.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Often used in conjunction with other chronic pain treatments, massage has been known to not only have stand-alone benefits but also to increase the effectiveness of complementary therapies.
It is a well-known fact that the impact of chronic pain goes well beyond the boundaries of physical symptoms. Massage is a fantastic addition for treating chronic pain symptoms such as anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, poor circulation, as well as joint and/or muscle pain and tension. Some specific benefits include:
- Increased circulation
- Decreased anxiety
- Decreased muscle tension/pain
- Increased flexibility/mobility
- Improved digestion
- Increase immune function
Quite a bit of clinical research has been done on the effect of massage on several different disorders. You can visit the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health to learn more about the results of specific studies.
Types of Massage Therapy
There are many different types of massage. Each different style promotes the same core benefits of increased circulation and relaxation while also each uniquely offering specific strategic components. Be sure to speak with your Bedford pain and wellness (clinics also located in Benbrook and Lewisville) specialist at the Comprehensive Pain Institute to get recommendations on treatment strategies before scheduling your massage session.
Some of your options may include:
- Swedish: The classic, relaxation-based massage.
- Hot Stone: Can be a stand-alone therapy session or add-on to a longer session. Heated stones are used to warm and relax muscle tissue as well as to offer increased relaxation.
- Trigger Point: Specific, focused therapy used to release small, concentrated areas of tension.
- Site Specific: Using several different modalities, including muscle stripping, active and passive stretching, and traditional Swedish to treat a specific area of pain or tension.
- Myofascial Release: Slow moving techniques that focus on reducing scar tissue and adhesions that may have resulted from injury, surgery or trauma sites.
- Deep Tissue: Firm, heavy pressured strokes done with fingertips, forearms and elbows to reach deeper areas of tension and pain in muscles, tendons and joints.
CPI, a top pain management Bedford TX clinic, we have licensed and professionally trained providers who can provide therapeutic massage with your specific pain in mind. Call today to learn more!
What to Expect
Massage Therapy is an incredibly flexible modality that can be customized to your comfort level and pain symptoms. This includes everything from type of massage techniques to positioning and assistive tools. However, there is still a general flow that massage therapy sessions follow.
- Your massage therapist will begin with a short conversation in which you can express pain complaints or tension locations. Based upon that, your therapist can create a custom treatment plan that will focus on those areas.
- Depending on your mutually agreed upon treatment plan, you will either be partially undressed and covered by a sheet to allow the therapist access to your pain sites or you will remain fully clothed in flexible work-out style clothes for the session. If you need to get partially undressed, your therapist will leave the treatment room to allow you to do so. He or she will not return to the room until you are on the treatment table and covered by the sheet. Rest assured that only the area receiving treatment will be uncovered at any given time during the massage; the rest of your body will be covered by the sheet in a professional manner called “draping.”
- Massage sessions typically happen in 30-, 60- or 90-minute intervals. This will already be determined at the time you book the session.
- During the massage, be sure to inform your therapist if the pressure or technique he or she is using is causing you discomfort so that it can be altered to your tolerance and benefit.
- Once the session is complete, your therapist will then leave the treatment room to allow you time to carefully get dressed.
- In the 24-48 hours following your massage, it is very important that you take extra care to stay hydrated. Also, depending on the techniques used, there may also be some inflammation or soreness in focus areas. A short 10-minute application of ice should quickly reduce that inflammation.
Pain Management Bedford TX
If you live with pain that won’t go away, we know how frustrating it can be. Our mission is to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of helping you better manage that pain. Visit our treatments page to see more about the specialized services we offer that may be able to help you. We currently have doctors accepting new patients at all three of our Texas locations.
