Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Massage therapy is quickly recognized as a beneficial adjunctive treatment for osteoarthritis and its associated symptoms.

This degenerative disease often worsens over time, resulting in joint stiffness, inflammation and pain. Through massage, therapists can treat osteoarthritis and help millions of Australians with the disease.

Along with improving pain management and joint function, massage has the potential to slow the progression of osteoarthritis.

You will learn about the importance of osteoarthritis and how massage therapy can benefit people with lower back pain. What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a very common condition that affects 1 in 11 Australians or an estimated 2.2 million people across the country.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the entire joint, including the bones, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Although it can affect all the joints in the body, it most commonly occurs in the knees, toes, thighs and feet.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Swelling and pain around the joint

Bone disputes are growing on the fringes of the community

Loss of joint flexibility

softness

hardened

Osteoarthritis can occur at any age, but most commonly occurs in people over the age of 40 or so in people with joint injuries. The diagnosis of osteoarthritis should be made by a physician to rule out any other conditions or other types of arthritis.

The difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Although they have similar characteristics (joint pain, inflammation, stiffness and swelling), osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are not the same cause as treatment options.

Osteoarthritis occurs more often at a later age after years of articular cartilage wear. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that can occur at any age. Unlike osteoarthritis, the rate of onset of symptoms can be rapid - observed in just weeks or months. It may be accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, fever, anemia and loss of appetite.

Treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis is different, focusing on physical therapy and pain medications. Massage can help with short-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis pain with the consent of a doctor.

Benefits of massage therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis

Better posture Massage therapy can improve posture by straightening joints. During the massage, muscle tension is released, which allows the body to return to better posture when standing, sitting, walking and lifting / carrying heavy objects. Muscle relaxation can reduce joint tension, which promotes healthier posture habits.

Joint flexibility Collagen forms in injured areas and creates a mosaic of scar tissue, which often leads to stiffness and poor joint flexibility in patients with osteoarthritis. Massage techniques, including friction strips, can help remove this collagen tissue in the joints and improve joint flexibility and range of motion.

Treatment of pain Osteoarthritis positive reaction to massage therapy. The pain is relieved by relaxing the muscles and nerves around the joint. Anyone who suffers from osteoarthritis can benefit from a massage and find relief wherever they feel joint pain.

Reducing Inflammation In patients with osteoarthritis who have experienced joint inflammation, the use of twisting strokes can help improve the affected area. The massage of the dislocated joints pushes the extracellular fluid closer to the branch, reduces inflammation and speeds up the healing process.

Educational activity again

With regular massage, patients with osteoarthritis begin to experience good joint movement, which allows the nervous system to re-train through proprioceptive activity. Improved movement patterns can be reversed in pre-osteoarthritis patterns, thus improving the client's quality of life. Types of massage therapy

Osteoarthritis massage therapy provides a number of benefits. The pain is relieved, the joints become more mobile, the posture and movement patterns are restored.

The best types of massage for osteoarthritis include:

Deep Tissue Massage: Apply deep pressure to your fingers, nodules or tense muscles may relax, soothe the painful area and surrounding parts of the body.

Trigger point massage: Deep pressure and vibration allow the massage therapist to focus on the trigger points in the myofascial tissue, which helps to radiate pain.

Relaxation: Circular movements and longer strokes relax tense muscles and help improve blood circulation. Using a kneading technique can also relieve stress and pain.

Massage: A powerful tool in the treatment of osteoarthritis

It is clear that massage therapy can be used as an effective adjunctive treatment for osteoarthritis. Along with physical therapy, pain relief medications, aids and self-care, massage therapy can provide effective pain relief and management in osteoarthritis. Communication between the client, the doctor and the massage therapist before the treatment will ensure the correct technique and frequency of the massage for the most favorable results.