Massage Therapy as Alternative Medicine Treatment

A recent US News and World Report article looks into massage therapy and its role in medicine. Rather than simply being a luxury, or something that “feels good”, massage is being accepted by more and more medical professionals, patients, and hospitals as an alternative medical treatment.

In a survey conducted by the The American Hospital Association it was revealed that more than 80 percent of the hospitals surveyed now offer massage.

The article mentioned many types of diseases, conditions, and issues that are often treated with massage (often in conjunction with other traditional and/or alternative medical treatments.) These include:

• Blood circulation issues
• Pain management
• Stress
• Chronic back pain
• Migraines
• Insomnia
• Anxiety and Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ)

Massage has even been used effectively among cancer patients – helping alleviate their pain and discomfort, and to lift their spirits.

It is wonderful to see this topic featured in the mainstream media, and indicative of the trend towards incorporating massage and other alternative medicine into the treatment of the whole person.

Read the full article here: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/02/12/massage-as-medicine

Massage therapists who are interested in working with cancer patients and those battling serious illnesses might be interested in the Hospital Based Massage Therapy Training Program at LHAA.