In an ideal world, every client seeking pain relief would enter a massage therapy practice knowing exactly what caused their discomfort, more often than not we just end up saying “My shoulder hurts.”
Part of my job is figuring out the rest of the story.
Believe it or not the most important part of my "job" is to listen. Listening to my client is a vital step in figuring out what is causing the pain & discomfort. A proper assessment is key to determine whether the pain is acute or chronic in nature.
What is the difference between acute & chronic pain?
Acute pain usually comes on suddenly & is caused by something specific. Acute pain usually does not last longer than six months. It goes away when there is no longer an underlying cause for the pain. Causes of acute pain include:
Surgery
Muscle strains or sprains
Broken bones
Dental work
Burns or cuts
Labour and childbirth
After acute pain goes away, a person can go on with life as usual.
Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing & usually lasts longer than six months. This type of pain can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or gone away. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or years. Some people suffer chronic pain even when there is no past injury or apparent body damage. Chronic pain is linked to conditions including:
Headache
Arthritis
Cancer
Nerve pain
Back pain
Fibromyalgia pain
People who have chronic pain can have physical effects that are stressful on the body. These include tense muscles, limited ability to move around, a lack of energy & appetite changes. Emotional effects of chronic pain include depression, anger, anxiety & fear of re-injury. Such a fear might limit a person’s ability to return to their regular work or leisure activities.
Understanding the acute or chronic root of clients’ pain helps us therapists plan sessions that will be most beneficial to you, the client. But even more to the point, this understanding keeps you safe.
Massage & Acute Pain
Massage therapy for acute pain aims to facilitate short-term relief & in that regard is typically also short-term. If something’s acute, it usually will resolve itself over one or two sessions.
Massage therapy can help with acute pain by:
Reducing pain: Massage can reduce pain by relaxing muscles, tendons & joints.
Improving circulation: Massage can increase blood & lymph flow, which helps the body's healing resources to flow more freely.
Releasing endorphins: Massage can encourage the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
Improving flexibility: Massage can help break down knots & adhesions, which can improve flexibility & range of motion.
Reducing stress: Massage can help relieve stress & anxiety.
Improving sleep: Massage can help improve sleep quality & duration.
Different massage techniques can be used to address different types of pain:
Effleurage: A gentle technique that can help with pain caused by muscle guarding & swelling.
Deep tissue massage: A technique that uses more pressure to help with muscle tightness & trigger points.
Lymph massage: A technique that can help with inflammation & lack of circulation.
Techniques & pressure level are customised to address your specific pain profile.
Massage & Chronic Pain
Chronic pain’s extended life span usually calls for an equally extended massage treatment plan. A chronic-pain client might see their massage therapist on a weekly basis for several months or several years, depending on their lifestyle and the issue at hand. The more willing a client is to invest in their health, whether it be with exercise, stretching, or nutrition, the sooner & more successful their outcome.
Massage therapy can help with chronic pain by:
Reducing pain: Massage can help reduce pain by increasing blood circulation, which relaxes muscles & decreases tension.
Increasing range of movement: Massage can help increase range of movement by stretching muscles & connective tissues.
Improving recovery: Massage can help speed up the body's self-healing process by reducing inflammation & healing damaged tissues.
Releasing endorphins: Massage can encourage the release of endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers.
Reducing stress: Massage can help reduce stress & lower cortisol production.
Increasing serotonin: Massage can increase serotonin, the feel-good hormone.
Lowering blood pressure: Massage can help lower blood pressure.
There are several types of massage that can help with chronic pain, including deep massage, sports massage, remedial massage, & therapeutic massage. Pressure & techniques are customised to target specific pain points.
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