Winter Got You Down? Visit A Licensed Massage Therapist!

I love it when research bears out what we've known all along. But I love it even more when it shows how much the medical establishment has embraced massage as an alternative or complementary treatment for stress and pain management.

With over 70% of hospitals in the US now incorporating massage therapy into the treatment of serious ailments, perhaps it's time to apply the technique to those mid-winter blues.

The American Hospital Association Study

A recent study by the American Hospital Association shows that many hospitals are incorporating massage therapists into their pain management programs.

Of the 1,007 hospitals that participated in the survey, massage therapy was the most prevalent "complementary and alternative medicine" offering, with over 70% utilizing massage therapy for pain management and pain relief.

A similar percentage use massage for stress management in patients and their staff.

The Evidence Mounts

Other recent clinical research on the efficacy of massage for pain management and stress relief has demonstrated that:

• Massage therapy is more effective for chronic back pain than other complementary therapies.
• Massage therapy promotes relaxation and alleviates the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients.
• Massage therapy reduces post-traumatic headaches better than cold pack treatments.
• A pilot study conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found that massage, as part of hospital-based surgery treatment, reduces pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass surgery.
• Massage stimulates the brain to produce endorphins. (I love endorphins, don't you?)

The message is clear: one of the best things you can do for yourself is to get regular massages. It sure works for me.

If carving out the time is an issue — or if you just don't feel comfortable visiting a licensed massage therapist — you may want to consider the HTT10 robotic massage recliner from Interactive Health. The quality of the massage is phenomenal, the recliner is gorgeous and you don't have to leave the privacy of your own home.