One-hour sessions two or three times a week appear to be best, said study researcher Karen Sherman, a senior scientific investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle.
“In the short term, 60 minutes of massage is better than 30, and you want to do multiple treatments a week for the first four weeks,” she said.
Her study, which tested the effects of a month of massage, is published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Persistent neck pain is common and stems from numerous causes — car accidents, sleeping in awkward positions, or spending hours hunched over a computer, among them, Sherman said.
Doctors often recommend anti-inflammatory medicines, but these drugs frequently don’t provide enough relief, she noted. “People with back and neck pain aren’t usually satisfied with what they get from their doctor, so they are looking around for something that works,” Sherman explained.
Previous studies of massage for neck pain have produced conflicting results, so Sherman’s team decided to look closer. Specifically, they wanted to determine what dose of massage is ideal. In a previous study, Sherman had found that the benefits of massage were evident after four weeks.
For the new study, she randomly assigned 228 men and women, aged 20 to 64, to one of six groups. These included 30-minute massages two or three times weekly, one-hour massages one, two, or three times weekly, and a comparison group receiving no massage.
Assessing neck functioning and pain levels a week after treatment ended, the researchers determined that patients getting one hour of massage three times a week showed the most gains after four weeks of massage.
Compared to those who got no massage, “people getting massage three times a week were almost five times as likely to have a clinically meaningful (meaning important or noticeable) improvement in function and over twice as likely to report a clinically meaningful decrease in pain,” Sherman said.
Massage therapy is a proven way to improve many types of neck and shoulder pain and is often one of the first treatments people think of when they experience severe neck pain.
They’re smart to seek out massage because massage actually can get rid of neck pain. In fact, nearly 1 in every 5 sessions of massage in the US are booked in order to resolve neck-pain symptoms.
Here are four ways that massage can help your particular variety of neck pain. If you are booking a massage to relieve neck pain on the Zeel massage app, please make sure you indicate that you’re seeking a massage to treat neck problems. You can choose either a Swedish massage or deep tissue massage in this case.
1. Frozen neck and massage treatment
While a stiff neck can be a nuisance, it usually isn’t a cause for panic. If the stiffness gets more extreme, however, it can lead to a sensation of the neck being “frozen” in place, limiting movement and significantly affecting your quality of life.
Fortunately, massage is one of the best alternative medicine approaches for treating neck stiffness. Massage is proven to improve both neck mobility and reduce neck pain.
2. Massage for pinched nerves in the neck
Pinched nerves are typically caused by pressure placed on the nerve by joints, muscles, or other structures. Muscle tension and inflammation may be the cause of this pressure. Nerve impingement in either the brachial plexus – located in the shoulder – or disc herniation in the cervical spine can both lead to nerve pain in both the neck and shoulder.
Massage therapy can be a great choice for relieving that inflammation, and thus reducing nerve pain and pressure
3. Massage for a pinched nerve in the shoulder
Studies have shown that massage has a positive effect in reducing chronic shoulder pain. Problems from nerves in the shoulder girdle – typically coming from the large nerve bundle called the brachial plexus – can often translate as pain in the neck, leading you to believe that the neck is the origin of the pain. Your massage therapist will be able to help you track down the source of the pain so that you can find relief, whether it’s coming from the neck or the shoulder.
4. Swedish massage for neck pain
Swedish massage works to lengthen and relax muscles and tissues, making it a great choice for those suffering from neck and shoulder pain. One trial showed notable symptom improvement for neck pain patients receiving regular Swedish massage. While patients receiving Swedish massages were able to reduce their pain medication more than participants who did not receive massage.
Massage Therapy For Neck Pain
Describing any situation as “a pain in the neck” is a sure way of letting people know how bad things are. For many people, that phrase can be taken literally. In fact, the U.S. National Institute of Health Statistics reports that 15% of Americans are troubled by neck pain.
Usually, the pain is caused by something simple, like hunching your shoulders over a keyboard or work surface. Posture can be another factor. Other causes include arthritis, whiplash, a pinched nerve, muscle strain, or degenerative disease. Whether it’s chronic or lasts only a short time, neck pain can be relieved by massage.
How Massage Helps
Regular massage therapy helps keep your entire body free of pain, and that’s the goal of Massage Envy Spa’s professional therapists. When you’re suffering from neck pain, in particular, the massage will focus first on your shoulders and upper back.
“Massage of the neck itself may exacerbate symptoms at first, but gentle massage of the arms, chest, legs, and back proves to reduce pain in the neck,” says Elaine Calendar of the Boulder College of Massage Therapy. “Myofascial release and thorough massage of all the neck, face, jaw, head and throat muscles, promote full healing and restoration of function.”
Additional Benefits
Along with relieving neck pain, receiving massage on a regular basis helps keep all your joints limber, which reduces your chances of pulling a muscle. It also improves your posture and flexibility, increases range of motion, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, encourages relaxation, and relieves stress.
Neck and shoulder pain are common. Common factors causing neck and shoulder pain are whiplash injuries and overuse injuries; strained muscles become inflamed and tender. Muscle spasms are not only painful, but they also limit the range of motion. For neck and shoulder pain that is muscular in origin, massage is a safe and effective treatment.
Benefits
According to an article in August 2008, “The Journal of Pain,” the official journal of the American Pain Society, massage is capable of reducing muscle pain by 25% to 50%. A study from the Boulder School of Massage cited in the October 2002 “American Journal of Public Health” showed that massage can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches due to chronic muscle tension in the neck. Authors of a report on the effectiveness of manual therapies reported in the journal, “Chiropractic & Osteopathy,” agree that massage benefits neck pain.
Considerations
The neck and shoulders are complicated anatomical structures. Massage therapists need a detailed knowledge of anatomy to avoid injuring sensitive structures such as nerves and arteries located in the neck and shoulders. Deep tissue massage in particular can cause damage if performed by inadequately trained or careless massage therapists. If you have severe pain, chronic pain that has never been examined by a physician, or have recently suffered an injury, schedule an exam by your physician before having a massage in order to rule out any condition that could be aggravated by massage.
Massage Therapy for Neck & Arm Pain
Neck and shoulder pain are common. Common factors causing neck and shoulder pain are whiplash injuries and overuse injuries; strained muscles become inflamed and tender. Muscle spasms are not only painful, but they also limit the range of motion. For neck and shoulder pain that is muscular in origin, massage is a safe and effective treatment.
Benefits
According to an article in August 2008, “The Journal of Pain,” the official journal of the American Pain Society, massage is capable of reducing muscle pain by 25% to 50%. A study from the Boulder School of Massage cited in the October 2002 “American Journal of Public Health” showed that massage can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches due to chronic muscle tension in the neck. Authors of a report on the effectiveness of manual therapies reported in the journal, “Chiropractic & Osteopathy,” agree that massage benefits neck pain.
Considerations
The neck and shoulders are complicated anatomical structures. Massage therapists need a detailed knowledge of anatomy to avoid injuring sensitive structures such as nerves and arteries located in the neck and shoulders. Deep tissue massage in particular can cause damage if performed by inadequately trained or careless massage therapists. If you have severe pain, chronic pain that has never been examined by a physician, or have recently suffered an injury, schedule an exam by your physician before having a massage in order to rule out any condition that could be aggravated by massage.
Effects
Massage can reduce pain and increase the range of motion in the neck and shoulders by lengthening and softening muscles that have spasms. Releasing spasms in the muscles can release pressure on nerves in the neck and shoulders. Balancing muscles in the front, back, and sides of the neck can relieve uneven strains on the vertebrae, and the same is true for the shoulders. Balancing the muscles in the front and back of the shoulders, and the muscles over the shoulder joints and down into the arms relieve pressure on both nerves and strain on the joints from uneven muscles.
To relax and get rid of pain in the shoulders and neck with pressure points, The practice and research say yes. It turns out that acupressure and reflexology work at reducing pain in 9 out of 10 studies
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https://brightside.me/inspiration-health/9-types-of-massage-that-can-help-you-with-your-back-and-neck-pain-753510/
What is Deep Tissue Massage and what to expect?
Deep tissue massage is a massage that is designed to get into the connective tissue of the body, rather than just the surface muscles. As a massage therapist when I perform deep tissue I use a variety of techniques to deeply penetrate the muscles and fascia, loosening them and releasing tension. Most clients have a more intense experience with a deep tissue massage, but also feel that it is more beneficial because it addresses deep-seated muscle pains. Deep tissue is beneficial when undertaken on a regular basis so that I can work together with the client to correct long term problems, relax the body, and prevent injury.
To get a truly good deep tissue massage you need to find someone who specializes in deep tissue, like Nicola. Most spas have several massage therapists who can offer a basic deep tissue massage integrating a number of techniques and styles customized for your body for maximum impact. Experiment by trying several deep tissue massage therapists to find the one that is the right fit for you and your body.
One of the defining differences between deep tissue and regular massage is the use of tools. A standard massage usually only involves the hands and lower arms of the therapist. During a deep tissue, however, I use elbows and fingers for deep, penetrating work in the muscle. A deep tissue massage also tends to be very slow, and I will use long, flowing strokes to ease in and out of the muscle. Going in too quickly can cause the muscle to tense up, which is not the desired reaction. I also maintain firm pressure at trouble spots for several minutes to achieve muscle release before moving on to the next area of the body.
Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. Deep tissue work varies greatly. What one calls deep tissue another will call light. When receiving deep tissue work it is important to communicate what you are feeling.
When you go to get a deep tissue massage, you should talk with the therapist about any issues you might have and like to see addressed during your massage. I am happy to concentrate on a single body part for an entire massage to achieve lasting results and in fact, half of my clients want just that! It is also important to communicate with me about pain; The massage may be intense, but if a client starts to feel pain, he or she should communicate that immediately. I work on a scale of 1 – 10, where 7 is on your comfortability edge for that day and 10 is very uncomfortable pain. A lot of my clients take the deep tissue pain or even like the pain in order to get the quickest results for their body type. At the end of the session, lots of water should be consumed to help the body express the toxins released during the massage. You will probably be sore for a few days after the intense deep tissue treatment but that’s normal. Remember that ice is your friend.
*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of any kind. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. These statements are not expressions of legal opinion relative to the scope of practice, medical diagnosis, or medical advice, nor do they represent an endorsement of any product, company, or specific massage therapy technique, modality, or approach. All trademarks, registered trademarks, brand names, registered brand names, logos, and company logos referenced in this post are the property of their owners.