Massage And Arthritis - The Mint Hill Times

[massage]

CHARLOTTE – What does massage do for arthritis? First, what is arthritis and where does it present itself in our bodies? According to the Centers for Disease Control, arthritis is defined as inflammation or swelling of one or more joints, with the main symptoms being pain and/or stiffness. It can be extremely painful.

There are many kinds but most common types are: osteoarthritis, which causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down and rheumatoid arthritis: a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints. You can have underlying conditions or diseases that cause other forms of arthritis as well. You may have heard of gout, which is the buildup of uric acid in your big toe or lower leg. There’s one type that’s found in the spine, and there’s one that’s related to psoriasis, a skin condition. There’s more, over a hundred! So it’s imperative you get a correct diagnosis from your doctor in order to get the best treatment options.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, massage can help. A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found massage is beneficial for those with Knee osteoarthritis (OA). The study concluded that those that received a 60-minute massage (whole body, not 60 minutes on the knees) weekly experienced significant improvement in both pain and mobility after 8 weeks as opposed to those that had light touch massage or the standard care offered (without massage).

-Lisa Lane is a licensed (#13098) massage and bodywork therapist at Massage Sanctuary. To make an appointment visit www.ncmassagesanctuary.massagetherapy.com.

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Lisa Lane is owner and lead therapist at Massage Sanctuary in Mint Hill. She specializes in pain management and is certified in neuromuscular techniques. Lisa lives in Mint Hill and is currently President of the local chapter of the Kiwanis Club. She is an active member of the community and enjoys travel, family time and trying to be the best photographer ever with her camera phone.