How does frequent massages help relieve chronic pain?

Massage is largely viewed as an activity of leisure due to its calming effects on body and mind. Its ability to bring back equilibrium is less known. Massage is regenerative. Its restorative effects are quite apparent, particularly when applied effectively and frequently - three or more times a week. Magical powers of a massage were known in ancient India. Even today, newborns in India are given massages to accelerate growth and development of tissues and promote strength.

Fun fact: The word Shampoo is derived from an Indian word Champi which means head and shoulders massage. 

Chronic stress —————> chronic pain

Human body is designed to support continuous movement. In modern and convenient world, our physical activity is limited. Additionally, we are less conscious about our sitting, standing, walking and running style and habits. As a result, our muscles are forced to carry much more load than they are designed to. Bending neck while viewing on mobile screen creates tension in neck muscles which eventually leads to neck pain. Dropping upper body weight on spinal cord, while sitting on chair for hours, compresses discs that may cause or contribute to low back pain. Even if posture is right, holding it for prolonged duration stresses our muscles.

Muscles are replenished and healed during rest and sleep. When they aren’t fully replenished, either due to insufficient sleep or over usage, muscles never get back to their original condition. Over time stress continues building up in muscles day after day. It is not hard to suspect that chronic stress leads to chronic pain.

When energy flow in the body is impeded, it is acknowledged through sensation of pain. In other words, pain is body’s way to signal discomfort. In case of prick, sting or burn, such sensation is sudden, sharp and short living. When compression is negligible but sustained for hours, resulting ache could be dull and long lasting. You might have experienced stiff neck next day morning after resting it on a tight pillow through night. 

Massage activates “rest and digest” mode and triggers tissues growth

Massage induces vasodilation - a fancy term for describing widening of blood vessels. Increased blood flow supplies necessary oxygen and nutrients which in turn relaxes muscles. Relaxing effects are not just localized but felt through out the body as parasympathetic nervous system(popularly called “rest and digest” or “feed and breed” mode) is activated. Catabolic processes including production of stress hormone Cortisol that are responsible for breaking down things go down and metabolic processes such as production of love hormone oxytocin and happy hormone endorphins that foster growth go up. 

Medical massage repairs damaged tissues, facia and collagen. It puts you on the path of recovery. Pain killers and opioids mask pain and provide short-lived relief by temporarily “fixing hormonal balance”. What is worse is pain never goes away and eventually drug dependence is formed which could lead to drug intolerance.

Massage is a holistic approach to easing pain. Contrast this to taking aspirin, naproxen or similar NSAID(Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that can produce similar effects though temporarily. These drugs mask the pain by inhibiting inflammation causing enzymes. By interfering with self-healing mechanism of body, pain is “relieved” without really fixing anything underneath. In the long run, body develops a way to mitigate this hacking that leads to drug tolerance which is easily observable in the case of strong pain killers such as opioids. Excessive endorphins supplied by opioids masks pain but creates havoc as natural release of endorphins isn’t triggered anymore. It makes opioids addictive and thus creates drug dependence. Not to mention, like all drugs, pain killer drugs have many negative side effects. Sadly pain killers kills the pain without addressing underlying cause. Massage, on the other hand, repairs damaged tissues, facia and collagen. It puts you on the path of recovery. 

Chronic stress cannot be just reversed with a massage or two. Longer you are suffering from chronic pain, more and frequent massages are required to reverse the condition. Improvements are quicker with appropriate lifestyle change such as changing stress inducing habits.

In the next blog post, I will describe its pain relieving mechanism and explain vasodilation. Meanwhile, please let me know your thoughts and share feedback in comments.