Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints in the body; it can cause large or small amounts of pain where two bones meet. While most commonly seen in older adults it can affect all age ranges including children. It’s estimated by the Center for Disease Control that almost 50 million Americans have been diagnosed by a doctor with this condition. While there is no real cure for Arthritis, there are a few things that people can do to help slow the progression of it as well as lessen some of their daily pain. Doctors can offer medicine, surgery, and physical therapy but even that does not help all the pain. One of the most popular and enjoyable ways to help is through massage, almost nine percent of Americans use it as a therapy for their Arthritis says The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Massage offers a few benefits for people that suffer from Arthritis, one of the most favorable being that it helps to greatly relieve pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles. When massage is done regularly it can help improve mobility/range of motion, grip strength, and overall function of the joints. Until recently studies on massage were mostly done on the general public but more recently studies are being directed towards people specifically with Arthritis. In these studies they are beginning to see that massage can help to release certain hormones that are directly affect blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. These factors can benefit everyone but especially people that suffer from Arthritis and are dealing with lots of pain, lack of sleep, stiffness, and anxiety due to the disease.
Arthritis is something that can cause daily pain and suffering and can affect anyone. Especially now that it is getting colder many Americans are really beginning to feel the symptoms. Not only does the wetter and cooler weather causes more pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles but many people find it hard to keep active during the winter months, which is very important for Arthritis patients. A way that people can keep moving and active through the winter is a massage. It is beneficial not only because it keeps the joints and muscles moving in the winter but the muscles and joint are able to stay warm causing less soreness. Although there is no way to stop the progression of Arthritis, regular massage can to help slow and ease the pain of it, even in the cold!