Massage Therapy for Headaches

Some time ago a reader posted a question about massage therapy for headaches. It had been recommended to her by her neurologist, and she asked if someone who had experienced it could tell her what to expect. Although no replies have been posted on our discussion page and I haven't tried massage therapy for headaches myself, I have found some general information about it.

Forget any negative reaction you may have had because you associate this in your mind with shady massage parlors. We're talking about a legitimate type of massage, performed by a trained therapist, which is meant to help treat or prevent pain, depression, anxiety, sports injuries, and many other conditions.

Massage has a long history - back to the Greeks, the Romans, the Egyptians, the ancient Chinese. Not surprisingly, then, it has evolved into many different methods. The best known, perhaps, is Swedish massage which was developed by Per Henrik Ling, a Swedish gymnast, but there are also Oriental types, sports massage, trigger point therapy, and others.

You know from experience, of course, that a back rub is soothing. Remember that time you were in the hospital and a nurse rubbed your back to help you get to sleep? Felt great, didn't it? Massage can reduce anxiety levels, tension, or pain.

Just as that back rub helped relax you in the hospital, massage performed by an expert can do the same thing for the whole body. If you have watched track and field competitions lately, you've seen athletes receiving massage before and after their events. Before the event it loosens the muscles and gets the blood moving. Afterwards, the massage helps the body rid itself of the lactic and carbonic acids that have built up in the muscles. Those acids are the cause of cramping and pain.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, increases circulation of blood and lymph, relaxes the muscles, and heightens the body's production of endorphins which fight pain. It isn't just recommended for headaches. It has been shown to help people with cancer, asthma, depression, arthritis, and many other serious diseases.

If you want to try massage therapy, be sure to go to a licensed professional. You may ask your doctor for a referral, or contact the American Massage Therapy Association at 820 Davis Street, Suite 100, Evanston, IL 60201-4444, phone 1-847-864-0123, fax 1-847-864-1178, or e-mail them at info@inet.amtamassage.org.

You'll find lots of information about the types of massage on their website at http://www.amtamassage.org/

Costs will vary according to where you live, and not all health insurance carriers cover this treatment. Before you commit yourself, ask your insurance representative and, if necessary, get a referral from your primary physician. You may even find that your employer offers massage; many large firms offer it at the office to deal with work-related stress.

Although this is a generally harmless and maybe even beneficial practice, a few cautions are in order. If you have any issues about being touched (rape victims, for instance), this is not for you. You must also be cautious if you have a spinal condition. Please clear this with your orthopedist to avoid the possibility of further damage.

If you have osteoporosis, cancer, or have recently had surgery, again, clear it with your doctor first. Finally, if you have any tendency toward blood clots, or take a medication or have a condition which puts you at increased risk for them, ask your doctor before submitting to massage therapy.

Otherwise, try it in good health. You may feel like a new person.