Jerrilyn Cambron, DC, PhD, MPH, LMT

A recent study in Pain Medicine highlights real-world massage therapy for chronic low-back pain. Let's dive into why this is important.

The majority of pain is nonspecific and most likely involves a postural or mechanical cause—however, some types can be very complex and hard to treat.

According to OSHA, more workers are injured in the health-care and social assistance industry sector than any other division of labor. But this data doesn't include massage therapists.

Recently, the CDC published a guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. Pain management through other options was not a focus of this guideline. However, there was a suggestion that long-term opioid therapy must be considered within the context of all pain-management strategies.

In a recent clinical trial, researchers compared massage therapy with pneumatic compression for ultramarathon recovery.

Many people with Parkinson’s disease seek complementary and alternative care in addition to conventional medicine. Massage therapy is commonly sought, with some neurologists advocating this form of care for alleviation of muscle rigidity, joint contractures, and associated pain. Yet, there are no randomized clinical trials to support the use of massage therapy.