Massage for Arthritis

Arthritis is a significant problem for millions of people across the UK, but it doesn’t have to limit your lifestyle. What’s more, by making positive lifestyle changes, you can combat this condition and make everyday tasks easier! 

Many people live with arthritis (whether diagnosed or not) and if you’re one of them, chances are you’ll already be feeling sore every day. But how do you know when it’s a pain caused by arthritis and when it’s just part of an otherwise ordinary day? 

Here’s what to look out for: – Is it restricted to certain areas like your hands or fingers? – Does it hurt only after exercise or periods of sitting still? – Are there any hot or cold weather reactions that worsen the pain? The answers may shock you! Because these are signs that the pain you’ve been suffering is actually due to arthritis. If so, massage therapy could help reduce your symptoms and improve your range of motion.

This blog will walk you through the benefits of using massage for arthritis and how Giana Massage therapists can help you with arthritis pain through massage therapy.

Different  types of arthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an illness that can affect any joint in the body. It causes damage to the bones and cartilage, which makes even simple tasks such as standing or walking painful. This disease can make it difficult for those affected to work, go to school, or even live life to its fullest. Massage therapy is an excellent way for people living with rheumatoid arthritis to reduce swelling and ease the pain.

• Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that results in the degeneration of joint cartilage, which cushions and provides support for the bones. If this problem goes unnoticed for long enough, the cartilage will begin to wear. Your joints will start feeling extremely uncomfortable and restricted without the necessary padding and support. The main areas affected by Osteoarthritis are the knees, hips, spine, and hands.

How does Arthritis Massage help?

There is no cure for arthritis, but arthritis massage offers effective ways to manage the condition. It helps relieve pain and slow down the cartilage degeneration in your knees and hands. Massage also relieves muscle tension, encouraging people with arthritis to remain active and mobile as long as possible.

When an individual suffering from arthritis encounters a painful flare, it’s often beneficial to relax the muscles. Massage can lessen the pain felt when the pain gets localized to muscles, tendons, and other peripheral regions of the body.

 Benefits of Massage for Arthritis

• Pain Relief

As an arthritis sufferer, a massage session is the best way to relieve pain and stiffness. There are types of massage therapy that can be particularly helpful when easing painful arthritis symptoms like chronic joint pain, muscle aches, and pains – all of which cause a certain level of discomfort. These massages help us relax our muscles and loosen up any tension or stiffness in our joints, so we’re able to feel more comfortable while also maintaining an increased range of motion and mobility.

• Improved circulation

Another benefit of regular massage for arthritis is an improvement of circulation and the flow of blood to the affected tissues. As a result, the swelling gets released, and inflammation will slow down. The boost of blood supply also supplies the joints and muscles with necessary nutrients and oxygen. Blood flow creates healthy lubrication that results in the movement of the joints becoming more fluid and smooth.

• Low muscle stiffness

Arthritis is when the cartilage that cushions joints deteriorate, creating painful, stiff, and swollen joints. It becomes difficult for them to move freely when this happens, leading to stiffness and even more pain as muscles and tendons work more challenging to stabilize the joints. Massage therapy is a great treatment option because it improves mobility and flexibility of your joints while also relieving stiffness caused by arthritis by increasing blood flow to these areas of your body and promoting the natural healing process.

• Improved mobility

When the body is overworked and very stressed out, it can experience muscle pain and trouble moving around freely. The reduced motion of muscles is because it becomes tense with all the vigorous movements that may take place during sports, work, or any other physically demanding activity one engages in daily. Massage therapy helps alleviate this strain and remove all the stress from muscles and tendons, ligaments, and joints for them to relax and become fluid once again.

What to expect from Arthritis Massage

After discussing with your massage therapist, you will likely lie down supported by pillows in a comfortable position. As soon as the therapist starts massaging your body, it is normal to feel very relaxed and fall asleep due to deep breathing exercises. If by any chance you feel more pressure than you’re comfortable with, make sure to inform the therapist. Massage is supposed to relieve muscle tension or pain through pressure applied on different areas of the body but never cause any discomfort!

Which massage is best for Arthritis pain?

When choosing a type of massage for arthritis, you want to make sure that it provides a moderate amount of pressure to stimulate the pressure receptors under the skin. These receptors set off signals in the brain that help reduce pain and stress-reducing neurotransmitters like serotonin. Regular massage should provide long-term relief from pain by providing your body to release these helpful hormone responses as a natural response to intermittent massages.

Swedish massage treatments are invaluable to those suffering from rheumatism and degenerative joint diseases because they promote circulation and relieve aches and pains. 

Deep tissue massage uses deep pressure and intense rubbing to target deep pain within the body. Even if it is less comfortable than a Swedish massage, it can provide arthritis more relief in the long term when performed by a professional massage therapist.

Precautions during Arthritis massage

While many benefits get accomplished from a massage in your life, it is also essential to understand that some conditions do not respond well to massage. For instance, if you have a tennis elbow, massage could worsen the situation. And while neck pain is often associated with rheumatoid arthritis, it can also be caused by other things like pinched nerves. So if you live with chronic neck pain, think about whether or not getting a massage would help or hurt your overall health and wellbeing.

Consult the massage therapist before opting for an arthritis massage to get the most out of it.

Giana massage and Arthritis pain

Giana offers Deep tissue massage and Swedish massage for arthritis pain. The therapist is certified and has many years of experience in dealing with patients who have arthritis. You can book a mobile massage therapist at your convenience to get the massage for arthritis.

Conclusion

Arthritis is a condition that can cause you to experience intense pain and other symptoms in your joints and muscles. There are many non-drug options to “manage” arthritis, including changing your diet, exercise routines, applying heat or cold in specific areas depending on the different kinds of arthritis they may have, regular stretching, and using Therapeutic Massage Therapy. 

It would help if you considered our specialized range of drug-free therapeutic massage techniques. 

Why not book an appointment today? click here to book an appointment with our registered massage therapist.