Arthritis Archives

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Massage

I am a student at the Virginia Academy of Massage Therapy. I am doing research on Rheumatoid Arthritis and how massage might be used to help people with RA. I have looked through articles on this website and have found references to massage in preparation for SR, and also the use of Rolfing. I am interested to know if different types of massage have been helpful in reducing pain of RA. I have been through 8 of the 10 Rolfing sessions and know that it can be very uncomfortable and painful on many joints. I do not have RA, but know it can be a very painful, even crippling disease. In my quest for ways to help others through massage, I would like information from any individuals who have had massage in an attempt to help their RA. (I got this website form J. Hackett after researching online under RA.) I have tried to research this subject online and in the library and cannot find any information from people who have tried massage. I have only found inferences that massage may benefit those with RA. And if massage is beneficial, is it mostly very deep tissue work that is effective? I appreciate any information on this. There is so much that massage therapists do by trial and error and the word doesn't always get out when things are found that work. I would like to help get the word out if massage is effective for RA patients.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Massage (Archive in RA.) Walt Stoll 16:22:42 7/14/00 (1)
  • Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Massage (Archive in RA.) Margo 21:52:22 7/14/00 (0)

In Reply to: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Massage posted by Margo on July 13, 2000 at 00:33:18:

Hi,Margo.

Congratulations for getting into a field that will help ANY type of arthritis get temporary relief from pain. Deep, total-body, therapeutic massage will reduce the bracing that accompanies ALL arthritic conditions. At the same time, it is one step toward resolving some of the other actual causes (autoimmunity and LGS) by making it easier for the person to learn SR.

I have seen bedridden RA patients take up their beds and walk just from Rolfing alone. By the way, Rolfing does not have to be painful! As you likely know by now, all body-work is a "dance" between the masseur/masseuse and the person being massaged. It is up to the masseur to explain this to the patient and for the patient to "give in" when things begin to get the least bit painful. It is the fear and resistance that causes pain.

Looking at massage as the "solution" to any form of arthritis is a mistake. SR is the solution and massage just helps symptoms in the meantime (while making it easier for the person to learn SR).

Walt

Follow Ups:

• Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Massage (Archive in RA.) Margo 21:52:22 7/14/00 (0)

In Reply to: Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Massage (Archive in RA.) posted by Walt Stoll on July 14, 2000 at 16:22:42:

Dr. Stoll, Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. I am learning much about the uses of massage - things I never thought about before. And there are many things that massage can help with. I do not think massage is a "solution" to many of the ailments of people today. But I do think it can help with pain management in many cases. Now that I have seen your site, I can suggest it to clients who come in with RA and some of the other ailments that I have seen on your website. Thanks again for your time.
Margo