This was the beginning of what I called a foray into “recreational medicine.”Ībout footnotes. I went to a massage therapist, whose treatment actually was the opposite of my experiences with neurologists: It was enjoyable. But despite some initial short relief, their work seemed to lose effectiveness after a few visits. I saw a few chiropractors and acupuncturists. There are many ways that ethical, progressive, science-respecting massage therapists can thrive in their profession despite the fact that it is quite badly polluted with myths and quackery. More importantly, the emotional value of touch and the effects on mood and mental health are so profound that patients really just cannot lose - good quality massage therapy is a worthwhile service for anyone who can afford it whether it “works” as a treatment or not. It has some plausible medical benefits, even if they are inconsistent and unproven. This article is curmudgeonly and cynical in many ways, but I also still recommend massage therapy. Health professionals must be self-critical and critical of each other: that is how we improve. 1 I go out of my way to be critical of my former profession - I consider it an ethical duty. Does massage therapy “work”? What do massage therapists say that they can do for people and their pain, and is there any scientific evidence to support those claims? Can massage therapists rub out sore “ trigger points”? Massage is a popular treatment for tough, common pain problems like low back pain, neck pain, and headaches - but can it provide meaningful change, or does it just pleasantly distract patients and maybe take the edge off? In this article, I examine massage therapy in the light of science - not “objectively,” but fairly.
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