A Valuable Addition to Your Treatment Plan: Massage for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Many chronic conditions must be managed using a variety of different methods. It would be wonderful if you could simply take a regular dose of medication and otherwise forget about it, but many medical conditions aren't quite so accommodating. What type of treatment do you currently receive for your rheumatoid arthritis? You're likely to be on some form of antirheumatic medication, have probably made certain lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), may attend physiotherapy, and perhaps have even undergone surgery. Have you considered adding remedial massage therapy to your treatment plan?

Another Tool for Treatment

Regular massages are another tool for the overall management of your rheumatoid arthritis. They shouldn't be considered as an indulgence or a treat, but serve a direct remedial purpose. The fact that they're soothing, relaxing, and generally comforting is certainly helpful.

Alleviating Mental Stress

The relaxation afforded by a good massage may help to alleviate some of the mental stress that your condition can trigger. The decline and subsequent discomfort of your joints and muscles is undoubtedly stressful, and regular massages can provide considerable relief in this department. However, this relaxation and relief isn't the main objective of your sessions.

Increasing Circulation, Reducing Inflammation 

Your massage sessions are formulated to promote circulation in your muscles and joints. Improved circulation and increased blood flow should begin to decrease painful inflammation in these affected muscles and joints. This reduction in inflammation can lead to improved movement of the joints. There may be some noticeable results after your first session, but the most effective results are cumulative—achieved after several sessions and maintained by attending regular appointments with your massage therapist.

What You Can Expect

Your first session can be exploratory in nature. Keeping a light touch throughout your massage won't unlock the full benefit of this treatment, but using too much force can trigger unnecessary discomfort. It's all about striking the right balance, and it's your role to tell your massage therapist what is working and what isn't. Don't be afraid to tell them to push deeper into your tissues, and also don't be afraid to speak up when the level of force has become slightly uncomfortable.

As effective as it is, clearly massage can't correct your rheumatoid arthritis. But it can be a valuable addition to your treatment plan, directly alleviating many of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with the condition. And the fact that the process is exceptionally relaxing shouldn't be overlooked either.

For more information, contact a remedial massage therapy service near you.

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