Can Massage Help Back Pain?
In addition to relaxing muscles and easing tension in the back, massage is believed to temporarily overpower pain signals going to the brain. In this article from our popular newsletter, Health After 50, Johns Hopkins explores the therapeutic potential of massage to relieve back pain. Nonspecific back pain (pain that isn’t from a condition or injury) can be frustratingly difficult to treat, but there are potential benefits to massage therapy. Massage can relax tight muscles and may improve blood circulation to the body’s tissues, which can help reduce pain and inflammation. Massage also stimulates the release of hormones called endorphins, which act like natural analgesics; endorphins may be why people often experience a heightened sense of well-being following a massage. Sustained pain relief may require commitment: Studies on massage typically involve a course of therapy, not just one massage. For instance, in a study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, among 262 people with chro
