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Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system and affects over 2 million people worldwide. There are a variety of symptoms people with multiple sclerosis can experience. More patients than ever are turning to complementary treatments, especially in addition to drug treatments, to manage their symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Massage therapy is proven to be one of the safe and effective options to help manage the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Pain and fatigue are two common symptoms people with multiple sclerosis experience that can keep them from their favourite activities and negatively impact their quality of life. Massage therapy is one of the most common treatment options used to help manage their symptoms, and massage therapy has been shown to be effective at helping people with multiple sclerosis reduce their pain and fatigue. Massage therapy can also help improve the perception of their health and their overall quality of life.

Regular exercises, which can be recommended by a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), can also be beneficial for people with multiple sclerosis. Exercise can help improve their overall mobility and improve their mood. Anxiety is a common symptom in people with multiple sclerosis and nearly two thirds of people with multiple sclerosis experience spasticity, which is increased muscle tone or stiffness that may be associated with pain or diminished movement. Massage therapy is one option that can help people manage their anxiety and improve their spasticity.

Physical therapies such as massage, as well as stretching and mobilization techniques that RMTs can perform, also helped people with multiple sclerosis improve their ability to walk for longer and more comfortably, as well as improve their balance. Exercises that an RMT can recommend can help in multiple ways. It was found that aerobic and strength exercises are more effective to improve range of motion in people with multiple sclerosis. Physical therapies are well tolerated by people with multiple sclerosis and had minimal adverse effects.

Multiple sclerosis can have a significant impact on peoples’ quality of life. It can make it more difficult to move the way they’d like pain free, and it can make it more difficult for people to participate in activities they love. Multiple sclerosis affects different people in different ways, and the symptoms can often be unpredictable and disruptive. RMTs can recommend a variety of different options that can help people with multiple sclerosis manage their symptoms and make each day easier.

References

Backus, D., Manella, C., Bender, A., & Sweatman, M. (2016). Impact of Massage Therapy on Fatigue, Pain, and Spasticity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: a Pilot Study. International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork, 9(4), 4–13.

Baird, J. F., Sandroff, B. M., & Motl, R. W. (2018). Therapies for mobility disability in persons with multiple sclerosis. Expert review of neurotherapeutics, 18(6), 493–502. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2018.1478289

Butler, E., Matcham, F., & Chalder, T. (2016). A systematic review of anxiety amongst people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 10, 145–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2016.10.003

Heidari Z, Shahrbanian S, Chiu C. Massage therapy as a complementary and alternative approach for people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2021 Aug 1:1-12. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1949051. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34338108.

Miller, B. J., Kolobe, T. H., Larson, R. D., Pribble, B. A., Pardo, G., & James, S. A. (2022). Functional intermuscular reduction in spasticity for people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical, 8(1), 20552173211061547. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552173211061547

Rietberg, M. B., Brooks, D., Uitdehaag, B. M., & Kwakkel, G. (2005). Exercise therapy for multiple sclerosis. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2005(1), CD003980. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003980.pub2

Salarvand, S., Heidari, M. E., Farahi, K., Teymuri, E., Almasian, M., & Bitaraf, S. (2021). Effectiveness of massage therapy on fatigue and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical, 7(2), 20552173211022779. 

Torres-Pareja, M., Sánchez-Lastra, M. A., Iglesias, L., Suárez-Iglesias, D., Mendoza, N., & Ayán, C. (2019). Exercise Interventions for Improving Flexibility in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 55(11), 726. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55110726

Tags: multiple sclerosis, benefits of massage therapy