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Published on: January 5, 2024
Massage therapy for fibromyalgia symptoms
1Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. kleonid@bgu.ac.il
Rheumatology International
|March 23, 2010
Summary
Massage therapy offers short-term fibromyalgia symptom relief, but methodological issues in studies limit conclusions. More rigorous research is needed to confirm massage as an effective fibromyalgia treatment.
Area of Science:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and fatigue.
- Massage therapy is a frequently utilized complementary therapy for managing fibromyalgia symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature, focusing on randomized controlled trials, to assess the efficacy of massage therapy for fibromyalgia symptom relief.
- To determine if massage therapy is a viable treatment option for patients with fibromyalgia.
Main Methods:
- An extensive narrative review of studies was conducted.
- Searches were performed across multiple databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, CINAHL, PEDro, ISI Web of Science, Google Scholar) from inception to December 2009.
- Keywords included "massage", "fibromyalgia", and related terms. Reference lists were also searched.
Main Results:
- Two single-arm studies and six randomized controlled trials examined massage therapy's effects on fibromyalgia.
- All reviewed studies indicated short-term benefits from massage therapy.
- Methodological limitations were present in all reviewed studies, with only one single-arm study showing long-term benefits.
Conclusions:
- The current literature provides modest support for using massage therapy in fibromyalgia management.
- Further high-quality research is essential to establish massage therapy as a safe and effective intervention.
- Recommendations for practice include painless massage, gradual intensity increase, and sessions 1-2 times weekly.
