Will deep tissue massage helps?

[daliya74859]

Hey, I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. As you all know Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects the knees, hip, back and small joints in the finger. For me, it is knee pain. I have undergone different types physiotherapies to reduce my pain. But nothing worked for me! One of my friends suggested taking Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables, an extract made from avocado and soybean oils, can improve the pain and stiffness of knee and hip osteoarthritis and reduce the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). I took 300milligram per day. But I was not able to find a big difference in my pain. Another friend suggested about deep tissue massage( gesund.ca/massage-therapy/d... ) which can reduce my pain. He suggested from a clinic in Toronto. But actually, I don't know much about this. Actually will this help in reduction of the pain? How frequently should I undergo this therapy? Is this therapy has any side effect? Please share your thoughts!

[kirstenra Administrator]

Hello daliya! Much appreciate you sharing your experience and questions. I can certainly appreciate your interest in exploring different treatment strategies with dietary supplements and other forms of therapy. For dietary supplements, always read labels to know what you're taking and ask your doctor how that might interact with other drugs you may be taking. Sounds like you've done this, but for others, it's always a good practice. Back to deep tissue massage, it can beneficial for people with arthritis in a number of ways. Deep tissue massage requires intense, focused pressure to get to surface and deep muscle tissue and connective tissues. Deep tissue massage can be helpful in reducing joint and muscle stiffness. It may also reduce muscle discomfort that may arise due to gait changes or postural adjustments you may make, whether you realize it or not, to compensate for joint pain. Massage can also alleviate overall tension and anxiety and may help sleep. Do your homework and find a licensed therapist who is trained in deep tissue massage. As for side effects, deep tissue massage can be a bit uncomfortable while it's happening and may also lead to soreness that takes a day or 2 to go away. There are many types of massage so if you find deep tissue too intense, consider a gentler form. If you try it, come back and tell us what you think!

[kirstenra Administrator in reply to kirstenra]

...because I haven't said enough already Re: frequency - there is no hard and fast rule other than leaving a few days between sessions to allow your muscles and joints to rest or recover. Weekly, every 2 weeks, or monthly. It's up to you, your time allowance, and your budget. Regular massage is likely more beneficial than just a one-time session - you may notice immediate relief, or it may take several sessions to really make progress.

[SimplySimonUK]

I’m very sceptical about diet supplements. I’ve tried glucosamine, chondriitin, Omega oils and all sorts of other stuff over many years and noticed no difference whatsoever. However, even though there was no improvement, I simply can’t know if things would have got worse quicker without the supplements.

From my own experience, masage definitely helps if the OA prevents you from exercising properly.

[kidsrgreat]

I have some stretch exercises and a 20 minute routine that seems to be helping. Now when the the weather changes and it is rainy and yucky, my pain does reoccur. I found a great natural gel and do take a liquid glucosamine with chondroitin and vitamin D supplement which seems to be working slowly as I have not been taking it very long