Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2026

Summer 2026 • 53

**LMT 1/2 page 8x4.8125_Layout 1 3/27/26 4:24 PM Page 1 Although research on the benefits and effects of therapeutic massage for symptoms of RA is sparse, recent studies have been encouraging. In their 2017 article, Nicole L. Nelson and James R. Churilla noted: The effects and benefits of massage have long been evident to those who practice it and those who regularly choose it as part of their overall health care plan. In recent years, however, the allopathic medical community has begun to recommend it to patients, as in Massage: Get in touch with its many benefits , on the Mayo Clinic website, which states that massage benefits may include: • Reducing stress and increasing relaxation • Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension • Improving circulation, energy and alertness • Lowering heart rate and blood pressure • Improving immune function 23

“Massage therapy is gaining interest as a therapeutic approach to managing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. To date, there have been no systematic reviews investigating the effects of massage therapy on these conditions. This review found seven randomized controlled trials representing 352 participants who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias ranged from four to seven. Our results found low- to moderate-quality evidence that massage therapy is superior to non-active therapies in reducing pain and improving certain functional outcomes. It is unclear whether massage therapy is more effective than other forms of treatment. There is a need for large, methodologically rigorous randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of massage therapy as an intervention for individuals with arthritis.” 68

Although research on the benefits and effects of therapeutic massage for

symptoms of RA is sparse, recent studies have been encouraging.

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