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Massage is the manual or mechanical manipulation of soft tissue to improve health. It is a holistic therapy that's believed to affect all body systems.
Massage might reduce swelling, increase the flow of oxygen into tissues, soften or stretch scar tissue, reduce the build-up of lactic acid in muscles, allow muscles to relax, and stimulate the healing of connective tissue or damaged muscles.
People commonly use massage for back pain and cancer-related pain. It is also used for relaxation, constipation, multiple sclerosis (MS), asthma, athletic performance, stress, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses.
- Back pain. Various forms of massage seem to reduce back pain and disability temporarily. More information is needed to determine which forms of massage may be most beneficial.
Login for details - Cancer-related pain. Massage seems to reduce cancer-related pain and associated symptoms. More information is needed to determine which forms of massage may be most beneficial.
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- Burns. Massage seems to be beneficial for reducing pain and anticipatory anxiety in patients with burns.
Login for details - Constipation. Most clinical research shows that massage, particularly abdominal massage, improves bowel function and frequency in adults and children with constipation from various causes.
Login for details - Dementia. Massage seems to be beneficial for reducing pain and anxiety in patients with dementia.
Login for details - Fibromyalgia. Massage seems to be beneficial for reducing pain in patients with fibromyalgia.
Login for details - Multiple sclerosis (MS). Massage seems to be beneficial for improving some symptoms of MS.
Login for details - Neonatal jaundice. When used along with phototherapy, massage seems to be beneficial for reducing bilirubin levels in neonates with jaundice.
Login for details - Pain (chronic). Massage seems to have a short-term beneficial effect on chronic pain.
Login for details - Postoperative pain. Massage seems to have a short-term beneficial effect on postoperative pain.
Login for details - Prematurity. Massage seems to increase body weight and improve feeding tolerance in preterm infants.
Login for details - Stress. Massage seems to reduce feelings of stress in various patients and circumstances.
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- Alcohol use disorder. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for reducing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Login for details - Ankylosing spondylitis. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for pain and function associated with ankylosing spondylitis.
Login for details - Aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for joint pain associated with aromatase inhibitor treatment.
Login for details - Asthma. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving pulmonary function and reducing anxiety in children with asthma.
Login for details - Athletic performance. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving athletic performance.
Login for details - Atopic dermatitis (eczema). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving symptoms of eczema in children treated with standard topical care.
Login for details - Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving behavior in children and adolescents with ADHD.
Login for details - Autism spectrum disorder. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for autism spectrum disorder.
Login for details - Cancer-related fatigue. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for reducing cancer-related fatigue.
Login for details - Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Login for details - Cerebral palsy. It is unclear if massage is beneficial in children with cerebral palsy.
Login for details - Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for the treatment or prevention of CINV; the available research is conflicting.
Login for details - Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for reducing peripheral neuropathy associated with chemotherapy.
Login for details - Chemotherapy-related fatigue. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for preventing chemotherapy-related fatigue.
Login for details - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Login for details
- Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Login for details
- Coronary heart disease (CHD). Login for details
- Colic. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for colic in infants.
Login for details - Critical illness (trauma). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for patients in critical care.
Login for details - Cystic fibrosis. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for cystic fibrosis.
Login for details - Delirium. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for reducing the occurrence of delirium in patients in intensive care.
Login for details - Depression. Some small clinical studies show that massage may be beneficial for self-reported symptoms of depression. More research is needed in patients diagnosed with clinical depression.
Login for details - Diabetes. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes.
Login for details - Diabetic neuropathy. Login for details
- Diarrhea. Massage seems to be more beneficial than clay for the treatment of diarrhea in children. It is unclear how massage compares to other treatments.
Login for details - Dysmenorrhea. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for dysmenorrhea.
Login for details - Endotracheal intubation-associated adverse effects. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for reducing pain associated with endotracheal intubation.
Login for details - Exercise-induced muscle soreness. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for reducing muscle soreness after exercise; the available research is conflicting.
Login for details - Gastritis. Login for details
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for reducing symptoms of GERD in infants.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving immune function or quality of life in adults with HIV/AIDS.
Login for details - Hypertension. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for hypertension.
Login for details - Hypertrophic scars. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for hypertrophic scars.
Login for details - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Login for details
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D).
Login for details - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It is unclear if massage improves symptoms in children with JIA.
Login for details - Kidney failure. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for fatigue associated with hemodialysis.
Login for details - Labor pain. Most small clinical studies suggest that massage might modestly reduce labor pain.
Login for details - Low birth weight. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for increasing weight in low birth weight infants.
Login for details - Mental alertness. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for increasing mental alertness.
Login for details - Muscle strength. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for increasing muscle strength.
Login for details - Myofascial pain syndrome. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for myofascial pain syndrome.
Login for details - Neck pain. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for neck pain.
Login for details - Obesity. Login for details
- Oral mucositis. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for preventing radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis.
Login for details - Osteoarthritis. Low-quality clinical studies suggest that massage may modestly reduce pain and stiffness in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Login for details - Pelvic pain. Login for details
- Physical performance. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving physical performance in older females.
Login for details - Plantar heel pain. It is unclear if calf massage is beneficial for reducing plantar heel pain.
Login for details - Postpartum complications. Evidence from low-quality studies suggests that perineal massage modestly reduces the risk of perineal complications during delivery.
Login for details - Postpartum depression. Evidence from low-quality studies suggests that receiving massage, or being involved in the massage of infants, reduces symptoms of postpartum depression.
Login for details - Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for PMDD.
Login for details - Pressure ulcers. Login for details
- Preterm labor. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for prevention of preterm labor.
Login for details - Pre-procedural anxiety. Evidence from most preliminary clinical research shows that massage reduces preoperative and pre-procedural anxiety.
Login for details - Prostatitis. Login for details
- Quality of life. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving quality of life in patients in a nursing home.
Login for details - Radiation-induced fatigue. Login for details
- Respiratory tract infections. Login for details
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS). Login for details
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear if massage is beneficial in adults with RA.
Login for details - Seizures. Login for details
- Shoulder pain. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving shoulder pain and range of motion.
Login for details - Smoking cessation. Login for details
- Spinal cord injury. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving function in patients with a spinal cord injury.
Login for details - Sprains. Login for details
- Stroke. It is unclear if massage is beneficial for improving motor function following a stroke.
Login for details - Temporomandibular disorders (TMD). It is unclear if massage is beneficial for TMD.
Login for details - Tendinopathy. Login for details
Massage is likely safe when used in most conditions associated with stress and pain. Massage can cause soreness in some people. More aggressive forms of massage, such as deep tissue massage, seem to be more likely to cause side effects. Massage shouldn't be used in place of treatment with more proven therapies.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Most types of massage are likely safe when used to improve mood and physical well-being during pregnancy and labor. There isn't enough reliable information to know if more aggressive forms of massage, such as deep tissue massage, are safe.Children: Most types of massage are likely safe for children. There isn't enough reliable information to know if more aggressive forms of massage, such as deep tissue massage, are safe.
Broken or damaged skin: Massage might make damaged or broken skin worse.
Clotting disorders: Massage might increase the risk of blood clots in people who already have a higher risk for blood clots.
Cartilage or bone overgrowth: Massage might increase the risk of damage to a blood vessel in people with an overgrowth of the bone or cartilage.
It is not known if this treatment interacts with any medicines. Before using this treatment, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Massage techniques vary. Practitioners mainly use their hands, but may also use their forearms, elbows, or even their feet. Swedish massage is the most commonly practiced form of massage. Other types of massage include sports massage, Esalen massage, and deep tissue massage. Depending on the technique, sessions may last from 15 to 90 minutes. They are typically administered in a comfortable, quiet location. Soothing, repetitive, low-volume music or sounds may be played in the background.
In the US, massage therapist licensing requirements vary state to state. Some practitioners are licensed as other types of healthcare professionals, including nurses and physical therapists. Massage shouldn't be used in place of more proven therapies.
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