Strivept - Physiotherapy Kitchener Different Uses Of Acupuncture And Massage Therapy | Page 7

Can Massage Therapy Be An
Alternative To Opioids?
 There are efforts underway to research and manufacture a
painkiller that can effectively improve symptoms without having
to cause dependency, but in the meantime it is an ‘all hands on
deck’ situation, and massage therapy can be a powerful aid.
 Pain is generally recognized as the main reason to seek medical
attention from a healthcare professional, and accounts for
approximately 80% of physician visits .In light of this, an
increasing number of studies are being conducted to show the
benefits of massage therapy for patients suffering from a wide
range of conditions, such as headaches and migraines, lower
back pain, arthritis, neuropathic pain and even sickle cell disease
or cancer, that most probably would have been prescribed a
strong painkiller to alleviate symptoms. An important number of
those patients would have gotten accidentally addicted.