Summary
The role of massage in pain management undoubtedly predates recorded history. Today, while there is broad public acceptance and usage of therapeutic massage and a growing body of literature exploring its safety and efficacy, theory and research regarding possible mechanisms of action lag far behind.
This chapter explores the potential role of therapeutic massage and bodywork in contemporary integrative pain management. The range of methods that can collectively be called therapeutic massage and bodywork are described, the literature regarding their effect on pain is reviewed, and the little that is known about their mechanisms of action in relation to current theories of pain management is examined. Finally, case descriptions and suggestions about the beneficial use of therapeutic massage and bodywork in contemporary integrative pain management are offered.
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Madore, A., Kahn, J.R. (2008). Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork in Integrative Pain Management. In: Audette, J.F., Bailey, A. (eds) Integrative Pain Medicine. Contemporary Pain Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-344-8_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-344-8_17
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