Researchers from Buck Institute and McMaster University have produced scientific evidence that a massage does indeed help heal sore and stressed muscles and may be as effective as aspirin or other pain medicines to calm the effects of intense exercise.
The study which is published online in the Science Translational Medicine claims that massage reduces inflammation by slowing the production of chemicals in the body linked to inflammation, promotes the growth of new mitochondria in skeletal muscle and reduces muscle pain.
Lead author, Dr. Mark Tarnopolsk said,
"This study provides evidence that manipulative therapies, such as massage, may be justifiable in medical practice. The potential benefits
of massage could be useful to a broad spectrum of individuals including the elderly, those suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and patients with chronic inflammatory disease."
About 18 million people undergo massage therapy annually in the US, making it the fifth most widely
used form of complementary and alternative medicine.