Massage for Arthritis

Massage is beneficial as it increases flexibility and mobility.  It also decreases pain and inflammation, relieves aches and stiffness and promotes a feeling of overall relaxation.

Once the inflammation has subsided, massage may help to loosed up the surrounding muscles and loosen up joints. When ligaments and muscles of non-inflammatory areas are massaged, adhesions can be broken up and joint mobility and flexibility is increased. This improves the normal range of movement and motion. Massage may also stretch the joints and stimulate the viscous synovial fluid found in cavities of synovial joints. After the fluid is stimulated into the joint cavity, the fluid forms a thin later, which reduces inflammation and pain by acting as a buffer of sorts.