Massage Therapy Myths and Facts
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The knowledge of how massage therapy works and how it can help patients has evolved over the years, but there are still common myths that persist. Whether they are things massage therapists and educators once believed to be true, or beliefs that never had any research backing them, persistent myths create misconceptions about what massage therapy can accomplish. Massage therapy can help people manage pain, increase their function and improve their overall quality of life. We’d like to dispel some massage therapy myths so that we can encourage a greater understanding of all the ways massage therapy can help.
Myth 1 – Massage Therapy can release toxins
Many people claim that massage therapy can somehow remove “toxins” from the body. Toxins is a non-specific term that can refer to any number of things that are poisonous, but when this claim is made, it is generally not specific what is meant by “toxins”. Regardless of what might be meant by toxins - and many people who make detoxifying claims cannot be any more specific than that – if you have a functioning liver and kidneys your body will be able to get rid of most of the substances that would be toxic to you.
People who say massage therapy flushes toxins may mean metabolic by-products, which are the chemical products of cellular activity. Our bodies already have mechanisms to deal with these by-products by eliminating or recycling them through the metabolic system. Massage therapy does not push waste products out of our muscles or fat cells, into the bloodstream and then out of the body. This claim does not fit with any of our previous understandings of how the body works.
Some massage therapists will offer water after a massage with the vague idea that it will “flush toxins”. Although it is polite to offer patients water if they’re thirsty (during non-pandemic times!), there is no biological necessity for it.
Myth 2 – Massage Therapy can induce labour or cause miscarriage
Many people believe that women shouldn’t receive massage therapy during their first trimester of pregnancy, because they were taught that massage therapy can cause miscarriages. Miscarriage is common in early pregnancy, with miscarriages estimated to happen in 10-25% of early pregnancies in developed countries. However, pregnant people are usually able to exercise, complete household chores and other regular daily activities without increased worry of miscarriage, and massage therapy is no more vigorous than these activities.
Many people believe that massage of the ankles will cause a pregnant woman to miscarry or go into early labour. There is no evidence suggesting that this is the case, and no scientifically plausible reason given explaining how this might work. This is likely related to a belief that mostly stems from reflexology that pressure points in the ankles will cause uterus contractions. There was even a recent study that attempted to apply acupuncture needles to supposed labour inducing points in the ankle, which found that there was no association between applying acupuncture to those points and inducing labour.
Massage therapy can be safe and effective during pregnancy to treat musculoskeletal pain as well as reduce stress and decrease the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Myth 3 – Massage Therapy can spread cancer
There is a common myth that massage therapy can somehow manually spread cancer around the body. There is no evidence that massage therapy can spread cancer, and massage therapy doesn’t cause any more increased blood flow than regular physical activity, which is recommended for cancer patients. Manual lymphatic drainage, which can be performed by RMTs with additional training, was specifically studied as a technique to help treat the symptoms of breast cancer, and it was found that this technique does not increase the risk of breast cancer reoccurrence. Direct work on a tumour is a contraindication due to concerns that pressure could mechanically induce cell shedding, however it is important to understand that the spreading of cancer is not a purely mechanical process, and massage therapy anywhere other than directly on a tumor site can be safe and beneficial to people with cancer.
Massage therapy is a safe and effective option to help people with cancer to manage potentially debilitating symptoms related to their treatment or to their illness itself. Whether it’s finding relief from pain, reducing anxiety about treatment or improving overall quality of life, massage therapy is a great addition to the treatment plan of a person with cancer.
Myth 4 – Massage therapy increases circulation
Massage therapy increasing circulation is still a common claim. Many studies have found that massage therapy does not have a significant impact on blood circulation. There are other studies that suggest that massage therapy can increase peripheral blood flow or restore vascular function. The research on this topic is limited with no firm consensus.
Whether or not massage therapy increases circulation, it’s important to consider if this matters for your treatment. Exercise and other daily activities also increases blood flow more effectively, and blood flow changes throughout the day for a variety of reasons. Even if massage therapy increases blood flow slightly, it is unlikely to be clinically significant.
Conclusion
These are just some of the common myths about massage therapy that persist, even sometimes among massage therapists. For any belief that you may have about massage therapy, consider where that belief may come from and what evidence may exist to support or refute that belief. It’s okay, and even admirable to question long-held massage therapy beliefs and ensure that you are basing your understanding of massage therapy on the latest available evidence and information. Our understanding and evidence-base for massage therapy continues to change and evolve, but what remains the same is that massage therapy can help a wide variety of populations manage their musculoskeletal pain and discomfort.
References
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