MM Chapter 23: Massage for Chronic Pain

As discussed in Chapter 3, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS. HIV is a retrovirus that can live in an infected individual for long periods before causing symptoms. The National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases reports that people infected with HIV generally develop a flu-like illness 1 to 2 months after initial exposure

Headache can generally be defined as pain experienced in the region of the head. It has many different causes. Headaches are classified as tension, vascular, chemical, or traction-inflammatory. Tension and vascular headaches are the most common types experienced regularly (Fig. 23-5). The following sections consider each type’s symptoms, causes, and contributing factors, as well as

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease related to wear and tear of a synovial joint’s structures. It causes the affected joints to become painful, stiff and swollen (Fig. 23-4). It is especially prevalent in weightbearing joints like the hips and knees. The joint tends to be stiff, tight, and mildly painful, but feels better as

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the synovial membranes of joints but may also affect other tissues, including blood vessels, the lungs, and fascia. A variety of symptoms might be experienced at the onset of RA. Often, people feel like they have a low-grade illness like a cold or the flu and

Fibromyalgia affects 3% of the U.S. population (women comprise 85% of those affected) and causes diverse symptoms, including the distribution of tender points all over the body, chronic pain in soft tissues, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.9 The tender points that develop with fibromyalgia seem to be distributed in nine pairs over all the body regions

A 1999 national pain survey found that approximately 50 million Americans live with chronic pain caused by accidents or disease. An additional 25 million suffer acute pain resulting from surgery or an accident. Two-thirds of the people surveyed had been living with pain for more than five years.1 Researchers in 2000 found that 36 million

In your massage practice, regardless of the setting (e.g., clinic, spa, cruise ship, home office), you will encounter clients with pathologies, many of which cause chronic pain. Some clients seek massage purely as a luxury, while others are looking to massage to help them manage their conditions. In any case, you must have a strong