• Written by William F. Neckman, LMT, NMT

An article I read stated that 1 out of 4 people live with chronic pain. 1 out of 4, that to me is a staggering number of people, and what it says about our lives is interesting. While admittedly there are some situations that require the use of medication and/or surgery as a means for pain control, these methods are highly overused and often create more problems than they solve. The many turning to traditional medicine to cure their aches and pains may not realize that there are ways to naturally produce pain relief just by manual manipulation of the body. These methods include:

Trigger Point Therapy
A type of massage technique that focuses in on localized areas where the muscles have been injured or over worked. These disturbances cause tiny knots in the muscle tissue and can often cause not only pain at the site of the knot, but referred pain to areas around it as well. Trigger Point Therapy focuses on specific spots on the body. When pressure is applied to these spots it helps to relieve the pain caused by injury or overuse.

Myofascial Release Therapy
Myofascial Release Therapy is a specialized massage technique that separates the fascia (the connective fibers between our skin and internal structures) from the underlying tissue. When these connections are removed, it allows the restoration of free movement and helps to eliminate pain.

Swed-Thai Massage
This type of massage therapy is the one that most individuals can recognize. It is a combination of Swedish massage, which is known for its relaxing strokes, and Thai massage, which is associated with stretching. This unique combination makes for a fantastic opportunity for relaxation, which, along with the manipulation, also promotes health and pain relief.

The therapeutic method used should be specifically tailored to your needs. Not every body functions in exactly the same way; therefore, not everyone will respond to massage therapy in the same way. Be sure to speak with your massage therapist and share information about the pain you are experiencing in order to assist them in making the most educated decision possible. They can not only help you decide which type of massage therapy is best, but can also provide you with insight into other methods by which you can naturally and effectively get pain relief. Avoiding toxins in medication and the stress and physical harm of surgery is of utmost concern among those living with chronic pain. Do the research, explore your options, and educate yourself. Pain relief is not far from those who seek it.