Feb 25, 2021
Musculoskeletal pain is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon
and treatment requires an individualized multidisciplinary approach
that addresses biopsychosocial influences and empowers people with
shared decision- making. Increasingly evidence-based
non-pharmacological treatments options are being integrated with
standard care as part of a person-centered approach (Lin et al.,
2020; Manchikanti et al., 2020).
The paradigm shift to an evidence-based multidisciplinary approach
presents an opportunity for massage therapists to collaborate with
other healthcare professionals to improve a patient’s health and
treatment outcome. With respect to the multidisciplinary treatment
of pain, massage therapy has a desirable safety profile, and it is
a health care option that has been shown to be effective for many
persistent pain syndromes (Skelly et al., 2020). What is often not
appreciated is that several clinical practice guidelines and
systematic reviews support the use of massage therapy for patients
suffering from a whole host of conditions including but not limited
to back pain, tension-type headaches, temporomandibular joint
disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and plantar heel pain.