What Research Says About Massage for Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases are one of the fastest-growing public health issues of our time, according to the Autoimmune Association. The organization reports that autoimmune disorders affect 50 million Americans and more worldwide. And the rate of autoimmune disorders is increasing. Globally, the incidence of autoimmune disease is estimated to be rising at 3 – 12 percent each year. In addition to rising, autoimmune diseases tend to cluster. That suggests that 25 percent of patients with one autoimmune disease will develop additional autoimmune conditions. [1]

Autoimmune diseases, of which there are over 100, occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any tissue or organ in the body. Included among them are Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis.

The cause of autoimmune diseases are complex and not fully understood. Generally, they result from an interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. [2]

How to manage autoimmune diseases

Under normal circumstances your immune systems detects substances that should not be present in the body, such as a virus or bacteria. In response the immune system sends out white blood cells to eliminate the ‘foreign substance” before it can do damage to the body or make a person sick. Not having invaders to attack, it turns on the body and damage healthy tissue. The result is ongoing inflammation, pain, and organ or tissue damage over time.

Many of the autoimmune diseases show symptoms that come and go. They are called flares or attacks. Common early symptoms of autoimmune diseases include:

·         Persistent fatigue unrelieved by rest

·         Joint pain, stiffness or swelling

·         Muscle aches

·         Low-grade fevers

·         Skin rashes

·         Digestive problems or abdominal pain

·         Numbness and tingling in hands and feet

·         Dizziness

Generally, you cannot cure autoimmune diseases, but they can be controlled. How to manage autoimmune diseases depends on the condition and range of symptoms. Because everyone is different when it comes to their immune system, genetics, and environment, treatments will be unique to everyone. Common mediations to control autoimmune diseases include:[3]

·         Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation

·         Corticosteroids to control stronger flares

·         Disease-modifying drugs and biologic agents that target specific parts of the immune reaction

Massage for autoimmune disease

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) reports that emerging research shows a role for massage therapy in supporting individuals with autoimmune disorders. The research indicates that massage for autoimmune disorders can help improve pain, mood, and quality of life, while at the same time reducing reliance on medication. [4]

Recent research studies about massage for autoimmune disorders include:

The Effect of Swedish Massage on Mood Disorders and Quality of Life in in People with MS

A study conducted in 2024 aimed to assess the effects of Swedish massage on mood disorders and the quality of life (QOL) of people with multiple sclerosis. The study involved 70 multiple sclerosis patients divided into two groups. The massage group received two 50-minute sessions of whole-body Swedish massage per week for six weeks. The usual treatment group continued their regular medical care. The massage group demonstrated significant improvements in QOL and improved sleep quality. Swedish massage also reduced stress, anxiety and depression and alleviated pain, fatigue, and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Researchers concluded that Swedish massage can be considered a valuable complementary treatment to accompany conventional medicine for individuals with multiple sclerosis.[5]

The Effect of Swedish massage on pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A randomized controlled trial

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Swedish massage on pain and the consumption of painkillers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved 60 patients with half assigned to the control group and half to the experimental group. The experimental group received a 30-minute Swedish massage regularly for eight weeks: twice a week for the first four weeks and three times a week for the last four weeks. The control group had routine care.

The study showed significant differences between the two groups’ mean scores of pain and consumption of painkillers immediately after and one month after the last session of the massage therapy. Also, the mean scores of pain and painkiller consumption in the experimental group decreased over the three points of time used to measure pain. Researchers concluded Swedish massage can be effective in reducing pain and the need for painkillers among rheumatoid arthritis patients. [6]

Considerations for massage for autoimmune disorders

While research has shown the role of massage therapy for autoimmune disorders in reducing pain, improving quality of life, lowering stress, and improving mood, there are considerations in working with clients.

While massage therapy can help clients who have many of the autoimmune disorders, some disorders do not do well with massage. The Institute for Integrative Healthcare cautions that treatment should be carefully adapted to avoid triggering flareups or increasing inflammation. [7]

Massage Magazine writes that a general rule of thumb is that a client who has an autoimmune disease but who is engaging in normal levels of exercise and activity should be able to receive regular massage. But do your homework if a client tells you about a disorder you are not familiar with so you can find out if there are any known contraindications that would prevent massage in general or a specific technique. While you cannot know everything about an autoimmune disorder, you should find out the main symptoms and what body tissue(s) are attacked during flareups. [8]

Find out if the client has had prior experience with massage and what worked to provide relief or if a treatment made their symptoms worse. You also want to know if clients’ symptoms are constant (daily) or episodic. The latter means the symptoms are not too bad but exhibit sudden onsets with more intense symptoms. [9] In addition to discussing flareups, find out about pain levels, current medications, areas to avoid and skin sensitivity.

Encourage clients to consult with their healthcare providers before starting any massage, and to know about any contraindica