How Will Massage Therapy Help With Degenerative Disc Disease?

Chronic pain caused by degenerative disc disease is alleviated by pressure and manipulation.

Definition

• Degenerative disc disease weakens the spine by the break down, or degeneration of, the spongy cushions (discs) between the vertebrae. This causes the discs to become thinner and less supple, restricting movement and causing pain.

Causes

• The primary cause of degenerative disc disease is aging. However, repetitive strain injuries can accelerate the onset of degenerative disc disease.

Developing Degenerative Disc Disease

• According to the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery, 85 percent of the population will show evidence of disc degeneration by the age of 50.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Unless we interrupt the cycle of muscles responding to pain by contracting, relief from the pain of degenerative disc disease is unlikely. Massage therapy is highly successful at breaking this cycle by forcing muscles to relax and increasing blood circulation to the muscle.

How Massage Therapy Forces Muslces to Relax

• By applying manual pressure, pain is more evenly distributed, which causes a decrease in pain and relief from tightness and inflammation caused by muscle contractions.