Massage Therapy for Pain Management
Summary
Massage therapy encompasses a range of manual techniques aimed at alleviating pain through manipulation of soft tissues. It operates via multiple mechanisms including modulation of nociceptive signals, activation of descending inhibitory pathways, and enhancement of local circulation. By applying sustained pressure, kneading, or friction, massage can reduce muscle tension, attenuate inflammation, and promote release of endogenous neuromodulators. These effects are underpinned by theories such as gate control, which posits that stimulation of mechanoreceptors inhibits transmission of pain signals at the spinal level. In clinical practice, massage interventions vary from traditional Swedish and deep tissue methods to culturally specific modalities such as Thai or myofascial release, and to self-administered approaches like foam roller massage. Evidence supports benefits for conditions including chronic low back pain, neck and shoulder discomfort, and postoperative pain, as well as improvements in functional status and quality of life. Given its non-invasive nature, relative safety profile and global accessibility, massage therapy represents a valuable adjunct to pharmacological and rehabilitative strategies, particularly in light of the opioid crisis and growing demand for non-drug pain management solutions.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Massage Therapy for Pain Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in massage therapy for pain management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF): A protein that supports neuronal growth and modulates pain signalling within the central nervous system.
Foam roller massage: A self-administered technique using a cylindrical foam roller to apply sustained pressure to muscles and connective tissues.
Abdominal hypopressive gymnastics: A series of low-pressure respiratory and postural exercises designed to activate deep trunk musculature and enhance spinal stability.
References
- Changes in BDNF Concentration in Men after Foam Roller Massage. Cells (2024).
- Effectiveness of Massage Therapy and Abdominal Hypopressive Gymnastics in Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2018).
- Massage Therapy for Neck and Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.