Spotlight: Rheumatoid Arthritis & Massage
Arthritis - an umbrella term for certain disorders of the joints - has existed in human populations for millennia. Unfortunately for people suffering from one of the 100+ types of arthritis, it is extremely common - 1 in 4 adult Americans is affected by this painful and often debilitating condition.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder in which a person’s immune system missteps and attacks the synovial lining of their joints, causing inflammation and pain. The hands, knees, and ankles are the most common sites of RA, but non-joint areas such as the eyes, mouth, skin, heart, circulatory system and/or lungs can be affected as well. RA usually causes redness, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness, often making it difficult or painful to move the affected joint(s), and can result in joint deformity.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Stats:
1.5 million in the US have RA
Women are 3x more likely to get RA than men. Usually women develop RA between ages 30-60
People with RA are twice as likely to develop heart disease as those without the condition
Nearly 40% of people with RA have metabolic syndrome (compared to 20% of the population without RA), which doubles the risk for cardiovascular heart disease
Getting a diagnosis and proper treatment is essential for staving off the painful effects and long-term health implications of RA. An arthritis specialist, called a rheumatologist, may use a combination of interview, physical assessment, blood test and/or imaging to reach a diagnosis of RA.
RA symptoms come and go - often predictably, but sometimes without apparent trigger. An uptick in the severity of inflammation, pain, stiffness, swelling, and other symptoms is known as a “flare” and can be accompanied by fatigue and a low-grade fever. Flares can last for days or even months. While the precise cause or trigger for initially developing RA is not fully understood, there are a few known factors which can trigger or contribute to a flare. Managing these factors is a proactive way to mitigate the effects and reduce the symptoms of RA for most people (some flares, however, are known as “unpredictable,” and may be more difficult to manage).
Tools to Manage RA Flares:
Reduce stress: One of the myriad environmental factors that has been associated with the development of RA is stress, and it is widely reported to be a key trigger of flares. Reducing stress can help to decrease pain in the immediate moment, and will also help to decrease the allostatic load on a person’s body over the long-term. Massage and Craniosacral Therapy are fantastic ways to manage stress and reduce the toll it takes on the body (keep reading to learn more about how massage can benefit RA).
Diet: The relationship between diet and RA is indirect but nonetheless of great importance. A healthy, balanced diet can help to maintain optimal (for the individual) body weight, which can alleviate stress on the musculoskeletal system, make exercise more accessible, and reduce the risk of other comorbidities. Diet can also have a tremendous impact on the overall inflammation present in the body, and this is a major component of RA.
Daily movement: Although it can be difficult and/or painful to move the joints affected by RA, especially during a flare, regular movement and exercise is understood to help with specific symptoms as well as with underlying health. Exercise can help to ease pain and improve daily function. It also has beneficial effects for sleep, muscle strength and joint mobility. As mentioned above, RA can affect the cardiovascular system and factors related to metabolic syndrome, so it is essential for people with RA to optimize and support their bodies through regular exercise. That said, it should not be forgotten that rest is essential as well, especially when a person’s system is fatigued or trying to heal from a flare, sickness, or other strain.
Hot/cold therapy, topical products, and/or supplements (under the direction of a medical professional)
Massage, Craniosacral Therapy & RA
Massage and Craniosacral therapy are excellent modalities to supplement self-care practices aimed at reducing stress, and massage also helps directly to reduce pain. According to Dr. Tiffany Field, PhD, a research psychologist at the University of Miami Medical School, “[Massage with moderate pressure] stimulates pressure receptors under the skin that convey signals to the brain that alleviate pain and stress-reducing neurochemicals like serotonin.”
In a massage session aimed at mitigating RA symptoms, modifying pressure and techniques to suit the needs of the client and their current pain levels is important. Massage that is customized to the client helps to stimulate circulation, alleviate pain, and increase mobility. Craniosacral Therapy and massage both activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” branch of the autonomic nervous system), which has positive benefits for immune function, inflammation, and mental health. Self-massage is a fantastic way to complement professional massage therapy and extend the benefits as well! According to the Arthritis Foundation:
“Studies show that moderate-pressure massage can lead to improved pain, stiffness, range of motion, hand grip strength and overall function in people with OA, RA and fibromyalgia. Researchers say massage seems to work by increasing circulation, bringing more nutrients to tissues. It also seems to lower production of the stress hormone cortisol, reduce heart rate and blood pressure and decrease anxiety.”
Over the years, I have treated numerous clients living with RA and other arthritis and autoimmune disorders, and I have found that they derive tremendous benefits from hands-on therapy. I recommend incorporating regular massage sessions at a frequency of once per month or more in order to help mitigate the triggers that cause flares, as well as for the purpose of supporting overall health and well-being!
Works Cited
“6 Tips to Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/in-depth/6-tips-to-manage-rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms/art-20486824.
“Arthritis.” Wikipedia, 9 Jan. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthritis#History. Accessed 13 Jan. 2024.
Arthritis Foundation. “Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Arthritis Foundation, 15 Oct. 2021, www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis.
“Autoimmune Disease.” Wikipedia, 13 July 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmune_disease.
“Best Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis | Arthritis Foundation.” Www.arthritis.org, www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/other-activities/best-exercises-for-rheumatoid-arthritis.
“Get the Latest News about Rheumatoid Arthritis & Heart Disease Today!” Www.arthritis.org, 2 Nov. 2022, www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/related-conditions/other-diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis-heart-disease.
Goodwin, Julie. “Treatment Planning for Rheumatoid Arthritis | Massage Therapy Journal.” American Massage Therapy Association, Massage Therapy Journal, 1 Nov. 2023, www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/treatment-planning-rheumatoid-arthritis/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2024.
Mayo Clinic . “Metabolic Syndrome - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916.
---. “Rheumatoid Arthritis - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 25 Jan. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648.
Rath, Linda. “What Is Arthritis?” Www.arthritis.org, 9 June 2022, www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis.
“Touch Therapy for Arthritis.” Www.arthritis.org, www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/complementary-therapies/natural-therapies/touch-therapy-for-arthritis. Accessed 25 Jan. 2024.
“Types of Massage.” Www.arthritis.org, www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/complementary-therapies/natural-therapies/types-of-massage.
“Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares | Arthritis Foundation.” Www.arthritis.org, www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/understanding-rheumatoid-arthritis-flares.