Massage therapy can be very helpful during addiction recovery. This option is considered a holistic treatment that takes every part of the individual into account, not just the symptoms of their disorder.
Massage as Part of a Full Addiction Rehab Program
The National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health states that one must not “use massage therapy to replace conventional care or to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.”
However, this holistic option can be utilized during a full addiction rehab program. In addition, residential treatment centers are often more likely to provide this option to patients as part of their well-rounded treatment program, as these facilities usually have more funding and are more likely to offer supplementary treatment methods to patients.
The Benefits of Massage
Massage therapy is one of the safer options available to individuals in addiction treatment. It has no proven risks as long as it is conducted by a trained professional and used appropriately. Also, those who receive massages usually do not experience issues once they stop, although the benefits are somewhat short-lived if regular sessions are not continued.
This option has been found to be very helpful to those struggling with stress. Because addiction is often related to stress and an individual’s particular problems dealing with it, this can be a wonderful option for a stress outlet and a way in which patients can learn to better deal with their stresses in a drug-free manner.
According to the journal of Orthopedic Nursing, “The simple act of touch-focused care, even a simple 5-minute hand or foot massage, can be useful in lowering a patient’s perceived level of stress.”
Also, massage has been found to be especially beneficial in reducing issues with pain. Many addiction syndromes cause withdrawal symptoms that can be mildly to severely painful, and receiving massage therapy during the time of withdrawal can possibly help minimize these issues.
Many patients prefer this to medication and, although pharmacological options will likely still be used, massage therapy can help manage pain considerably for certain people.
Can Massage Therapy Treat Addiction?
Officially, there is no direct word on whether or not massage therapy can actually treat addiction, but it has been found to be very beneficial in minimizing the issues associated with drug abuse and recovery. The program itself is also very soothing, which makes it an excellent holistic option for patients in unfamiliar treatment centers working on their recoveries.
Massage therapy, among a number of other holistic and complementary treatment options, can be found in many residential rehab centers along with the general options for addiction recovery.