Severe chronic pain can be debilitating because it affects a person on so many levels. The relationship between pain and tension is quite a vicious cycle. Feelings of pain cause the body to become tense. The resulting tension then causes even more painful sensation, which in turn, leads to yet more tension. Once the mind begins to focus on the pain, the pain signals are quickly amplified. A person may become unable to work, unable to function socially, and unable to enjoy life. This is quite heartbreaking to watch unfold.
Massage therapy can be an integral part of pain management because of its ability to calm the nervous system and reintroduce pleasurable sensations to the body. By alleviating tension in the body through the use of massage, the vicious pain/tension cycle can be broken.