With Chronic Pain,

Lead researcher Dan Hasson, RN, an acupuncturist, in a study he conducted, reported early in 2004 in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Hasson’s study examined massage versus mental relaxation. Of the 129 patients, half received 30-minute massages (1 or 2 times a week) during the 5-week study. The remaining patients listened to a mental relaxation tape 2 times a week.

“During the treatment, there was a significant improvement in all 3 main outcome measures: self-rated health, mental energy, and muscle pain in the massage group,” said Hasson. At the 3-month follow-up, the results were quite different. The massage group reported significantly worse pain. The relaxation group did not report changes in symptoms. The patients with increased muscle pain reported less mental energy as well as feelings associated with depressed moods. Hasson concluded that his study supports the theory that depression and lower mental energy are related to long-term worsening of chronic pain.

My first thoughts were who would benefit the most from a study like this? Yeah you guessed it….

The Pharmaceutical Companies, here is the full article as reported in the Pharmacy Times, “Practical Information for today’s Pharmacist”

I find it hilarious that these guys would think we are stupid enough to believe them, even if it were true how can anyone take them serious, I mean they are reporting for the “pharmacy times” come on guys don’t you know that the only reason why that group in your research reported, significantly worse pain was because they were hoping to get another 5 weeks worth of massages for FREE.

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