More than 50 million of us suffer from daily chronic pain, according to some reports, and the actual figure may be as much as double that. Pain, whether neck pain which impacts roughly 15% of chronic pain sufferers, lower back pain which afflicts 27% or chronic headaches or migraines, can have a significant impact on quality of life. Deep tissue massage therapy can help to reduce chronic pain and improve productivity and enjoyment of life.

While heart disease, cancer and diabetes usually top the priority list for illnesses, chronic pain actually impacts more Americans than these three diseases combined. Massage therapy, especially deep tissue massage therapy, is gaining ground as a means to manage and treat pain in a variety of forms. In 2014, roughly 15% of the population had received some form of massage in the preceding year period, and 45% of those were medically related, including injury rehabilitation and pain management.

Deep tissue massage therapy works by targeting the fascia and muscles in the deep layers of the body. Such massage techniques use firm but slow strokes to really target the deep layers with finger pressure. The benefits of massage therapy include lowering of blood pressure, management of chronic pain, stress relief and breaking up of scar tissue. Over 54 million people in the United States had consulted a healthcare provider or doctor about massage therapy during the year from July 2013 to July 2014, according to one study. Chiropractic offices tend to refer more clients to massage therapy than other healthcare provision sources.

Medical massage can be a great way to manage blood pressure. One University of Maryland Medical Center study found that deep tissue massage could lower systolic pressure by an average of 10.4 mm Hg and diastolic pressure by 5.3 mm Hg on average. This could be especially effective for pre-hypertensive women, according to recent research published in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study found that the impact of massage on blood pressure lasted up to 72 hours after a massage.

By opting for deep tissue massage therapy, you can address a number of health related issues including chronic pain and blood pressure without the need for pain killers or other medical intervention. Those wanting to use massage therapy in this way should talk to their doctor or healthcare provider.