Knee Pain Following Reconstructive Surgery: A 2008 study on the effectiveness of massage therapy for post ACL reconstruction patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, showed a decrease in pain levels, hamstring flexion contracture, and lateral tracking of the patella. Massage therapy was determined to be an effective complimentary therapy in the treatment of PFPS.
Soreness After Exercise: A 2014 study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, showed that massage therapy improves general blood flow and alleviates muscle soreness after exercise.
Muscle Inflammation: In 2012, researchers at McMaster University in Canada discovered that massage therapy helps reduce muscle inflammation in chronic conditions such as arthritis or muscular dystrophy by triggering biochemical sensors that can send inflammation-reducing signals to muscle cells.
Concussion: A 2015 case study in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork showed massage therapy diminished concussion symptoms of headache, dizziness, and nausea, and resulted in regained ease in range of motion in the cervical area.
Recovery from Spinal Surgery: A 2012 case study on the effects of massage therapy after decompression and fusion surgery of the lumbar spine published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork concluded that massage therapy decreases short-term pain and appears to have positive effects in the reduction of disability.
Spinal Cord Injury: A 2011 case study in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork on the effect of massage therapy on a person with incomplete spinal cord injury showed that massage produced an increase in velocity and cadence of gait, a decrease in ambulation time, an increase in stride length, and improvements in the percentages of the swing and stance phases of the gait cycle.