Pain is a major public health concern that affects approximately 100 million Americans. Estimates show that chronic pain accounts for 80% of physician visits and almost $600 billion in annual health care expenditures and lost productivity.

Massage Therapy is proving to be a powerful tool in managing pain. Jerrilyn Cambron, DC, MPH, PhD, LMT, research professor at National University, co-authored a series of papers published in the journal Pain Medicine. They highlight research showing how massage therapy can help various pain sufferers, including people suffering with pain from surgery and cancer.

“These articles will go a long way in promoting massage therapy as an evidence-based approach to pain management,” says Dr. Jerrilyn Cambron.

The series on massage therapy and pain are now available electronically. They will also be published in print in the July, August and September issues of Pain Medicine. Here are links to articles in the series:

A Time for Massage

Massage Therapy for Pain – Call to Action

Part One: Pain in the General Population

Part Two: Cancer Pain Populations

Part Three: Surgical Pain Populations

The project leading to the articles was conducted by Samueli Institute, and commissioned by the Massage Therapy Foundation with support from the American Massage Therapy Association.

National University is proud to have faculty leading the way in showing new applications for massage therapy research in fields such as pain management, which in turn advances its role in integrative medicine.