• Clinical Relevance: While short-term benefits are promising, it’s unclear whether regular massage is needed to sustain hormonal changes. Maintenance protocols have not been defined nor are they being looked at. Many manual therapy research articles look at the short-term positive effects but few delve into the long-term effects. Those that do leave us wanting more as we are seeing little long-term research that stands up to scrutiny justifying the long-term biochemical changes from massage therapy.

Understanding suffering in the context of pain is a complex and nuanced endeavor. A recent paper offers a definition of pain-related suffering as “a profoundly negative, complex, and dynamic experience arising from a perceived threat to an individual’s sense of self and identity.” This definition underscores the depth and multifaceted nature of suffering, but it also raises important questions about the role of empirical definitions in our approach to pain management.

Despite our natural inclination to shun pain, studies have consistently shown its inherent value as a protective mechanism. This innocuous 4-letter word has the uncanny ability to disrupt our daily routines, yet by delving into the mechanisms and behaviours associated with pain, we can actively adapt our perspectives and effectively mitigate its impact on our lives.

We can conclude from this information that though spinal imaging often highlights a structural or bio-mechanical change within the body these changes are not directly correlated to discomfort levels. Indeed in the above study no subjects were experiencing pain and yet the imaging suggests intervention is indeed needed.

We can conclude from this information that though spinal imaging often highlights a structural or bio-mechanical change within the body these changes are not directly correlated to discomfort levels. Indeed in the above study no subjects were experiencing pain and yet the imaging suggests intervention is indeed needed.