If you have a surgery coming up, it\u2019s understandable to be preoccupied with associated appointments, filling prescriptions, pre-surgery jitters, and the ins and outs of surgical prep. That all makes it easy to overlook your sense of wellness, likely putting massage far out of your mind. But you may be surprised to learn just how beneficial a preoperative massage can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, a massage<\/a> before<\/em> an operation is a vital component of your recovery process afterward<\/em>.<\/strong> Let\u2019s explore how…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surgery can be anxiety-inducing for many reasons. Regardless of the source of the anxiety, massage is well known as a way to reduce<\/a> anxiety and stress hormones. In 2020, the Mayo Clinic experimented with providing 15-min hand massages in the waiting room before the operation and found preoperative anxiety to be significantly lowered<\/a> (and patient satisfaction increased overall).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Massage is often utilized as a non-pharmacological pain management tool. There are many peer-reviewed studies that show massage after<\/em> a surgery significantly decreases pain<\/a> for a sustained time frame. While there is less research about massage before<\/em> an operation, this 2009 study<\/a> showed that massage will help reduce the pain that is present beforehand and<\/em> reduce pain following the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For someone headed into an orthopedic surgery, there\u2019s a high probability of latent swelling\u2014i.e. inflammation\u2014around the injury site. Massage is highly effective at preparing the area for surgery by bringing down<\/a> the inflammation present in that area. The reduction in swelling will provide the surgeon easier access to the target area, helping the operation go more smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During an operation, the surgeon often must either cut through muscles or move them around to get to the area they need to work on. If a patient\u2019s muscles are stiff and tight, the surgeon will have greater difficulty wrestling them out of his or her way, resulting in greater impact on the muscle and fascia. This, in turn, will result in a more painful recovery process, as the pain from the operation itself will be compounded by extra soreness in the muscle tissue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, muscles that are relaxed, and therefore more elastic, will be easier for the surgeon to move, resulting in less postoperative pain. Anyone who has had a massage can attest to the feeling of their muscles \u201cloosening,\u201d and there are a number<\/a> of studies<\/a> that show that massage decreases muscle stiffness. The relaxation of stiff muscles before surgery can help minimize recuperative pain and decrease the degree of muscle trauma caused by the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Benefits of Massage Before Surgery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Massage Can Reduce Pre-Surgery Anxiety<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Massage Can Alleviate Pain Before and After Surgery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Massage Calms Inflammation in and Around the Surgical Area<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Massage Relaxes Pre-Surgery Muscle Tension \u2013 Reducing Postoperative Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n