Fibromyalgia has long been difficult to explain. Patients experience widespread pain, fatigue, poor sleep, cognitive difficulties and heightened sensitivity, often without tissue damage that seems sufficient to account for the severity of their symptoms. Some called it lack of “biological essence”. A major genetic study involving more than 2.5 million people from the US and
Fascia has become one of the most discussed tissues in manual therapy, movement therapy and rehabilitation. It is commonly described as a continuous network connecting muscles, organs, nerves and other structures throughout the body. Yet anatomists and fascia researchers still disagree about a surprisingly basic question: what exactly should be called fascia? Two recent papers
Stretching is usually used to improve flexibility, reduce stiffness and help people move more comfortably. But new research suggests that regular stretching may also have benefits beyond the muscles and joints. It may help keep the arteries more flexible and potentially support cardiovascular health. A recent systematic review examined whether stretching reduces arterial stiffness in
For many years, massage therapists have been taught to approach cancer with considerable caution. Some older massage texts even describe cancer as an absolute or relative contraindication to massage. One of the main fears has been that massage might somehow “spread” cancer by increasing circulation or physically moving cancer cells through the body. Other concerns
Massage is usually thought of as something that works on muscles, joints and other tissues. But pain is not produced only where an injury occurs. Chronic pain also involves changes in the spinal cord and brain. A recent animal study explored whether massage might influence these central pain-processing systems. The study focused on neuropathic pain,
Massage Therapy for Post-Exercise Muscle Repair Massage is widely used to reduce soreness, improve recovery and help clients feel better after exercise. However, some of the traditional explanations for why massage works are not well supported by current research. A review of the physiological evidence suggests that massage can have useful effects, particularly on soreness
Chronic neck pain affects more than 200 million people worldwide and is one of the leading causes of long-term disability. Although exercise, manual therapy, and medications remain standard treatments, many patients continue to experience persistent pain or are unable to tolerate long-term use of analgesics. As a result, complementary therapies such as cupping are increasingly
Chronic pain affects around one in five adults worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of disability. Medication can help some people, but its effects are often modest, and long-term use can bring significant risks. This has increased interest in safer, non-drug approaches—especially exercise. A major review has now brought together evidence from 157
Massage, myofascial release, instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilisation and foam rolling are widely used to reduce stiffness, improve movement and prepare the body for activity. These techniques are often explained in mechanical terms: muscles are said to be loosened, fascia released, adhesions broken down or tendons made more flexible. But do these treatments actually change the mechanical
Myofascial release is widely used to reduce stiffness, improve movement and relieve discomfort. Therapists may use massage, sustained pressure, instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilisation or massage sticks with the intention of releasing fascia, relaxing muscles or changing the mechanical properties of tissue. But does the technique actually make muscles, fascia or the muscle–tendon unit less stiff? A