WebMD Medical News Louise Chang, MD July 5, 2011 -- Massage may
be serious medicine, at least when it comes to treating
persistent low back pain, a new study shows. Low back pain is
one of the top reasons people seek medical attention in the
U.S., and it is notoriously tough to treat. Studies show very
few medical therapies, from medications to injections to
surgeries, reliably relieve it, and some can aggravate the
problem. The new study randomly assigned 400 adults with
moderate-to-severe low back pain lasting for at least three
months to either weekly whole-body massages for relaxation,
weekly massages that focused on specific muscle problems around
the lower back and hips, or usual care. People assigned to the
usual care group were tracked by researchers, but they dealt
with their back problems on their own. The approach could
include, for instance, taking pain medications or muscle
relaxants, seeing doctors or chiropractors, physical therapy, or
simply not doing anything. After 10 weeks, participants in