Massage therapy is one of the earliest therapeutic tools used
to relieve pain. It has been promoted as a treatment of choice
for numerous conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders,
stress and pregnancy. With its popularity for pain relief and
recovery of function, massage therapy has become a widely
accepted treatment for musculoskeletal disorders. In physiotherapy
practices, massage therapy plays a major role in the treatment
of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. In a large cohort study,
87% of participants with complaints of the arm, neck and/or
shoulder were treated with massage therapy, often in combination
with exercise therapy.