Massage therapy involves manual manipulation of the soft tissues of the body — including muscles, tendons, and skin — to relieve muscle tightness, stress, or pain.
Massage therapy is one of the earliest tools people used to help a health condition or relieve pain, according to the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health. Different styles of massage therapy include sports massage, clinical massage, and shiatsu, a tradition derived from Eastern cultures.

Massage therapy involves manual manipulation of the body’s soft tissues to relieve muscle tightness or pain. iStock

Jamie Bacharach, a licensed massage therapist and owner of Acupuncture Jerusalem in Israel, says massage can increase healthy circulation and stimulate the areas affected by psoriatic arthritis.
“Massage therapy can work away pain caused by psoriatic arthritis while relieving stress associated with the inflammatory condition,” says Bacharach. “Not only can massage therapy help to reduce inflammation caused by PsA, it can reduce stiffness and promote healthy circulation in areas that are not inflamed.”

Bacharach recommends shiatsu massage in particular for clients with psoriatic arthritis because it “has proven effective for relieving pain associated with arthritis.”
Shiatsu draws on the notion of chi, or energy that flows along meridians throughout the body. The sessions focus on relieving pain and helping the body rid itself of any toxins before they develop into illness.

“Shiatsu massage therapy targets the body as a whole with palms, thumbs, and forearms, and involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to create a healing flow of energy,” Bacharach says. “By targeting the body as a whole, rather than simply the affected areas, this massage reenergizes and enables those suffering from psoriatic arthritis to heal more quickly and completely.”

Acupressure and reflexology may also relieve symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Both techniques are similarly based on balancing and directing energy within the body for more comprehensive healing.

If you are thinking about adding massage to your psoriatic arthritis treatment regimen, talk to your doctor first and make sure you are cleared to receive massage. Make sure the massage therapist you choose is licensed and understands psoriatic arthritis.
When getting a massage, Bacharach says communication is key to avoid aggravating the skin. Many people with psoriatic arthritis also have psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes itchy or sore patches of skin.

Bacharach takes a number of precautions when treating a client with psoriatic arthritis.
“The visibly inflamed areas of the skin or areas that are hot to the touch must be avoided,” she says. “Also, patients should tell their massage therapist whenever a particular movement causes discomfort or if a certain area of the skin feels uncomfortable to touch. Lastly, it's critical to start the massage with low pressure and increase it if possible."

Finding the Right Massage Therapist

To find a licensed massage therapist, ask your primary care physician or rheumatologist. You can check with friends or seek local recommendations from the community. Therapists that are both capable and caring will generally have built up a reputation that precedes them...

Bacharach encourages clients to have an open and honest conversation with the massage therapist before committing to treatment in order to establish trust.
While insurance companies may pay for massage to treat psoriatic arthritis and other chronic diseases, it depends on your provider plan. The more debilitating or limiting your psoriatic arthritis is, the more likely your massage therapy will be covered.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/psoriatic-arthritis/how-massage-therapy-can-help-psoriatic-arthritis/