Gout and Massage Therapy

Long ago, gout was considered to be "a rich man's disease." People assumed it was caused by enjoying great quantities of elaborate food and fine wine, which no one except a rich man could afford.

Today, gout is known to affect people of all income levels, usually during middle age. Overindulging in food and alcohol can make it worse, but heredity is another contributing factor. People with high levels of uric acid in their blood can develop sharp urate crystals in their joints and tissues, which causes recurring attacks of pain and inflammation.

Symptoms of Gout

When you feel a sudden pain in your big toe -- or in your foot, ankle, knee, elbow, wrist, hand or fingers -- it could be a gout attack. The joint may be swollen, showing redness, and feeling warm when you touch it. While several joints can be affected by gout, such intense pain usually affects only one at a time.

Treatment and Relief

WebMD explains that while gout cannot be cured, it can be controlled with treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs are one method, but in between gout attacks it can be helpful to receive massage therapy.

At Massage Envy, our professional therapists are experienced in the kind of massage that keeps your muscles and tissue surrounding the affected area strong and healthy. Encouraging blood to flow into the area helps contribute to healing, because your body needs the nutrients that arrive with new, oxygen-rich blood.