Massage Therapy for Arthritis: What Actually Helps—and What Doesn’t
For many people, the word arthritis lands like a life sentence.
It sounds permanent. Degenerative. Like once it shows up, pain is just part of the deal from here on out.
That belief is understandable—and incomplete.
Arthritis isn’t a single condition, and it doesn’t behave the same way in every body. Some forms respond extremely well to skilled, targeted massage therapy. Others require a very different, more conservative approach. Knowing the difference is the key to getting relief instead of accidentally making things worse.
At Bodyworks DW, arthritis pain is something we work with every day. And while massage therapy isn’t a cure for arthritis, with the right kind of work—applied at the right time, in the right way—massage can meaningfully reduce arthritis pain, improve joint function, and help people stay active longer.
What Is Arthritis, Really?
Any medical term ending in “-itis” means inflammation.
Arthritis simply means inflammation of a joint.
That’s where the simplicity ends.
There are multiple types of arthritis, each with different causes, progression patterns, and responses to manual therapy. Treating all arthritis the same is one of the biggest mistakes we see—both from clients and from inexperienced therapists.
Let’s break down the most common forms we see in our NYC clinics.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and the one massage therapy helps most consistently.
OA is a degenerative joint condition, typically associated with:
- Long-term wear and tear
- Repetitive use or loading
- Prior injuries
- Age-related changes in cartilage and joint surfaces
As cartilage thins and joint mechanics change, pain increases. The body responds by tightening the muscles around the joint—a protective reflex known as splinting.
That reflex makes perfect sense for an acute injury.
For osteoarthritis, it backfires.
Tight muscles increase joint compression, which increases irritation, which increases pain—locking the body into a self-reinforcing loop.
How Massage Therapy Helps Osteoarthritis
Clinical massage therapy helps interrupt that cycle.
In our practice, treatment for OA typically focuses on:
- Releasing chronically overactive muscles that are compressing the joint
- Improving circulation to surrounding tissues
- Reducing nervous system-driven guarding
- Restoring more efficient movement patterns around the joint
As pain decreases, the joint moves more freely. As movement improves, the body stops bracing. Over time, many clients notice not just pain relief, but better tolerance for walking, training, and daily activity.
In some cases, consistent massage therapy can delay or reduce the need for surgical intervention by helping the joint function more efficiently with the tissue it has.
New Yorkers, in particular, tend to load their joints hard—walking miles on concrete, training aggressively, and pushing through discomfort. We do the same. That’s why our work is designed for real bodies under real stress, not spa-style generalizations.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis is a completely different animal.
RA is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system attacks joint tissues. It’s diagnosed via bloodwork and managed medically—often with disease-modifying drugs.
Here’s the important part:
Deep tissue massage is usually not effective for active rheumatoid arthritis.
Aggressive pressure during inflammatory flares can actually worsen symptoms and prolong recovery.
What Does Help with RA?
Massage can still be valuable—but the approach must be different.
For RA clients, we typically emphasize:
- Gentle, non-irritating manual techniques
- Nervous system calming
- Craniosacral or subtle myofascial work
- Movement education that respects fatigue and flare cycles
When done correctly, massage can reduce pain perception, improve sleep, and help clients feel more at home in their bodies—even when the underlying condition is medically managed.
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
Psoriatic arthritis is often misunderstood—and frequently underdiagnosed.
It’s an autoimmune condition related to psoriasis, affecting up to 30% of people with the skin condition. Some people experience joint symptoms without obvious skin flares, which can delay diagnosis.
Unlike RA, psoriatic arthritis often responds surprisingly well to deeper, targeted manual therapy when applied thoughtfully.
Speaking personally: I was diagnosed with PsA a decade ago in my early 40s, after decades of skin psoriasis from my teens onward. That lived experience shapes how we approach this work.
Massage therapy for PsA often focuses on:
- Reducing myofascial restriction around affected joints
- Supporting circulation and tissue resilience
- Addressing compensatory movement patterns created by chronic pain
While medication is still the cornerstone of treatment, massage can play a meaningful role in symptom management and functional improvement.
Gout
Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in a joint—most commonly the big toe or foot.
Acute gout attacks are intensely painful and inflammatory. During a flare, direct work on the joint is usually not appropriate.
Once the acute phase has passed and medical management is underway, massage therapy can help by:
- Improving joint mobility
- Reducing surrounding tissue stiffness
- Supporting circulation and recovery
- Helping restore normal movement patterns
Massage doesn’t treat the underlying metabolic cause—but it can significantly improve how the joint functions between flares.
Arthritis Responds Best to a Combined Approach
Across the board, arthritis management works best when multiple strategies are combined:
- Appropriate medical care
- Movement that maintains joint health without overload
- Intelligent strength and mobility work
- Anti-inflammatory lifestyle habits
- Skilled, condition-specific massage therapy
Massage isn’t about “fixing” arthritis. It’s about helping your body move, load, and recover more efficiently—so pain doesn’t have to dominate your daily life.
If you’d like a deeper clinical discussion of how massage supports clients with osteoarthritis, including evidence-based considerations, you can read my full article for Massage Magazine here:
Massage for Osteoarthritis: Helping Clients Manage Symptoms
Massage Therapy for Arthritis in NYC
At Bodyworks DW, arthritis care isn’t a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Every session starts with a thorough intake. We look at:
- The type of arthritis involved
- Current symptoms and flare patterns
- How you move—not just where it hurts
- What other care you’re receiving
We work out of both Midtown Manhattan and the Financial District, and our therapists are trained specifically in clinical and medical massage approaches—not spa routines.
If arthritis pain is limiting your movement, training, or daily life, the right kind of massage therapy may help you do more with less pain.
And that’s not nothing.
Last Updated: December 13, 2025
This article was updated to reflect current clinical understanding and recent published work.
