Research has shown that massage can help in the body’s production of certain hormones that can improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure and help with the management of many diseases. Arthritis is a well-known and common disease that affects people of all ages. But is massage safe and effective for people with arthritis? The answer is usually a resounding yes! Regular massage of muscles and joints, whether by a licensed therapist at a spa or by self-massage at home, can lead to a significant reduction in pain for people with arthritis, according to Tiffany Field, PhD, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, who’s conducted a number of studies on the benefits of massage, including on people with arthritis. In Field’s research and other recent studies on the effects of massage for arthritis symptoms, regular use of the simple therapy led to improvements in pain, stiffness, range of motion, hand grip strength and overall function of the joints.