A pelvic fracture means that one or both hipbones are broken, often the result of an automobile accident or other high-impact injury. Progressive bone loss puts many seniors at greater risk of breaking a hip from a minor fall. Surprisingly, it's possible for a young adult to suffer a pelvic fracture by simply moving the wrong way. In fact, pelvic avulsion fractures sometimes occur in athletes when sudden strain on a muscle chips a hipbone. Physical therapy, including massage, is an important part of the healing process.
Therapeutic Goal
Follow-up care after a pelvic fracture typically includes several sessions with a physical therapist. In addition to applying ultrasound waves and demonstrating muscle-strengthening exercises, the therapist will administer massage to the region once the intensity of pain has subsided, the Drugs.com website reports. As with ultrasound, the primary benefit of massage is to increase blood flow to the region, which helps to facilitate healing since more oxygen is delivered to cells within muscle and bone.
Veterinary Application
Humans are not the only species to benefit from massage therapy to speed the healing of a pelvic fracture. In the April 2007 issue of "The Canadian Veterinary Journal," Greg Harasen writes that massage therapy is beneficial for cats and dogs that have sustained a minimally displaced pelvic fracture after being hit by a car.
Confirmed Benefits
Massage helps to reduce inflammation in connective tissue, which impedes healing. Massage also helps to loosen adhesions, the tissue growths naturally produced by the body in an effort to surround and protect the affected joint. Unfortunately, adhesions can be a barrier to healing since they sometimes attach muscle to bone in a manner that "freezes," or immobilizes, the joint.
Potential Benefits
Massage therapy is reputed to reduce anxiety, depression and pain associated with recovering from a traumatic injury. One proposed mechanism behind this effect is the reduction in the output of cortisol, a steroid hormone manufactured by the pituitary gland in response to stress. However, in research published in 2011 in the "Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies," lead author Christopher A. Moyer reports that analysis of existing medical literature shows that evidence to support this claim is mixed. Although it appears that massage therapy does indeed lower cortisol production, the reduction is not statistically significant to conclude it is the cause of decreased anxiety, pain and depression. Instead, Moyer asserts that there are other benefits of massage therapy waiting to be discovered.
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