massage therapist performing gentle back massage for autoimmune disease patientPin it

Can Massage Help Autoimmune Disease?

Massage for autoimmune disease may help support symptom management, reduce stress and improve overall well-being when applied with appropriate modifications. However, treatment must be carefully adapted to avoid triggering flare-ups or increasing inflammation.

Clinically speaking, autoimmune disease features a breakdown of self-tolerance. The term “self-tolerance” refers to the body’s ability to recognize its own cells as distinct from foreign elements within the body. When self-tolerance breaks down, the body attacks its own cells because of an inability of white blood cells to recognize protein markers on cell membranes. Understanding how massage for autoimmune disease fits into this process is essential for safe and effective treatment. This dysfunction can manifest in a wide range of conditions—according to the Cleveland Clinic, there are over 100 different autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions. A patient will need to learn how to manage symptoms, minimize flare-ups and control their immune system to prevent it from becoming hypersensitive.

What Is Autoimmune Disease?

Etiology (cause):

The cause of autoimmune disease is largely unknown. However, many theories arise with the onset and development of these conditions. Pathogenic and environmental factors are most commonly discussed as contributing factors.

There are pathogenic links to the acquisition of autoimmune diseases. Viruses such as Epstein-Barr have been confirmed to contribute to certain autoimmune diseases. Epstein-Barr has been directly correlated to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis. Another virus directly linked to autoimmune disease flare-ups is Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). This virus is classically known to cause flu-like symptoms, yet can also trigger autoimmune symptoms in many patients if there is already a propensity for autoimmune flare-ups within the patient.

Bacteria located in the alimentary (gut) tube have been scientifically linked to autoimmune disease flare-ups. Science Translational Medicine published a study in 2025 showing Enterococcus gallinarum can travel outside the gut tube to trigger autoimmune responses, especially in patients with Lupus. Additionally, Campylobacter jejuni, a bacterium known to contribute to diarrheal infections, has been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disease of the nervous system.

There are numerous environmental factors contributing to greater prevalence of autoimmune diseases. Among these factors are chemical exposure to asbestos, silica and pesticides, toxin elements carried through second hand cigarette smoke, dietary exposure to gluten and artificial additives and exposure to chemicals in household items. Dr. Iazsmin Bauer Ventura of the University of Illinois, Chicago is currently conducting studies to determine the impacts of climate change on patients with autoimmune disease.

How Common Are Autoimmune Diseases?

Epidemiology (frequency):

According to a Mayo Clinic study, an estimated 15 million Americans were diagnosed with at least one autoimmune disease between January 2011 and January 2022. The study, conducted by Dr. DeLisa Fairweather, used electronic health record data from patients across six large medical systems and expanded this analysis to estimate nationwide prevalence. Females accounted for approximately twice as many cases of autoimmune disease as men (63% versus 37%). The study also found that 34% of patients were diagnosed with more than one autoimmune disease. The top five autoimmune diseases by prevalence were Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, Graves’ Disease and Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

The Global Autoimmune Institute based in Virginia has published a list of 141 autoimmune diseases. Their list is found at https://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/resources/autoimmune-diseases-list/. Their list contains diseases that are not classically taught from an autoimmune vantage point such as Endometriosis. Their goal is to redefine the traditional understanding of autoimmune disease by providing new perspectives and potential solutions to these frustrating conditions.

Classification:

Of the 100+ varieties of autoimmune diseases, a common classification method has been adopted by the medical and scientific communities. Some conditions are classified as organ-specific, meaning the body attacks a single organ or tissue. Examples include Diabetes Mellitus, Ménière’s Disease, Vitiligo and Celiac Disease. Some conditions are considered system-specific, meaning the body attacks multiple organs of a single system and/or multiple systems. Examples include Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus, Scleroderma and Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Signs and Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease

Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that common signs and symptoms of autoimmune disease include fever, fatigue, swollen glands, abdominal issues, skin problems, joint pain/swelling. Here is a list of other signs and symptoms that may be associated with autoimmune diseases.

  • Joint and muscle pain with weakness
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Recurring skin sensitivities
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling fatigued and cold often
  • White patches upon skin or mouth
  • Abdominal pain with blood / mucus
  • Dry eyes, skin and/or mouth
  • Paresthesia of hands and/or feet
  • Brain fog
  • Metabolic syndromes
  • Alopecia
  • Recurring muscle aches
  • Intermittent swelling (not associated with menses or injury)
  • Multiple miscarriages
  • Blood clots within menses

Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Disease

Diagnostics:

When a person has an autoimmune disease, the body produces antibodies against its own cells and tissues. Diagnosing an autoimmune disease involves identifying the antibodies the body is producing.

The following tests are used to diagnose an autoimmune disease: (10)

  • Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) tests—A type of autoantibody test that looks for antinuclear antibodies which attack the nuclei of cells.
  • Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP) tests—Measures CCP markers for rheumatoid arthritis and various conditions commonly affecting the heart, lungs or eyes.
  • Anti-Extractable Nuclear Antigen (ENA) panel—Measures multiple autoantibodies to test for a variety of systemic conditions such as Lupus.
  • Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)—Test for ANCA antibodies which indicate that neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) are active in the blood.
  • SCL-70 test—Measures levels of Anti-topoisomerase I and Anti-centromere antibodies to test for systemic conditions, including those affecting skin.
  • Rheumatoid Factor (RF)—Elevated RF protein is a strong indicator of Rheumatoid Arthritis within the patient.
  • C-reactive protein (CRP)—Elevated CRP is an indication of increased inflammation.
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)—This test also measures inflammation levels.

Treatments:

Autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions with no cure. Treatment involves controlling the disease process and decreasing symptoms, especially during flare-ups. Medications often provided to autoimmune patients include:

  • Glucocorticoids—Suppress allergic and inflammatory phases.
  • Cytostatics & TNF binding proteins—Designed to decrease T- and B-cell division.
  • Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)—Designed to modify how the disease progresses through the body.
  • Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors—Inhibits specific enzymes that drive autoimmune diseases.
  • Corticosteroids—Quickly reduce inflammation and suppress immune responses.
  • Interferons—Designed to slow progression of autoimmune conditions.
  • Immunosuppressants—Weakening the body’s immune system to limit damage.
  • Mycophenolate—Used to enhance the effects of other drugs.

Massage for Autoimmune Disease Patients: Treatment Considerations

Massage Considerations:

Massage for autoimmune disease requires careful consideration of each client’s condition, symptom patterns and response to treatment. There are several factors to consider when determining treatment plans and modalities to employ. These factors are flare-ups the patient experiences, stimulating effects of massage and physiological effects experienced after massage treatments.

Flare-ups of symptoms are a common occurrence with autoimmune diseases. It is encouraged that clients track both the duration and frequency of flare-ups experienced. One can determine that chosen massage methods are effective if the duration of flare-ups decreases in time and intensity as well as the frequency of flare-up occurrence declines. Recording what was performed during sessions within SOAP notes will be key to ensuring future sessions can be replicated to achieve these results.

Massage can be either stimulating or sedating upon the body depending upon how massage strokes are performed upon the body. Typically, performing massage techniques in a swifter, quicker, irregular manner with cross-fiber emphasis tends to stimulate alpha-, beta- and gamma- motor neurons which govern muscle contraction. If massage is performed in too stimulating a manner, that may increase the propensity of flare-ups post-session. Encouraging a slower pace, smoother cadence and regular rhythm to massage stroke application will make sessions sedating in nature.

After receiving massage, it will be important for clients to record and state to the therapist any post-session physiological phenomena experienced. Did their body flare up quickly? Did they experience increased inflammation? Did they experience pain or discomfort? How long were any sensations felt?

Surely many autoimmune disease clients will experience post-session inflammation, as with any other client, for 2–3 days (as classically taught in entry-level schooling). However, many autoimmune disease patients may experience this inflammation beyond 3 days post-session. If this occurs, ensuring the session is performed with less intensity will be essential. This can be accomplished by:

  • Make the cadence more rhythmic
  • Decrease pressure
  • Slower strokes
  • Increase length of strokes
  • Decrease time of session
  • More holding, less moving body parts
  • More rocking, less pressing into body

When applied appropriately, massage for autoimmune disease may help support symptom management and improve overall client comfort.

Final Considerations

As science continues to study autoimmune diseases, viewing them as a condition rather than a disease may be useful in understanding best treatment options. A condition is a state of the body whereas a disease is a direct affliction to the body. Many patients are realizing that once they change the general internal state of the body by reducing factors that both stress the body and contribute to inflammation, then their autoimmune condition alleviates.

One final note is that the information presented is never intended to replace advice from a medical professional. Please honor requests of one’s physician and complementary practitioners in the care of one’s autoimmune condition.