The AMTA (American Message Therapy Association) claims that therapeutic massage "can help" with:
-anxiety
-arthritis (both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
-chronic and temporary pain
-circulatory problems
-depression
-digestive disorders, including spastic colon, constipation, and diarrhea
-reduced range of motion
-sports injuries, including pulled or strained muscles and sprained ligaments
-stress
Animals respond very well to massage therapy, and some techniques most certainly can bring relief to over-strained muscles.
