Massage Therapy
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The magic touch: how healthy are massages actually?
by Sarah Sloat 13/11/2025 The Guardian
In one study, researchers observed that 8.5% of Americans reported using massage for “overall health” in the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. However, definitions of health tend to vary widely, explains the study’s first author, Jeff Levin, an epidemiologist and distinguished professor at Baylor University. For instance, does it refer to physical health, mental health or both? That makes it tough to study, but may explain why it has such broad appeal, Levin explains.
Benefits of massage therapy
by Ivy Conrad 22/3/22 MAYO CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM
Massage used to only be available at high-end spas or health clubs. Some people viewed it as a luxury for the wealthy or a code word for illegal activities. Now massage is widely available and viewed as an important tool in promoting mental and physical health.
Massage Therapy for Health: What the Science Says
Several reviews of research have found weak evidence that massage may be helpful for low-back pain. Clinical guidelines issued by the American College of Physicians in 2017 included massage as an option for treating acute/subacute low-back pain but did not include massage therapy among the options for treating chronic low-back pain.
How Therapeutic Is Massage?
Medicine has come a long way since the Father of Medicine wrote those words. Doctors no longer rely on the laying on of hands to heal their patients. Massage has come a long way, too. Masseurs are no longer viewed simply as high-priced locker room specialists (much less as shady ladies who need dough of a different sort), but as therapists.
You Asked: Do Massages Have Real Health Benefits?
Go looking for proof that a massage will improve your health, and you’ll have no trouble finding research to back you up. From easing muscle soreness after exercise to reducing stress, dozens of studies—stretching back several decades—have linked massage with real physical and psychological benefits.
Those who get massages on a regular basis, what benefits have you noticed? Besides feeling relaxed
Improved self confidence. Reduced anxiety. It’s sort of like having GPS while driving on unfamiliar roads that tells you when you’re going to arrive and no matter what happens it will guide you so you don’t have to sweat the unfamiliarity or obstacles you might encounter along the way. So, too, having that massage appointment on the schedule calms me during the days leading up to it because I know no matter how strange, unpredictable or unfamiliar things get along the way, I’m going to be on that table at a certain time on a certain day, in good hands, trigger points rooted out and soothed, while contentedness reigns for at least one blessed hour.
Massage Therapy Styles and Health Benefits
Massage has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, if you need a massage, you can choose from about 80 massage therapy styles with a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques. These all involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Sometimes, even forearms, elbows, or feet are used.
25 Reasons to Get a Massage
A growing body of research supports the health benefits of massage therapy for conditions such as stress, fibromyalgia, low-back pain and more. Find out how you can benefit from adding massage therapy to your health and wellness routine.
Massage
Massage is perhaps one of the oldest healing traditions. Many ancient peoples – including the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese and Indians – were convinced of the therapeutic properties of massage and used it to treat a variety of ailments.
Everything You Need to Know About Massage Therapy
Performed by a licensed massage therapist, massage therapy involves using different pressures, movements and techniques to manipulate muscles and other soft tissues in the body. With a goal of slowing down your nervous system, massage therapy can be used to release stress and tension, provide relief from symptoms, heal injuries and support wellness.
How Often Should You Get a Massage?
Getting a massage can be a way to treat yourself, de-stress, or address a medical issue. You can seek out a massage therapist for a variety of different massages. You can also self-massage or ask someone to perform massage techniques at home.
Benefits of Massage
by Susan Bernstein and Mary Anne Dunkin Arthritis Foundation
Massage, whether conducted in a softly lit day spa or a treatment room at a physical therapy clinic, is increasingly popular among people seeking to soothe sore joints and muscles, ease anxiety or improve sleep.
Top 5 Health Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy
The health experts at National University of Health Sciences want you to know the top five health benefits of adding regular massage therapy to your health and wellness strategy.
Top 10 Health Benefits of Massage Therapy for Seniors
We are experiencing more physical, chemical and emotional stress in our lives than ever before. But the good news is that even if you’re not aware of these stressors on your mind and body, there are numerous ways to mitigate their effects. But first, let’s take a second to define stress to learn how we can get rid of it.
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Why Massage Therapy Should Be a Regular Part of Your Wellness Routine
Taking care of your wellness keeps your body in good health. Massage therapy is one of the effective ways that help people to achieve wellness. It uses natural, healthy, and drug-free ways to restore the body. Most people think of a body massage as a luxury experience. However, people have used massage therapy to encourage self-healing and optimal body function.
Can massage therapy help improve your health?
People who treat themselves to an occasional massage often describe feeling deeply relaxed and rejuvenated afterward. But allowing a professionally trained massage therapist to manipulate your tissue and muscles can be more than just an enjoyable hour of pampering. Massage therapy offers potential health dividends that can extend beyond the session.
Do massages really work? (Hint: Yes.)
Massage therapy has long been thought of as an effective and reliable way to achieve heightened relaxation and comfort, but there are still plenty of skeptics not entirely convinced of its objective benefits. While it used to be primarily considered a component of alternative medicine, it has recently become more closely aligned with mainstream practices. You can get a massage almost anywhere nowadays, at your workplace and hospitals and even at the airport. Here is a breakdown of the main proven physical and mental benefits massage therapy can have on your life.
The Biological Benefits of Frequent Massage
A new study shows there are sustained, cumulative beneficial effects of repeated massage therapy. The effects persist for several days to a week, and differ depending on the frequency of sessions.
Beyond Relaxation: 8 Health Benefits of Massage You Didn't Know
Most people are well aware of the relaxing effects of massage, but massage has a few secret health benefits that are both proven and widely unknown. We’re ready to shed some light on these “best-kept secrets.”
Can massage relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress?
by Amy Marso 20/7/22 MAYO CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM
Even situations perceived as good, like getting married, starting a new job or becoming a parent, can produce significant stress. When people struggle to cope with stressful situations, depression and anxiety symptoms can become more noticeable.
10 Powerful Benefits of Massage Therapy for Mental Health
Massages are amazing. Who doesn’t love a deep massage to soothe their aching muscles? But, did you know that massages alleviate more than just physical pain? The mental health benefits of massage for mental health are extraordinary!
The Health Benefits of Massage
by Maira Ahsan NEWS MEDICAL LIFE SCIENCES
Massage is one of the earliest known therapeutic practices. Treatments for various disorders were based on the belief that massage therapy had curative characteristics shared by many ancient cultures, including the Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Indians.
Massage Therapy: What You Need To Know
Massage therapy is used to help manage a health condition or enhance wellness. It involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage has been practiced in most cultures, both Eastern and Western, throughout human history, and was one of the earliest tools that people used to try to relieve pain.
15 Incredible Benefits of Massages: Reducing Stress, Improving Circulation, and More
In our fast-paced world, taking care of our physical and mental well-being has become more crucial. One fantastic way to achieve this is through the incredible benefits of massage therapy. Once considered a luxury reserved for the wealthy, massages have become popular for promoting overall health and relaxation.
9 Benefits Of Deep Tissue Massage You Should Know About
Deep tissue massage is a therapeutic massage technique that helps to relieve pain and tension in the body. While other massage techniques are focused on prominent body parts, deep tissue massage focuses on the deep areas of the muscle.
Why Massage Should Be a Regular Part of Your Health Care
When most people think of massage therapy, they usually think relaxation – in a spa, a massage club, or even as a treat in a resort on vacation. While relaxation is one benefit to massage, there are many more to consider. Massage is generally considered part of CAM, or complementary and alternative medicine. It is increasingly being offered as a standard treatment to many medical conditions.
How Can Massage Help My Health and Wellbeing?
Generally, people use massage for either general relaxation and wellbeing, or to address a specific complaint, such as pain or limited range of motion. Research suggests massage therapy may contribute to both goals.
4 Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy
Believe it or not, the benefits of regular massages are about more than those feel-good moments. Each session is a building block, training your body to maintain its relaxed state and teaching your muscles to remain loose even during high-stress periods.
Massage
People of all ages are turning to massage therapy for relief from the stress of daily life, injuries and chronic and acute conditions, as well as to help maintain health and wellness. It is one of the oldest healing arts, dating back 3,000 years, according to Chinese records.
6 Healthy Ways Getting a Massage Benefits Your Entire Body
by Brielle Gregory 12/2/19 Prevention
When it comes to relaxation, there are a few things we all associate with that it: spa days, cozying up by the fire, staying in bed until 2 p.m. and, of course, getting a massage. And although massage is great for helping you relax, it has more therapeutic benefits, too.
Is a Deep Tissue Massage What Your Muscles Need?
Deep tissue massage is a massage technique that’s mainly used to treat musculoskeletal issues, such as strains and sports injuries. It involves applying sustained pressure using slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. This helps to break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and reduce tension in muscle and tissue.
The Many Reasons Why Everybody Deserves a Massage
Many view massages as rewards for a job well done, a break from the daily stress of work and routine. Though they are a great way to relax and unwind after a hectic week, massage therapy benefits can warrant much more than a once-every-three-years’ experience. Massage therapy offers various health benefits including helping to treat illnesses, reducing pain resulting from injuries, and decreasing stress levels.
Do professional massages have any health benefits or do they merely feel good?
Massage relaxes mucles, this is surly unquestionable, and must be very helpful in many medical areas, for example removing nearly all pain for a significant amount of time to enable movement to aid recovery from pain and/or injury. But even the aspect of good feeling can be beneficial to health. A lack of good feeling for an extended length of time can lead to the worst possible self inflicted side effect of injury, and freeing up of a patients body to move and recover is very likely to prevent this.
Enjoying the Benefits of a Healthy Massage Session
by Jyoti Jason-Miller 22/3/23 Denver Sports Massage
To a man and women, we all have a responsibility to do what’s necessary to protect our health. Of course, there are the baseline things we can do like, get exercise, eat properly, avoid drugs and alcohol, and get plenty of sleep. Outside of these basic endeavors, they are other things we can do that might not seem as obvious.
What Are The Proven Benefits Of Massage Therapy?
Research shows the benefits of massage therapy are vast and ultimately help improve quality of life by reducing pain, decreasing stress, anxiety and depression, increasing relaxation and feel good hormones, relieving muscle tension, improving range of motion, increasing circulation and much more.
Preventive Health Benefits of Massage
The experts at OneAccord Physical Therapy recognize the importance of preventive medicine in stopping health problems before they occur. Massage offers additional preventive benefits in addition to your preventive health visits. Discover the benefits of including massage as a regular part of your annual wellness plan.
Why Massage Is Important
When you undergo massage therapy, it triggers your body’s relaxation response, signaling your body to slow your heart rate, lower blood pressure, stop the overproduction of stress hormones and crank up serotonin production. This creates a cascade effect of positive reactions, both physical and emotional, that add up to a far healthier mind and body.
Treat or treatment? Massage therapy provides real health benefits
by Marilyn Burke 11/12/17 HEALTHMATTERS
In general, massage relieves muscle tension and stress, reduces anxiety and fluid retention, improves sleep, and restores hope. But exactly how massage affects the individual depends on the type of therapy administered. We offer several different types of massages here at UK HealthCare.
The benefits of therapeutic massage
by Kevin Blubaugh 9/11/22 HEALTH & DISCOVERY
Medical massage focuses on a specific need, and sometimes just a specific area, such as controlling pain, relieving inflammation, addressing nerve or tissue damage, increasing flexibility or managing other health conditions.
The Benefits Of Regular Massage Therapy
Getting a professional massage can be very relaxing, but did you know that they can benefit your health too? Regular massage therapy can help people have more well-rounded physical health while improving other aspects of our lives that we often take for granted.
What Makes Massage Therapy Essential for Your Well-being?
by Dr. Scott Cruse, D.C EVOLVE
In the whirlwind of today’s fast-paced world, stress and its accompanying physical and mental maladies have become almost unavoidable. The demands of work, family, and everyday life can take a toll on your well-being and often contribute to widespread tension, fatigue, and anxiety. But there’s a time-tested remedy that offers relief — massage therapy.
Whole Body Massage Benefits
by Shelley Flannery 16/1/25 Massage Envy
You look forward to your regular massage. Maybe it relaxes you. Maybe it energizes you. Maybe it helps relieve the tension in your back. Whatever it is, you know you like it. But massage has more benefits than you probably realize.
What is Massage Therapy?
Physical pain from muscles, tendons, and soft tissue around the neck, back, and large joints tend to see improvement with massage therapy. Conditions such as fibromyalgia, headaches, and chronic back pain. Stress is a major contributing factor for a lot of ailments and massage helps to target muscular stress while providing relaxation for the body. If you are unsure of whether massage therapy is right for you then please speak with your physician.
The Health Benefits of Massage Therapy: From Stress Relief to Pain Management
In today’s fast-paced and hectic world, finding effective ways to prioritize our well-being is crucial. One such method that has gained immense popularity is massage therapy. Massage therapy offers a holistic approach to achieving optimal health with its ability to relax, rejuvenate, and heal both the body and mind. If you’re seeking a way to unwind, alleviate stress, or manage pain, massage therapy may be the key to unlocking a wellness world.
The Role of Massage in Stress Management
by PEACEFUL WARRIORS WELLNESS CENTER
In today’s fast-paced world, finding ways to promote a healthy lifestyle is more important than ever. One often overlooked yet highly effective method is massage therapy. Massage can play a vital role in achieving optimal health with its myriad benefits for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving digestion and circulation, massage offers a comprehensive approach to wellness. By incorporating regular massage sessions into their routine, individuals can enhance their overall quality of life and experience the transformative power of this ancient healing art.
How Massage Therapy Promotes Overall Wellness
Massage therapy has long been celebrated for its ability to provide relaxation and relief from stress. However, its significance goes far beyond these immediate effects. This holistic practice can promote overall wellness, making it an essential component of a balanced lifestyle. In this post, we will delve into the various ways that massage therapy supports health and well-being.
Top 10 Health Benefits of Regular Professional Therapeutic Massage
Are those aches and pains starting to get you down? Maybe you’re having a difficult time relaxing and getting a full night’s sleep. Either way, the solution is as easy as lying face-down on a simple table.
5 Potential Health Benefits of Massage Therapy
by Jessica Migala 22/11/22 EVERYDAY HEALTH
Massage therapy involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). There are many different forms of massage in both Eastern and Western medicine, including shiatsu, Swedish, trigger point, neuromuscular, and more, says Polly Liontis, a licensed massage therapist with the NorthShore University HealthSystem Integrative Medicine Program in Glenview, Illinois. Each of these may be used in different ways, depending on your wellness and health goals.
Expert Health Articles
by Blanchard Valley HEALTH SYSTEM
No one can deny the restorative healing power of massage. Reducing pain, depression, anxiety and stress, along with boosting our immunity. All of which have an effect on our mental and physical well-being. Pain effects our lives and our quality of life. Massage is known to help reduce pain by increasing blood flow, easing inflammation and reducing muscle tightness.
A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions
by Julian Packheiser 8/4/24 nature human behavior
Receiving touch is of critical importance, as many studies have shown that touch promotes mental and physical well-being. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42022304281) systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis encompassing 137 studies in the meta-analysis and 75 additional studies in the systematic review (n = 12,966 individuals, search via Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science until 1 October 2022) to identify critical factors moderating touch intervention efficacy.
Integrating Massage, Chiropractic, and Acupuncture in University Clinics: A Guided Student Observation
by Alejandra A Estrin Dashe NIH
This paper presents the results of pilot research focusing on the observations massage therapy students made about complementary health care education and integration during massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture treatments at two university clinics. Setting: Observations took place at Northwestern Health Sciences University’s associated clinics that offered massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture. Research Design: Students directly observed how clinicians and interns educated their patients and integrated other forms of complementary health care into their practice.
Benefits of Infant Massage for Infants and Parents in the NICU
by Britt Frisk Pados ScienceDirect
Infant massage is an ancient therapeutic technique used around the world. For infants who experience painful procedures, are exposed to the stressful NICU environment, and are separated from their parents, infant massage has been promoted as a method to reduce stress and promote bonding. In this article, we review the current literature on infant massage in the NICU. There is evidence that infant massage has beneficial effects on preterm infants in the NICU, including shorter length of stay; reduced pain; and improved weight gain, feeding tolerance, and neurodevelopment. Parents who performed massage with their infants in the NICU reported experiencing less stress, anxiety, and depression.
Massage Therapy and Canadians’ Health Care Needs 2020: Proceedings of a National Research Priority Setting Summit
The health care landscape in Canada is changing rapidly as forces, such as an aging population, increasingly complex health issues and treatments, and economic pressure to reduce health care costs, bear down on the system. A cohesive national research agenda for massage therapy (MT) is needed in order to ensure maximum benefit is derived from research on treatment, health care policy, and cost effectiveness.
Massage Therapy for Dogs and Cats
by Lisa Corti DVM, DACVS, CCRP ScienceDirect
Massage is gaining recognition as a beneficial modality for the treatment of many ailments due to recent scientific research in humans. We can infer that these benefits apply to dogs and cats due to their similar physiology and anatomy. Defined as the therapeutic manipulation of soft tissues, massage has many effects on muscle, the circulatory system, the autonomic nervous system, and the mind. Various techniques are employed to achieve a desired effect in the treatment of many conditions, including but not limited to, swelling and edema, critical illness and prolonged recumbency, osteoarthritis and chronic pain, and palliative and hospice care. This article reviews the above topics and encourages the practitioner to seek out expert advice on massage in the care of companion animals.
Standardized massage interventions as protocols for the induction of psychophysiological relaxation in the laboratory: a block randomized, controlled trial
by Maria Meier 8/9/20 scientific reports
Health and disease are strongly linked to psychophysiological states. While stress research strongly benefits from standardized stressors, no established protocol focuses on the induction of psychophysiological relaxation. To maintain health, functioning regenerative systems are however likely as important as functioning stress systems. Thus, the identification of validated relaxation paradigms is needed.
Acupuncture vs Massage for Pain in Patients Living With Advanced Cancer
by Andrew S. Epstein JAMA Network
A multicenter pragmatic randomized clinical trial was conducted at US cancer care centers consisting of a northeastern comprehensive cancer center and a southeastern cancer institute from September 19, 2019, through February 23, 2022. The principal investigator and study statisticians were blinded to treatment assignments.
Clinical effects of using a massage chair on stress measures in adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial
The primary outcome was the change in serum cortisol levels in the morning (8 a.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m.), and the secondary outcomes included changes in levels of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), serotonin, insulin-like growth factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and natural killer cell activity, and results from a questionnaire on mood, cognition, and quality of life.
Massage therapy has short-term benefits for people with common musculoskeletal disorders compared to no treatment: a systematic review
by Diederik C Bervoet 7/15 ScienceDirect
Is massage therapy effective for people with musculoskeletal disorders compared to any other treatment or no treatment? Design: Systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Participants: People with musculoskeletal disorders. Interventions: Massage therapy (manual manipulation of the soft tissues) as a stand-alone intervention. Outcome: The primary outcomes were pain and function. Results: The 26 eligible randomised trials involved 2565 participants.
Use of Massage Therapy for Pain, 2018-2023
Evidence Review In this systematic review, a computerized search was conducted of PubMed, the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, the Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science from 2018 to 2023. Included studies were systematic reviews of massage therapy for pain in adult health conditions that formally rated the certainty, quality, or strength of evidence for conclusions. Studies of sports massage therapy, osteopathy, dry cupping or dry needling, and internal massage therapy (eg, for pelvic floor pain) were ineligible, as were self-administered massage therapy techniques, such as foam rolling.
The effect of underwater massage during hot water immersion on acute cardiovascular and mood responses
In recent years there has been research interest investigating the potential health benefits of passive heating by use of hot tubs or saunas (Brunt and Minson, 2021; Cullen et al., 2020). Regular hot tub use has been documented to induce significant improvements in macro and micro-vascular function (Brunt et al., 2016a, 2016b), reduce chronic inflammation (Hoekstra et al. 2020), and reduce stress (Antonelli and Donelli, 2018). Despite these impressive results, research into the benefits of hot water immersion is still very much in its infancy compared to traditional health interventions such as exercise (Amercian College of Sports Medicine., Ehrman, Liguori, Magal & Riebe 2018), and it is still poorly understood which factors of protocol design (e.g., temperature, duration, depth of immersion) cause specific health benefits. It is thought that chronic adaptations to hot water immersion arise due to transient acute stresses to the cardiovascular, thermoregulatory and metabolic systems (Cullen et al., 2020; Carter et al., 2014; Hoekstra et al., 2018).
The Comparison of the Effects of Massaging and Rocking on Infantile Colic
This randomized clinical trial was conducted among 100 infants of < 12 weeks of age with infantile colic. They were randomly assigned to either infant massage (n = 50) or rocking groups (n = 50). In the massage group, trained individuals taught the parents of the infants the massage technique and gave them a brochure. Rocking group parents was recommended to rock their infants three times a day for 1 week. Parents recorded the pattern of crying (numbers, length, and severity of crying). After 1 week of intervention, data were analysed using t-test, Chi square test, and repeated measurement analysis of variance (P < 0.05).
Skin massage
Skin massage has traditionally been used to prevent the development of pressure ulcers, on the assumption that massage increases local blood flow to tissue which have been subject to pressure. Gentle massage is often facilitated using a cream to reduce friction on the skin. Despite this, any benefit in the use of skin massage for the prevention of pressure ulcers is uncertain, and there is some suggestion that the benefits which may be seen are a result of the individual being repositioned and pressure on the at-risk site being relived. However, there is also the possibility of massage causing harm - massage or rubbing of vulnerable skin may exert shear stresses which may themselves potentially cause damage. In addition, it is also possible that the use of a cream or emollient as part of the massage regimen may increase epidermal hydration and prevent dermal stripping and the subsequent exposure of fragile dermal tissue.
Kanpumasatsu: A superficial self-massage with a dry towel to enhance relaxation and immune functions
by Sachiko Komagata ScienceDirect
Prior to 2020, healthcare professionals in the United States already had high rate of burnout. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for public health measures to effectively mitigate its negative health impacts. Despite these measures including vaccination, masking, handwashing, and physical distancing, people continue to be affected by post-COVID conditions (PCC) or newly acquired infections. Promoting one's well-being and self-care, especially the methods that promote one's relaxation and immune functions will serve as valuable tools among all healthcare practitioners and educators.
Treating individuals with amputations in therapeutic massage and bodywork practice: A qualitative study
Best practices for massage therapy and bodywork (TMB) treatment of individuals with amputations are not well established. Although anecdotal observations are available, they have limited applicability for informing effective massage therapy and bodywork approaches for individuals with amputations. This study is part of a multifaceted research program seeking to establish a foundation for education and investigation of TMB for amputation related conditions/symptomology.
Physiological responses to touch massage in healthy volunteers
by L. Lindgren 8/12/10 ScienceDirect
A crossover design including twenty-two (mean age = 28.2) healthy volunteers (11 male and 11 female) cardiac autonomic tone was measured by heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV). Stress hormone levels (cortisol) were followed in saliva. We also measured blood glucose and serum insulin. Extracellular (ECV) levels of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glycerol were followed using the microdialysis technique (MD). TM was performed on hands and feet for 80 min, during control, participants rested in the same setting. Data were collected before, during, and after TM and at rest. Saliva cortisol, serum glucose, and serum insulin were collected before, immediately following, and 1 h after intervention or control, respectively.
Positive effects of tactile massage for adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – A small scale study
by Anna-Carin Robertz ScienceDirect
Epidemiological studies show the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents is around 5 %. There is strong evidence for psychosocial interventions and medication for treatment of ADHD core symptoms, but these alone do not always reach a satisfactory outcome. The aim of this small-scale study was to evaluate the impact of tactile massage on ADHD core symptoms in adolescents in a clinical setting. Secondary outcome measures addressed pain perception, ability to fall asleep, and stress levels before, during, and after the intervention.
Forty survivors of gynecologic cancer were randomly allocated to either an AMT group that received one 40-min AMT session per week for 8 weeks or a no-AMT group. We prospectively measured quality of life by using the Japanese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 version 3.0 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at baseline and at 8-week follow-up. The QLQ-C30 response rate was 100%. Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Measure of Adjustment to Cancer were also prespecified and prospectively evaluated.
Effectiveness of infant massage on babies growth, mother-baby attachment and mothers' self-confidence: A randomized controlled trial
by Zübeyde Ezgi Erçelik ScienceDirect
Infant massage is a unique massage that can be application to babies in the postpartum period for centuries. While baby massage provides contact between the baby and the mother, it supports the growth processes of the baby. This study aimed to investigate the effects of online infant massage training on infant growth, mother-infant attachment, and mothers’ self-confidence. This randomized controlled clinical trial included 60 healthy-term infants and mother.
Effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
by Jia-ming Yang 10/1/24 scientific reports
To explore the effects of foot reflexology massage on anxiety, pain, duration of labor, labor satisfaction, blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate in pregnant women. We systematically searched eight databases for randomized controlled studies on the effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women. The inclusion criteria were as follow: participants were pregnant woman; the intervention is foot reflexology or foot massage; the control intervention is placebo, usual care, or no intervention; outcome indicators included pain, anxiety, birth satisfaction, duration of labor, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration; and study type was randomized controlled study.
Effects of feet reflexology versus segmental massage in reducing pain and its intensity, frequency and duration of the attacks in females with migraine: a pilot study
by Wojciech Kobza 4/17 ScienceDirect
Forty eight females aged 33–58, suffering from migraine for 2 to 10 years were included in this study from November 2013 to November 2015. The study protocol was carried out in Department of Chronic Diseases at the Regional Hospital in Zywiec. In the reflexology group (RG) the patients received a series of 10 treatments 2 times per week; in the segmental massage group (SMG) the patients received a series of 15 treatments 3 times per week.
Are the antidepressive effects of massage therapy mediated by restoration of impaired interoceptive functioning? A novel hypothetical mechanism
by Michael Eggart 7/19 ScienceDirect
Interoception is an individual person’s sense of the physiological condition of his/her entire body. Recent research has shown that depression is associated with impaired interoceptive accuracy. Treatments that can improve disturbed interoception are scarce in clinical practice and could complement established therapies. Accumulating evidence suggests that massage therapy significantly alleviates symptoms of depression.
=====Effects of baby massage on neonatal jaundice in healthy Iranian infants: A pilot study Author links open overlay panel===== by Hosein Dalili ScienceDirect
This Pilot study was conducted on 50 healthy newborns in Valiasr Hospital of IKHC. The infants were randomly allocated to two treatment (massage) and control group. The massage group received massage therapy (according to Touch Therapy) for four days from the first day postnatal while the control group received routine care. Main variable studied were transcutaneous bilirubin level (TCB) and stool frequency which were compared in two groups.
Touch medicine: bridging the gap between recent insights from touch research and clinical medicine and its special significance for the treatment of affective disorders
Social touch constitutes a basic human need, conveying empathy, love, care, intimacy, and social belonging (1, 2). The ‘laying on of hands’ as practiced in Judaism was adopted by Christianity with biblical accounts of bringing a formerly sick person back into social life. Without any mechanistic understanding of the observed benefits from such touch practices theories abounded such as their being energy fields (“biofields”) around all living organisms, with disruption in these fields causing disease.
The beneficial effects of therapeutic craniofacial massage on quality of life, mental health and menopausal symptoms and body image: A randomized controlled clinical trial
by Gemma V. Espí-López 6/20 ScienceDirect
50 participants with menopause, aged 45–65 years, participated in a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: craniofacial massage group (CMG), who received massage treatment (n = 25), and control group (CG), without treatment (n = 25). Prior to randomization, all participants provided demographic and clinical information. Quality of life, mental health and body image perception were evaluated at three time points: at the beginning of the study, at the end, and one month after finishing the treatment.
Effects of infant massage on infant attachment security in a randomized controlled trial
by Vonda Jump Norman 3/25 ScienceDirect
Benefits of attachment security have been demonstrated in multiple realms of development, and an extensive body of research has identified some of the antecedents associated with the development of secure attachments. While previous research has indicated that infant massage may support the development of mothers’ attachment to their babies, no published research exists that investigated infants’ attachment security after mothers learn infant massage strokes.
Investigating the effects of percussion massage therapy on pain, functionality, muscle diameter, and proprioception in ındividuals with ACL reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial
by Beyza Nur Erayata,Burak Menek 26/3/25 PLOS One
A total of 24 individuals aged 18–40 were included in the study. Participants were divided into the PMT and structured exercise groups (SEG). The SEG group received a progressive neuromuscular exercise program, and the PMT group received the same structured exercise program and PMT.
Massage therapy: understanding the mechanisms of action on blood pressure
by Nicole L. Nelson MSH, LMT 10/15 ScienceDirect
Massage therapy (MT) has shown potential in reducing blood pressure (BP); however, the psychophysiological pathways and structures involved in this outcome are unclear. The aims of this scoping review were twofold. (1) To summarize the current knowledge of the mechanisms of action of MT on BP. (2) To highlight the research gaps and challenges that researchers must overcome to further elucidate how MT attenuates BP.
Massage therapy research review
by Tiffany Field 11/14 ScienceDirect
Moderate pressure massage has contributed to many positive effects including increased weight gain in preterm infants, reduced pain in different syndromes including fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, enhanced attentiveness, reduced depression and enhanced immune function (increased natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity).Surprisingly, these recent studies have not been reviewed, highlighting the need for the current review.
