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Consumers have long suspected that massage helps promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle. As more research demonstrates the effectiveness of massage therapy for helping to treat common ailments like low back pain, more consumers are seeking massage to improve their overall wellness and health. Consumers aren’t the only people recognizing the benefits of massage. Physicians and other healthcare providers are increasingly recommending massage therapy to their patients as a supplement to traditional health care. According to one national survey, 54 percent of primary care physicians and family practitioners would encourage their patients to pursue massage therapy as a treatment. Consumers surveyed over the last three years say that when they discuss therapeutic massage with their physicians, more than 70% responded favorably. Massage Therapy: An Effective Treatment for Back Pain A study conducted by Beth Israel-Deaconess Center for Alternative Medicine Research and Education and the Center for Health Studies in Seattle concluded that therapeutic massage was an effective treatment for providing long-lasting benefits for patients suffering from chronic low back pain. In fact, researchers hypothesize that massage might be an effective alternative to conventional medical care for persistent low back pain. Researchers hope to continue their research to determine which components of the massage therapy experience contribute to its effectiveness. In the Journal of Knowledge Synthesis for Nursing, the psychological, physiological and psychoneuroimmunological benefits of back massage were reviewed. Results from this review indicate that back massage promotes sleep, and reduces anxiety and stress. In the International Journal of Neuroscience, researchers studied adults with low back pain and found that those subjects who were assigned to the massage therapy group as opposed to the general relaxation group reported experiencing less pain, depression, and anxiety. Sleep had improved and serotonin as well as dopamine levels were higher than in the general relaxation treatment goup. In a study of spouses of patients with cancer, therapeutic back massage was found to reduce stress and enhance mood of the spouses.
Easing Pain After Bypass Surgery According to a pilot study conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, massage therapy reduces pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass surgery when patients are treated at the hospital after their surgery. Because of its effectiveness, 60 percent of the massage group expressed a willingness to pay for massage therapy out-of-pocket. Boosting Immune Function During periods of stress, the effectiveness of the body’s immune system is reduced. Research indicates that massage can increase the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity (the activity level of the body’s natural "killer cells") and decrease the number of T-cells, which improves the body’s immune functioning overall. In the International Journal of Neuroscience, three types of commonly used massage techniques were assessed in 36 healthy adults. These were: moderate massage, light massage, and vibratory stimulation. Researchers found that in all groups anxiety levels were reduced, but the moderate massage group reported the greatest decrease in stress, a decrease in heart rate and EEG changes. This group also showed an increase in positive affect. Breaking Negative Habits In the journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers found that self-massage was an effective adjunct treatment for adults who were seeking to quit smoking. Massage was beneficial in helping to alleviate smoking-related anxiety, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, improvement of mood and reduction of number of cigarettes smoked. Help for Headaches Researchers in Finland studied 21 female patients suffering from chronic tension headache. Patients received 10 sessions of upper body massage utilizing deep tissue techniques. At the follow-up period, six months later, the range of cervical movement in all directions increased and the number of days with neck pain decreased. On-Site Chair Massage In a study performed at a large teaching hospital in Canada, nurses participated in 8 sessions of 15 minute on-site chair massages. After treatment, nurses reported that pain intensity and tension levels decreased while relaxation levels and overall mood improved. In a study conducted in an office setting, the effectiveness of a 15 minute on-site chair massage was evaluated in 52 employees. Blood pressure measurements were taken pre- and post-massage. Results of blood pressure analysis showed a significant reduction in participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure after receiving the massage. |
