Research on Massage Therapy
Aggression
Following a month of two chair massages per week, the massaged adolescents became less aggressive.
(2002) Aggressive adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence, 37, 597-607.
Anorexia
Massage therapy reduced anxiety, depressed mood, salivary cortisol (stress hormone) levels and body dissatisfaction and increased dopamine levels in women with anorexia.
(2001). Anorexia symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. Eating Disorders. 9, 289-299.
ADHD
Adolescents with ADHD rated themselves as happier and were observed to fidget less after massage sessions. Also, teachers rated adolescents receiving massage as less hyperactive and as spending more time on-task.
(1998). Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence. 33, 103-108.
The present study involved 30 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 18 diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The children were randomly assigned to a wait-list control and a massage group. Mood state improved for the massage group but not the control group based on smiley face and thermometer scales. The massage group also improve in classroom behavior in the areas of the Conners Teacher Rating Scales on anxiety, daydreaming and hyperactivity.
(2003). Massage therapy improves mood and behavior of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Adolescence. 38, 623-38.
Autism
This study investigated the effects of touch therapy on three problems commonly associated with autism including inattentiveness (off-task behavior), touch aversion, and withdrawal. Results showed that touch aversion decreased in both the touch therapy and the touch control group, off task behavior decreased in both groups, orienting to irrelevant sounds decreased in both groups, but significantly more in the touch therapy group, and stereotypic behaviors decreased in both groups but significantly more in the touch therapy group. (1986) Autistic children's attentiveness and responsitivity improved after touch therapy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 27, 329-334.
Children in the massage group exhibited less stereotypic behavior and showed more on-task and social relatedness behavior during play observations at school, and they experienced fewer sleep problems at home. (2001) Brief report: improvements in the behavior of children with autism following massage therapy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 31, 513-516.
Breast Cancer
Massage therapy reduced anxiety and depression and improved immune function including increased natural killer cell numbers in women with breast cancer.
(2003) Breast cancer patients have improve immune and neuroendocrine function following massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 57, 45-52.
Women diagnosed with breast cancer received massage therapy or practiced progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) or received standard treatment. Dopamine levels, natural killer cells, and lymphocytes increased front he first to the last day of the study for the massage therapy group. (2005)
International Journal of Neuroscience. 115, 495-510
Bulimia
Bulimic adolescent girls received massage therapy 2 times a week for 5 weeks. Effects included an improved body image, decreased depression and anxiety symptoms, decreased cortisol levels and increased dopamine and serotonin levels. (1998) Bulimic adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence, 33, 555-563.
Depressed Adolescents
A 30-minute back massage was given daily for a 5-day period to hospitalized depressed and adjustment disorder children and adolescents. Compared with a control group who viewed relaxing videotapes, the massaged subjects were less depressed and anxious and had lower saliva cortisol levels after the massage. (1992) Massage reduces depression and anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 31, 125-131.
Depressed adolescent mothers received ten 30-minute sessions of massage therapy or relaxation therapy over a five week period. Although both groups reported lower anxiety following their first and last therapy sessions, only the massage therapy group showed behavioral and stress hormone changes including a decrease in anxious behavior, pulse and salivary cortisol levels. A decrease in urine cortisol levels suggested lower stress following the five week period for the massage therapy group. (1996) Massage and relaxation therapies' effects on depressed adolescent mothers. Adolescence. 31, 903-911.
EEG
Twenty-six adults were give a chair massage and 24 control group adults were asked to relax in the chair for 15 minutes, two times per week for five weeks. On the first and last days of the study, they were monitored for EEG before, during and after the sessions. The massage group exhibited: 1) increased frontal delta power (suggesting relaxation); 2) decreased frontal alpha and beta power (suggesting enhanced alertness); 3) increased speed and accuracy on math computations; 4) lower anxiety levels; 5) lower salivary cortisol levels; and 6) lower depression scores at the end of the 5 week period. (1996) Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG patterns of alertness ad math computations. International Journal of Neuroscience. 86, 197-205.
Migraines
Massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and distress symptoms and increased serotonin levels in adults with migraine headaches. (1998) Migraine headaches were reduces by massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience. 96, 1-11.
Multiple Sclerosis
Massage therapy decreased anxiety and depressed mood, improved hand strength, self-esteem, body image and social functioning in adults with multiple sclerosis. (1998) Multiple sclerosis patients benefit from massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2, 168-174.
Parkinson's Disease
Adults with Parkinson's Disease were assigned to receive massage therapy or progressive muscle relaxation twice a week for five weeks. The massage group received higher physician scores on daily living activities and the participants rated themselves as having improved daily functioning and less disturbed sleep. (2002) Parkinson's disease symptoms are differentially affected by massage therapy versus progressive muscle relaxation: A pilot study. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 6, 177-182.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Massage therapy decreased the anxiety, depression and stress hormone levels (cortisol) of children who had post-traumatic stress disorder following Hurricane Andrew. In addition, their drawings became less depressed. (1996) Alleviating postraumatic stress in children following Hurricane Andrew by massage therapy. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 17, 37-50.
Psychiatric Patients (Children and Adolescent)
Following five 30-minute massages these children/adolescents had better sleep patterns, lower depression, lower anxiety and lower stress hormone levels (cortisol and norepinephrine). (1992) Massage therapy reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. AJournal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 31, 125-130.
Sexual Abuse
Massage therapy reduced aversion to touch and decreased anxiety, depression and cortisol levels in women who had been sexually or physically abused. (1997). Sexual abuse effects are lessened by massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 1, 65-69.
Following a month of two chair massages per week, the massaged adolescents became less aggressive.
(2002) Aggressive adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence, 37, 597-607.
Anorexia
Massage therapy reduced anxiety, depressed mood, salivary cortisol (stress hormone) levels and body dissatisfaction and increased dopamine levels in women with anorexia.
(2001). Anorexia symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. Eating Disorders. 9, 289-299.
ADHD
Adolescents with ADHD rated themselves as happier and were observed to fidget less after massage sessions. Also, teachers rated adolescents receiving massage as less hyperactive and as spending more time on-task.
(1998). Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence. 33, 103-108.
The present study involved 30 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 18 diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The children were randomly assigned to a wait-list control and a massage group. Mood state improved for the massage group but not the control group based on smiley face and thermometer scales. The massage group also improve in classroom behavior in the areas of the Conners Teacher Rating Scales on anxiety, daydreaming and hyperactivity.
(2003). Massage therapy improves mood and behavior of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Adolescence. 38, 623-38.
Autism
This study investigated the effects of touch therapy on three problems commonly associated with autism including inattentiveness (off-task behavior), touch aversion, and withdrawal. Results showed that touch aversion decreased in both the touch therapy and the touch control group, off task behavior decreased in both groups, orienting to irrelevant sounds decreased in both groups, but significantly more in the touch therapy group, and stereotypic behaviors decreased in both groups but significantly more in the touch therapy group. (1986) Autistic children's attentiveness and responsitivity improved after touch therapy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 27, 329-334.
Children in the massage group exhibited less stereotypic behavior and showed more on-task and social relatedness behavior during play observations at school, and they experienced fewer sleep problems at home. (2001) Brief report: improvements in the behavior of children with autism following massage therapy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 31, 513-516.
Breast Cancer
Massage therapy reduced anxiety and depression and improved immune function including increased natural killer cell numbers in women with breast cancer.
(2003) Breast cancer patients have improve immune and neuroendocrine function following massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 57, 45-52.
Women diagnosed with breast cancer received massage therapy or practiced progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) or received standard treatment. Dopamine levels, natural killer cells, and lymphocytes increased front he first to the last day of the study for the massage therapy group. (2005)
International Journal of Neuroscience. 115, 495-510
Bulimia
Bulimic adolescent girls received massage therapy 2 times a week for 5 weeks. Effects included an improved body image, decreased depression and anxiety symptoms, decreased cortisol levels and increased dopamine and serotonin levels. (1998) Bulimic adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence, 33, 555-563.
Depressed Adolescents
A 30-minute back massage was given daily for a 5-day period to hospitalized depressed and adjustment disorder children and adolescents. Compared with a control group who viewed relaxing videotapes, the massaged subjects were less depressed and anxious and had lower saliva cortisol levels after the massage. (1992) Massage reduces depression and anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 31, 125-131.
Depressed adolescent mothers received ten 30-minute sessions of massage therapy or relaxation therapy over a five week period. Although both groups reported lower anxiety following their first and last therapy sessions, only the massage therapy group showed behavioral and stress hormone changes including a decrease in anxious behavior, pulse and salivary cortisol levels. A decrease in urine cortisol levels suggested lower stress following the five week period for the massage therapy group. (1996) Massage and relaxation therapies' effects on depressed adolescent mothers. Adolescence. 31, 903-911.
EEG
Twenty-six adults were give a chair massage and 24 control group adults were asked to relax in the chair for 15 minutes, two times per week for five weeks. On the first and last days of the study, they were monitored for EEG before, during and after the sessions. The massage group exhibited: 1) increased frontal delta power (suggesting relaxation); 2) decreased frontal alpha and beta power (suggesting enhanced alertness); 3) increased speed and accuracy on math computations; 4) lower anxiety levels; 5) lower salivary cortisol levels; and 6) lower depression scores at the end of the 5 week period. (1996) Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG patterns of alertness ad math computations. International Journal of Neuroscience. 86, 197-205.
Migraines
Massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and distress symptoms and increased serotonin levels in adults with migraine headaches. (1998) Migraine headaches were reduces by massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience. 96, 1-11.
Multiple Sclerosis
Massage therapy decreased anxiety and depressed mood, improved hand strength, self-esteem, body image and social functioning in adults with multiple sclerosis. (1998) Multiple sclerosis patients benefit from massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2, 168-174.
Parkinson's Disease
Adults with Parkinson's Disease were assigned to receive massage therapy or progressive muscle relaxation twice a week for five weeks. The massage group received higher physician scores on daily living activities and the participants rated themselves as having improved daily functioning and less disturbed sleep. (2002) Parkinson's disease symptoms are differentially affected by massage therapy versus progressive muscle relaxation: A pilot study. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 6, 177-182.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Massage therapy decreased the anxiety, depression and stress hormone levels (cortisol) of children who had post-traumatic stress disorder following Hurricane Andrew. In addition, their drawings became less depressed. (1996) Alleviating postraumatic stress in children following Hurricane Andrew by massage therapy. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 17, 37-50.
Psychiatric Patients (Children and Adolescent)
Following five 30-minute massages these children/adolescents had better sleep patterns, lower depression, lower anxiety and lower stress hormone levels (cortisol and norepinephrine). (1992) Massage therapy reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. AJournal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 31, 125-130.
Sexual Abuse
Massage therapy reduced aversion to touch and decreased anxiety, depression and cortisol levels in women who had been sexually or physically abused. (1997). Sexual abuse effects are lessened by massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 1, 65-69.
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