TRIADIC HARMONY
Massage Studio & Healing Center
RESEARCH FINDINGS
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MASSAGE BOOSTS IMMUNITY
A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that massage boosts patients’ white blood cell count, which plays a large role in defending the body from disease.
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2009.0634 |
MASSAGE RELIEVES HEADACHES
Research from Granada University in Spain found that a single session of massage therapy has an immediate effect on perceived pain in patients with chronic tension headaches.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19748404 |
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DEEP-TISSUE MASSAGE REDUCES
BLOOD PRESSURE & HEART RATE Kaye Ad et al, 2008, The effect of deep-tissue massage therapy on blood pressure and heart rate, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 14 Issue 2, p125-128.
Number of Participants: 263 Findings: 1. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure reduction 2. Heart rate reduction A 2010 meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that massage modalities like deep tissue reduce stress hormone levels and heart rate while boosting mood and relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin and serotonin. |
MASSAGE Versus DEPRESSION
Thirty-two depressed adolescent mothers received ten 30-minute sessions of massage therapy or relaxation therapy over a five-week period. Subjects were randomly assigned to each group.
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. Field, T., Grizzle, N., Scafidi, F., & Schanberg, S. (1996). Massage and relaxation therapies’ effects on depressed adolescent mothers. Adolescence, 31, 903-911 |
Impact of Massage Therapy on Fatigue, Pain, and Spasticity in People with Multiple Sclerosis:
A Pilot Study Background:
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease that leads to fatigue, pain, and spasticity, as well as other sensorimotor and cognitive changes. Often traditional medical approaches are ineffective in alleviating these disruptive symptoms. Although about one-third of surveyed individuals report they use massage therapy as an adjunct to medical treatment, there is little empirical evidence that massage therapy is effective for symptom management in people with Multiple sclerosis. Purpose: To measure the effects of massage therapy on fatigue, pain, spasticity, perception of health, and quality of life in people with Multiple sclerosis. Conclusions: Massage therapy as delivered in this study is a safe and beneficial intervention for management of fatigue and pain in people with Multiple sclerosis. Decreasing fatigue and pain appears to correlate with improvement in quality of life, which is meaningful for people with Multiple sclerosis who have a chronic disease resulting in long-term health care needs. |
Massage Therapy & Parkinson’s Disease:
A Case Report Objective: To determine if massage therapy can produce favorable outcomes with respect to the severity of rigidity and tremor in a patient with PD.
Case Presentation: A 63-year-old female patient with idiopathic, long-standing, Hoehn-Yahr Stage 4 PD was treated with massage therapy five times over the course of six weeks. A SPES/SCOPA Motor Impairments rating scale was used to measure rigidity and tremor pre- and post-treatment, to gauge treatment effectiveness. The massage treatments consisted of deep longitudinal stroking, muscle squeezing techniques, passive range of motion movements, and general relaxation techniques to encourage a soothing environment while promoting a decrease in muscular tone and hyperactivity. Massage therapy administration was by a student near the end of her two year diploma. Results: The results obtained indicated that massage therapy treatment had a positive effect on reducing resting and postural tremor in a patient with long-standing PD. The treatment was also effective in temporarily reducing rigidity during treatment, but did not produce a lasting effect. MORE RESEARCH EVIDENCE SOON |
