How massage benefits your overall health

Massage is one of the oldest therapies in the world. There is documentation of its use in second century B.C in China, India and Egypt. Even Hippocrates defined medicine as “the art of rubbing” (3).

Regular massage therapy has long been associated with improved overall health, both physical and mental. Massage may positively influence factors associated with better health and wellbeing, including factors such as pain, sleep, emotional status and psychosocial health.​

Common reported health benefits may include improved sleep quality, decreased anxiety, decreased pain, improved blood pressure, decreased heart rate, and improved symptoms of chronic diseases such as Arthritis and Fibromyalgia (3).

In recent years there have been many studies that explore the benefits of massage on health and wellbeing. AdelaidaMar´ıa Castro-S´anchez, et al found that a 20-week massage-myofascial release program significantly improved the pain, anxiety, quality of sleep, and quality of life in patients with Fibromyalgia (1). A paper on Massage Therapy Effects, written by Tiffany M. Field, shows a number of studies have found decreases in anxiety, depression, stress hormones (cortisol), and catecholamines. Increased para-sympathetic activity may be the underlying mechanism for these changes (3).

Another study shows that clients who were receiving a 45min to 60min deep tissue massage demonstrated a reduction in systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure and reduction in heart rate (2). These papers demonstrate just snap shots of the growing evidence that regular massage may benefit overall health.

There is also growing evidence that massage can provide an increased sense of wellbeing. A recent study conducted in a residential care setting, shows that integrating massage into the everyday care of patients had benefits for the client and the organisation (5). By introducing massage into everyday care they were able to reduce the need for the use of restraints and pharmacological intervention. This enhanced the quality of life for the older person and their families (5).

The benefits of massage are not age discriminant. There is growing evidence that infant massage not only provides benefits for the child but for the mothers and care givers as well. A recent study by Afand, et al “Effects of infant massage on state anxiety in mothers of preterm infants prior to hospital discharge.” (6), presented evidence that a mother providing infant massage had a positive effect on the mother’s anxiety levels (6). It was recommended that mothers provide massage to their babies to improve their own mental health (6).

This growing evidence reinforces the belief that massage not only holds a place in stress relief and recovery from injury, but may also play a part in improved overall health and wellbeing.

Resources:

1. Benefits of Massage-Myofascial Release Therapy on Pain, Anxiety, Quality of Sleep, Depression, and Quality of Life in Patients with Fibromyalgia, AdelaidaMar´ıa Castro-S´anchez, Et Al 23 August 2010; Revised 18 November 2010; Accepted 8 December 2010
2. The Effect of Deep-Tissue Massage Therapy on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Alan David Kaye, Aaron J. Kaye, Jan Swinford, Amir Baluch, Brad A. Bawcom, Thomas J. Lambert, and Jason M. Hoover. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. March 2008, 14(2): 125-128. doi:10.1089/acm.2007.0665. Published in Volume: 14 Issue 2: March 8, 2008 Online Ahead of Print: March 3, 2008
3. Massage Therapy Effects, Tiffany M. Field, December 1998
4. Effects of aromatherapy massage on the sleep quality and physiological parameters of patients in a surgical intensive care unit, Özlü, Zeynep Karaman; Bilican, Pınar,

African Journal of Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicines . 2017, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p83-88. 6p.

1. Massage, a complementary therapy effectively promoting the health and well-being of older people in residential care settings: a review of the literature, McFeeters, S, Pront, L, Curthbertson, L and King, L, The international journal of older people.Vol 11.Issue 4. Dec 2016
2. Effects of infant massage on state anxiety in mothers of preterm infants prior to hospital discharge, Afand, N, Keshavarz, M, Fatemi, NS and Montazeri, A, JCN Journal of international nursing online record 24 MAR 2017

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by Ben Hewitt