We have included
some findings from research that was done on the following
topics. Massage Therapy as it relates to: Stress, Brain Function,
ADHD, Pregnancy, Bulimia, Asthma, Juvenile Arthritis, Burn
Victims, Spinal Pain, Endorphines, Migraines, Fibromyalgia,
Low-back Pain, and Whiplash.
| Title |
Massage Therapy as a Workplace
Intervention for Reduction of Stress |
| Source |
Percept Mot Skills, 84(1): 157-8
1997 Feb |
| Results |
Analysis showed a significant
reduction in participants' systolic and diastolic
blood pressure after receiving the massage although
there was no control group. |
| Author |
Cady SH; Jones GE |
|
| Title |
Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder Benefit from Massage Therapy |
| Source |
Adolescence, 33 (129):103-8 1998 Spring |
| Results |
Twenty-eight adolescents with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder were provided either massage
therapy or relaxation therapy for 10 consecutive
school days. The massage therapy group, but not
the relaxation therapy group, rated themselves as
happier, and observers rated them as fidgeting less
following the sessions. After the 2-week period,
their teachers reported more time on task and assigned
them lower hyperactivity scores based on classroom
behavior. |
| Author |
Field TM; Quintino 0; et al |
|
| Title |
Pregnant Women Benefit from Massage Therapy |
| Source |
J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol, 20(1 ):31-8 1999
March |
| Results |
The massage therapy group reported reduced anxiety,
improved mood, better sleep and less back pain by
the last day of the study. In addition, urinary
stress hormone levels (norepinephrine) decreased
for the massage therapy group and the women had
fewer complications during labor and their infants
had fewer postnatal complications (e.g., less prematurity). |
| Author |
Field T; Hernandez-ReifM; et al. |
|
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| Title |
Massage Therapy Reduces Anxiety and Enhances EEG
Pattern of Alertness and Math Computations |
| Source |
Int J Neurosci, 86 (3-4):197-205 1996 September |
| Results |
Group by repeated measures and post hoc analyses
revealed the following: 1) frontal delta power increased
for both groups, suggesting relaxation; 2) the massage
group showed decreased frontal alpha and beta power
(suggesting enhanced alertness); while the control
group showed increased alpha and beta power; 3)
the massage group showed increased speed and accuracy
on math computations while the control group did
not change; 4) anxiety levels were lower following
the massage but not the control sessions, although
mood state was less depressed following both the
massage and control sessions; 5) salivary cortisol
levels were lower following the massage but not
the control sessions but only on the first day;
and 6) at the end of the 5 week period depression
scores were lower for both groups but job stress
score were lower only for the massage group. |
| Author |
Field T; Ironson G; et al |
|
| Title |
Bulimic Adolescents Benefit from Massage Therapy |
| Source |
Adolescence, 33(131):555-63 1998 Fall |
| Results |
Results indicated that the massaged patients showed
immediate reductions (both self-report and behavior
observation) in anxiety and depression. In addition,
by the last day of the therapy, they had lower depression
scores, lower cortisol (stress) levels, higher dopamine
levels, and showed improvement on several other
psychological and behavioral measures. These findings
suggest that massage therapy is effective as an
adjunct treatment for bulimia. |
| Author |
Field T; Schanberg S; et al |
|
| Title |
Children with Asthma Have Improved Pulmonary Functions
After Massage Therapy |
| Results |
The younger children who received massage therapy
showed an immediate decrease in behavioral anxiety
and cortisol levels after massage. Also, their attitude
toward asthma and their peak air flow and other
pulmonary functions improved over the course of
the study. The older children who received massage
therapy reported lower anxiety after the massage.
Their attitude toward asthma also improved over
the study, but only one measure of pulmonary function
(forced expiratory flow 25% to 75%) improved. The
reason for the smaller therapeutic benefit in the
older children is unknown; however, it appears that
daily massage improves airway caliber and control
of asthma. |
| Author |
Field T; HenteleffT; et al |
|
| Title |
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: benefits from massage
therapy |
| Source |
J Pediatr Psychol, 22(5):607-17 1997 October |
| Results |
The children's anxiety and stress hormone (cortisol)
levels were immediately decreased by the massage,
and over the 30-day period their pain decreased
on self-reports, parent reports, and their physician's
assessment of pain (both the incidence and severity)
and pain-limiting activities. |
| Author |
Field T; Hemandez-ReifM; et al |
|
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| Title |
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: benefits from massage
therapy |
| Source |
J Pediatr Psychol, 22(5):607-17 1997 October |
| Results |
The children's anxiety and stress hormone (cortisol)
levels were immediately decreased by the massage,
and over the 30-day period their pain decreased
on self-reports, parent reports, and their physician's
assessment of pain (both the incidence and severity)
and pain-limiting activities. |
| Author |
Field T; Hemandez-ReifM; et al |
|
| Title |
Burn Injuries Benefit from Massage Therapy. |
| Source |
J Bum Care Rehabil, 19(3):241-4 1998 May-June |
| Results |
State, anxiety and cortisol levels decreased,
and behavior ratings of state, activity, vocalizations,
and anxiety improved after the massage therapy sessions
on the first and last days of treatment. Longer-term
effects were also significantly better for the massage
therapy group including decreases in depression
and anger, and decreased pain on the McGill Pain
Questionnaire, Present Pain Intensity scale, and
Visual Analogue Scale. Although the underlying mechanisms
are not known, these data suggest that debridement
sessions were less painful after the massage therapy
sessions due to a reduction in anxiety, and that
the clinical course was probably enhanced as the
result of a reduction in pain, anger, and depression.
|
| Author |
Field T; Peck M; et al |
|
| Title |
Myofascial Pain and the Role of Myoglobin |
| Results |
Massage produced an increase in plasma myoglobin
and helped decrease muscle tension and pain after
repeated treatments. |
| Author |
Danneskiold-Samsoe, B; Christiansen, E; et al |
|
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| Title |
Shiatsu, Swedish Muscle Massage and Trigger Point
Suppression in Spinal Pain Syndrome |
| Results |
Study demonstrated significant reductions in
acute and chronic pain and increased muscle flexibility
and tone using a variety of massage techniques. |
| Author |
Weintraub,M. |
|
| Title |
Migraine Headaches are Reduced by Massage Therapy |
| Results |
Massage Therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches,
sleep disturbances and distress symptoms. |
| Author |
Hemandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Dieter, J., Swerdlow.
& Diego, M. |
|
| Title |
Increase of Plasma Beta Endorphines in a Connective
Tissue Massage |
| Results |
Massage stimulates the brain to produce endorphines
, the body's natural pain control. |
| Author |
Kaard, B., Tostinbo, O. |
|
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