Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome:
Immediately following massage therapy depressed mood, anxiety and
stress hormone (cortisol) levels were reduced. Following 10 days
of massage therapy, fatigue related symptoms, particularly anxiety
and somatic symptoms, were reduced, as were depression, difficulty
sleeping and pain. Stress hormone (cortisol) also decreased and
dopamine increased.
Field, T, Sunshine, W., Hernandez-Reif, M., Quintino,
O., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., & Burman, I. (1997). Chronic fatigue
syndrome: Massage therapy effects on depression and somatic symptoms
in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
3, 43-51.
Dancers: Massage therapy improved range of motion,
mood, and performance (including balance and posture) and decreased
stress hormone (cortisol) after one month of twice weekly massage
therapy.
Leivadi, S., Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., O'Rourke,
M., D'Arienzo, S., Lewis, D., Del Pino, N., Schanberg, S., &
Kuhn, C. (1999). Massage therapy and relaxation effects on university
dance students. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 3, 108-112.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Massage therapy (as compared
to transcutaneous electrical stimulation) improved sleep patterns
and decreased pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression and cortisol levels.
Sunshine, W., Field, T., Schanberg, S., Quintino,
O., Fierro, K., Kuhn, C., Burman, I., & Schanberg, S. (1996).
Fibromyalgia benefits from massage therapy and transcutaneous electrical
stimulation. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, 2, 18-22.
Hypertension: Massage therapy decreased diastolic
blood pressure, anxiety and cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J., Theakston,
H., Hossain, Z., & Burman, I. (2000). High blood pressure and
associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy. Journal of
Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 4, 31-38.
Job Performance/Stress: Massaged
subjects showed 1) decreased frontal EEG alpha and beta waves and
increased delta activity consistent with enhanced alertness; 2)
math problems were completed in significantly less time with significantly
fewer errors after the massage; and 3) anxiety, cortisol (stress
hormone) and job stress levels were lower at the end of the 5 week
period.
Field, T., Ironson, G., Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T.,
Goncalves, A., Burman, I., Pickens, J., Fox, N., Schanberg, S.,
& Kuhn, C. (1996). Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances
EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. International Journal
of Neuroscience, 86, 197-205.
Labor Pain: Massage therapy during labor decreased
anxiety and pain. In addition, the massaged mothers had shorter
labor, shorter hospital stay and less depressed mood.
Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Taylor, S., &
Quintino, 0., & Burman, I. (1997). Labor pain is reduced by
massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology,
18, 286-291.
Migraine Headaches: Massage
therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances
and distress symptoms and increased serotonin levels.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Dieter, J., Swerdlow.
& Diego, M., (1998). Migraine headaches were reduced by massage
therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 96, 1-11.
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 massaged group received higher
physician scores on daily living activities and the participants
rated themselves as improved in daily functioning, having more effective
and less disturbed sleep.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Largie, S., Cullen,
C., Beutler, J., Sanders, C. Weiner, W., Rodriguez-Bateman, D.,
Zelaya, L., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (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.
Pregnancy: This study showed decreased anxiety
and stress hormones (norepinephrine) during pregnancy and fewer
obstetric and postnatal complications including lower prematurity
rates following pregnancy massage.
Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Hart, S., Theakston,
H., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., & Burman, I. (1999). Pregnant women
benefit from massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics
and Gynecology, 19, 31-38.
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