Research Shows Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

Anorexia nervosa is a very difficult problem to treat. Massage therapy has shown significant promise with those suffering from it. A research study dealing with women with anorexia demonstrated that those who received a massage 2 times a week for 5 weeks reported reduced stress and anxiety. These patients also had reduced levels of cortisol as well as an increse in dopamine and norepinephrine after being treated. They also reported lower body dissatisfaction according to the Eating Disorders Inventory.

In a research study which examined the role of massage therapy for the treatment of migraines, researchers ran a study which compared 2 groups of participants. One group got massage therapy treatments for thirteen weeks and the other group didn't. The participants from both of the groups maintained a daily journal which recorded their stress levels and ability to cope. They also kept a daily journal of their stress level and sleeping pattenrs. Anxiety, heart rate, and cortisol levels were all assessed. In contrast with the control group, the massage therapy patients displayed a decrease in heart rates, a reduction in anxiety, as well as a reduction of cortisol levels. A significant aspect of the study was that the massage therapy subjects had fewer migraines during the study.

There are over a thousand studies which demonstrate the success of massage therapy for the treatment of stress. There are a wide variety of theories for why therapeutic massage is so successful for treating and managing stress. One simple explanation is that stress increases tension in muscles, and massage therapy helps to decrease muscle tension. When a muscle is tense, blood circulation is lowered, thereby inhibiting the absorption of both oxygen and nutrients. Massage therapy aids in loosening up these muscles, thereby increasing blood circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to the tense area. Massage therapy may also release toxins stored in tissue, which could help explain a sense of well-being after receiving a massage.