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RESEARCH AND CONTROLLED TRIALS FOR MASSAGE THERAPY


Lower Back Pain is Reduced and Range of Motion Increased After Massage Therapy
A randomized between-groups design evaluated massage therapy versus relaxation for chronic low back pain. Treatment effects were evaluated for reducing pain, depression, anxiety and stress hormones, and sleeplessness and for improving trunk range of motion associated with chronic low back pain. read full article...


Comparison of a Targeted and General Massage Protocol on Strength, Function, and Symptoms Associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a major, costly public health issue that could be dramatically affected by the identification of additional conservative care treatment options. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two distinct massage therapy protocols on strength, function, and symptoms associated with CTS. read full article...


Massage Therapy as a Supportive Treatment for Migraine Headaches
Migraine is a distressing disorder that is often triggered by stress and poor sleep. Only one randomized controlled trial (RCT) has assessed the effects of massage therapy on migraine experiences, which yielded some promising findings. read full article...


Range of Motion, Reported Pain and Reported Function in Patients with Shoulder Pain
The purpose of this single blinded randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effects of soft tissue massage on range of motion, reported pain and reported function in patients with shoulder pain. Twenty-nine patients referred to physiotherapy for shoulder pain were randomly assigned to a treatment group that received six treatments of soft tissue massage around the shoulder (n = 15) or to a control group that received no treatment while on the waiting list for two weeks (n = 14). Measurements were taken both before and after the experimental period by a blinded assessor. Active range of motion was measured for flexion, abduction and hand-behind-back movements. read full article...


Chronic Back Pain Research Compares Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture, Therapeutic Massage, and Self-Care Education
Because the value of popular forms of alternative care for chronic back pain remains uncertain, we compared the effectiveness of acupuncture, therapeutic massage , and self-care education for persistent back pain. read full article...


Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Massage therapy is an attractive treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA), but its efficacy is uncertain. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of massage therapy for OA of the knee. read full article...


A Randomized, Controlled Trial to Assess the Effectiveness of a Single Session of Nurse Administered Massage for Short Term Relief of Chronic Non-Malignant Pain
Massage is increasingly used to manage chronic pain but its benefit has not been clearly established. The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of a single session of nurse-administered massage for the short term relief of chronic non-malignant pain and anxiety. read full article...


Depressed Pregnant Women and the Effects of Massage Therapy
Eighty-four depressed pregnant women were recruited during the second trimester of pregnancy and randomly assigned to a massage therapy group, a progressive muscle relaxation group or a control group that received standard prenatal care alone. These groups were compared to each other and to a non-depressed group at the end of pregnancy. The massage therapy group participants received two 20 min therapy sessions each week for 16 weeks of pregnancy, starting during the second trimester. The relaxation group provided themselves with progressive muscle relaxation sessions on the same time schedule. read full article...


Cortisol Decreases and Serotonin and Dopamine Increase Following Massage Therapy
In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed includes studies on depression (including sex abuse and eating disorder studies), pain syndrome studies, research on auto-immune conditions (including asthma and chronic fatigue), immune studies (including HIV and breast cancer), and studies on the reduction of stress on the job, the stress of aging, and pregnancy stress. read full article...


Breast Cancer Patients' Immunity Improves With Massage
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among American women. The National Cancer Institute estimates that today, one in every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime - a threefold increase from 1964. Although it is highly curable if detected early enough, breast cancer is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer, and is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 15 to 54. Previous studies have shown that women with breast cancer are more depressed than women without breast cancer, and are more likely to suffer from stress and anxiety. Stress has been linked with lowered rates of an immune cell called the "natural killer" (NK) cell in women with breast cancer, an important finding since NK cells help prevent the development of tumors, and destroy new and abnormal growths before they can proliferate.  read full article...


Acute Postoperative Pain Management Using Massage as an Adjuvant Therapy
Adjuvant massage therapy improves pain management and postoperative anxiety among many patients who experience unrelieved postoperative pain. Pharmacologic interventions alone may not address all of the factors involved in the experience of pain. read full article...

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