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R
E S E A R C H
High
Blood Pressure Reduced by Massage Therapy
Hypertensive adults
who received regular biweekly massage sessions experienced less
depression and hostility and showed a decrease in measured stress-hormone
levels, according to a recent research study.
The study titled "High blood pressure
and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy" was
completed in May 1999, and was conducted in conjunction with the
Touch Research Institute, the University of Miami School of Medicine
and Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Thirty adults with controlled hypertension
(for at least the last six months) were randomly assigned to either
a massage therapy group or a progressive relaxation group.
Those in the massage group were given
twice-weekly 30-minute massage sessions in the afternoon or early
evening for five weeks. Massages were given on a rotating basis
by various therapists. With the subject in a supine position, the
therapist would massage the head and neck, arms, torso and legs
with stroking, squeezing, pressing and pulling motions. With the
subject in a prone position, the therapist would massage the back
of the legs, and would then massage the back.
Participants in the progressive muscle
relaxation group received instructions on completing self-administered,
twice-weekly 30-minute exercises for five weeks. Researchers instructed
subjects to only perform their session in the afternoon or early evening
on assigned days to ensure compatibility with the massage group's
schedule. Relaxation sessions began with participants breathing deeply
for several minutes while in a supine position with the hands alongside
the body. They then followed instructions to tighten and then relax
different muscles, moving upward from the feet to the head. Muscle
groups included were of the feet, calves, thighs, hands, arms, back
and face.
Pre- and post-treatment assessments
included: a state anxiety inventory (STAI) to assess current emotions;
a salivary sample to measure the levels of the stress hormone cortisol;
systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure measures; the
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire
to rate depressive symptoms; Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R)
self-report symptom inventory of depression, anxiety and hostility;
and urinary catecholamines (biologically active amines which affect
the nervous and cardiovascular systems) and cortisol measurement.
Results showed that while both groups
had lower anxiety levels (STAI) and lower levels of depression (CES-D),
only the massage therapy group showed decreases in sitting diastolic
and systolic blood pressure; decreases in salivary and urinary cortisol
stress-hormone levels; and lower scores for depression, anxiety
and hostility.
Researchers suggested that future studies
be long-term, and examine the effects of massage on individuals
who have high levels of stress.
"Longer-term follow-up might also
help determine whether the results reflected short-term effects
or whether the results would have persisted beyond the treatment
sessions," researchers wrote. "If massage therapy can
effectively reduce symptoms associated with hypertension, then it
might reduce life-threatening complications, such as the risk of
stroke or heart attack."
- Source: Touch Research Institute.
Originally reported in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies,
January 2000, Vol. 4, No. 1.
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