Research Proves the Efficacy of Massage

Research conducted at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami's School of Medicine, as well as by other individuals and institutions, has proven that massage and related therapies are beneficial for a wide spectrum of conditions. Shown here are titles of research studies published over the past 10 years in MASSAGE Magazine.

Issue 119 January/February 2006
Shiatsu Techniques Help Induce Labor in Post-Term Pregnancy
Body Therapy and Massage Aid in Childhood Sexual Abuse Recovery Acupressure Increases Alertness in the Classroom

Issue 118 November/December 2005
Vagal Activity, Gastric Motility, and Weight Gain in Massaged Preterm Neonates Thermal Therapy Benefits Depressed Patients
Noetic Therapies May Benefit Cardiac Patients

Issue 117 September/October 2005
Massage Eases Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Massage for HIV-Positive Children
Spa Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Issue 116 July/August 2005
Massage Benefits Depressed Pregnant Women
Sauna Decreases Arrhythmias
Reiki Reduces Heart Rate, Diastolic Blood Pressure

Issue 115 May/June 2005
Massage Reduces Cancer Symptoms
Therapeutic Touch Eases Anxiety for Pregnant, Chemically Dependent Women
Massage Benefits Stroke Patients

Issue 114 March/April 2005
Massage for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Trager Work Reduces Headache Frequency
Balneotherapy Eases Osteoarthritis

Issue 113 January/February 2005
Massage for Long-Term Pain
Regular Sauna Use Reduces Oxidative Stress
Foot-and-Hand Massage Eases Postoperative Pain

Issue 112 November/December 2004
Healing Touch Improves Quality of Life in Women with Gynecologic and Breast Cancer
Acupressure Eases Fatigue and Depression in Patients with End-stage Renal Disease

Issue 111 September/October 2004
Aromatherapy and Massage Improve Sleep in Advanced Cancer Patients
Acupressure Eases Dyspnoea
Moderate-Pressure Massage Increases Relaxation

Issue 110 July/August 2004
Massage Improves Mood, Reduces Stress in Spouses of Cancer Patients
Overall, Massage Is Effective
Spa Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Issue 109 May/June 2004
Five Days of Massage Benefit Preterm Infants
Massaging Kids Lowers Parents’ Anxiety
Massage and Healing Touch Ease Cancer Symptoms

Issue 108 March/April 2004
Soft-tissue Massage for Shoulder Pain
Reflexology Relieves Symptoms of MS
Massage Versus Relaxation for Breast Cancer

Issue 107 January/February 2004
Massage Benefits Women with Breast Cancer
Trager for Parkinson’s Disease and Rigidity
Therapeutic Touch Eases Agitation in People with Alzheimer’s

Issue 106 November/December 2003
Massage Benefits Cancer Patients
Massage for Postoperative Pain and Distress
Acupressure Reduces Stress, Increases Sedation

Issue 105 September/October 2003
Reflexology Eases Encopresis and Chronic Constipation
Spa Therapy Benefits Parkinson’s Patients
Massage Decreases Intensity of Delayed Soreness

Issue 104 July/August 2003
Massage Prior to Cardiac Catheterization Lowers Blood Pressure
Alexander Technique Benefits People with Parkinson’s Disease
Massage Favorably Adjusts Infants’ Rest-Activity Cycle

Issue 103 May/June 2003
Massage Therapy Benefits Aggressive Adolescents
Touch Therapies Reduce Complications, Increase Comfort after Bone Marrow Transplant
Massage Decreases Lumbar Fatigue

Issue 102 March/April 2003
Pre-hospital Acupressure Relieves Pain
Massage Reduces Headache Frequency
Aromatherapy Eases Agitation in Severe Dementia

Issue 101 January/February 2003
Massage Reduces Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Spa Therapies Improve Chronic Back Pain
Tai Chi Benefits ADHD

Issue 100 November/December 2002
Massage Improves Sleep, Decreases Pain and Substance in Fibromyalgia Patients
Massage is Feasible in an Acute-Care Setting

Issue 99 September/October 2002
Massage for Spinal-Cord Injury
Reiki Induces Relaxation, Liminal State of Awareness

Issue 98 July/August 2002
Massage Improves Function, Reduces Pain and Anxiety Associated with Subacute Low-Back Pain
Movement Therapy Benefits Senior Citizens

Issue 97 May/June 2002
Perineal Massage May Reduce Third-Degree Tears, Labor Time

Issue 96 March/April 2002
Massage Boosts Mood and Benefits Immune Function in Children with Leukemia
Acupressure Relieves Symptoms of Motion Sickness

Issue 95 January/February 2002
Multi-Sensory Stimulation Helps Infants with Brain Injuries

Issue 94 Nov/Dec. 2001
Massage Reduces Post-Burn Pain and Itching

Issue 93 September/October 2001
Chronic Low Back Pain Eased by Massage
Massage Improves Pre-Schoolers' Cognitive Performance

Issue 92 July/August 2001
Massage Improves Immune Function in HIV-Positive Adolescents
Massage Eases Lower Back Pain, Increases Range of Motion

Issue 91 May/June 2001
Massage Relieves Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome

Issue 90 March/April 2001
Massage Offers Respite for Primary Caregivers

Issue 89 January/February 2001
High Blood Pressure Reduced by Massage Therapy

Issue 88 November/December 2000
Massage Reduces Dancers’ Stress, Helps Range of Motion

Issue 87 September/October 2000
Massage Reduces Cancer Patients' Pain, Anxiety

Issue 86 July/August 2000
Acupressure, Breath Awareness Help Diabetes Patients

Issue 85 May/June 2000
Aromatherapy’s Effect on Moods and Minds

Issue 84 March/April 2000
Massage Improves Cognitive Performance in Infants
Infants are Calmer when Massaged with Oil

Issue 83 January/February 2000
Labor-Related Pain and Depression are Reduced by Massage

Issue 82 November/December 1999
Massage Relieves Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

Issue 81 September/October 1999
Massage Therapy Reduces migraines

Issue 80 July/August 1999
Attentive Touch Helps Dementia Patients

Issue 79 May/June 1999
Massage Eases ADHD
Massage Reduces Pain Associated with Sickle Cell Disease

Issue 78 March/April 1999
Massage Boosts the Immune System

Issue 77 January/February 1999
Massage Decreases Symptoms Associated with Multiple Sclerosis

Issue 75 September/October 1998
Massage Benefits Asthmatic Children

Issue 74 July/August 1998
Massage Improves Conditions Associated with Atopic Dermatitis
Army-Funded Study: Therapeutic Touch Eases Pain and Anxiety in Burn Patients

Issue 73 May/June 1998
Massage Benefits Those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Issue 72 March/April 1998
Massage Benefits Those with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Issue 71 January/February 1998
Reflexology Aids Emotional Well-Being

Issue 68, July/August 1997
Massage Decreases Cancer Patients' Pain and Anxiety Levels
Massage leads to decreased depression for sexual abuse survivors
Massage leads to decreased anxiety, depression, pain & itching when recovering from post-burn scarring
Massage leads to decreased smoking cravings
Massage leads to decreased stress in hospital employees
Massage of the inside of the mouth resulted in increased release of gastrointestinal food absorption hormones in infants with gastrointestinal problems

Issue 67, May/June 1997
Massage Lowers Blood Glucose Levels in Children with Diabetes

Issue 66, March/April 1997
Bulimic Teens' Symptoms Decrease with Massage;
Rolfing at Hearing Aid Factory Substantially Reduces Repetitive Motion Injury Claims

Issue 63, September/October 1996
Children Benefit From Touch at TRI Pre-School

Issue 62 July/August 1996
Massage Aids Fibromyalgia Patients
Massage Benefits Students Taking Final Exams and Addresses Worker Stress

Issue 60 March/April 1996
National Institutes of Health Research on Massage Benefiting Bone Marrow Transplant Patients