As more Americans fall victim to stress, new research into the benefits of massage therapy could point the way toward workplace wellness.
Increased job satisfaction and decreased severity of pain were the two main benefits of employer-funded massage therapy for a group of long-term care workers, according to a recent pilot study.
“The Effects of Employer-Provided Massage Therapy on Job Satisfaction, Workplace Stress, and Pain and Discomfort,” involved 145 health-care workers at a residential care facility for adults with severe disabilities. This facility had high rates of sick time and musculoskeletal injury.
Earlier research showed that massage reduced physical and emotional stress, and reduces pain and insomnia among primary caregivers for terminally ill family members.
A full research report on “The Effects of Employer-Provided Massage Therapy on Job Satisfaction, Workplace Stress, and Pain and Discomfort,” will run in the print edition of MASSAGE Magazine’s May issue.