Mary Barry Massage Therapy » Studies

Massage and migraines

mary — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:25:44 +0000

Livestrong.com reports on the efficacy of massage to relieve migraine pain:

Migraine headaches can cause severe, debilitating pain. They can come on suddenly and may last a few hours or a few days. In severe cases they can impact your quality of life and ability to function normally. If you suffer from migraines, massage therapy may offer some relief. In fact, the University of Minnesota reports that massage therapy can be even more beneficial than acupuncture for migraines.

Lower back pain

mary — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:26:07 +0000

Beyond the relaxation, stress relief, and general feeling of well-being, massage can have benefits for lower back pain. Millions of Americans are plagued with this often debilitating injury. As this article says

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that massage, as well as chiropractic work, offered equally beneficial results for low back pain as physical therapy and pain medication. By reviewing the results from three separate studies, researchers were also able to conclude that massage and spinal manipulation relieved pain better than acupuncture, other non-drug relaxation techniques, and a fake laser procedure.

Massage and heart rate

mary — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:45:43 +0000

As reported by MSNBC, researchers have found an increased risk of heart disease for people with a resting heart rate over 70 beats per minute. Massage has been found to be effective in reducing resting heart rate:

Regular massages may soothe a rapid heartbeat. Relaxation techniques reduce your body’s production of adrenaline, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, stress hormones that rev up your heart in the face of danger, says Atman P. Shah, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at UCLA. A 2007 British study found that people who received an hour of reflexology treatment (a type of foot or hand massage) had rates that averaged almost 8 bpm lower than when they went without.

Therapy May Relieve Breast Cancer Surgery Complication

mary — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:26:25 +0000

From Business Week:

A common complication of breast cancer surgery can be prevented or reduced if patients receive physical therapy, including massage and shoulder exercises, soon after their operation, a new study suggests.

Massage and eating disorders

mary — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:51:41 +0000

According to studies cited in the Massage Magazine article:

Massage therapy benefits people who suffer from eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia. New research shows that 10 to 15 percent of North American females have maladaptive eating behaviors and attitudes. The new study is from the Université de Montréal and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, and is published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Previously, research by the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine showed that massaged bulimic patients experienced immediate reductions in anxiety and depression, and improvement on several other psychological and behavioral measures. Another TRI study showed that symptoms of anorexia nervosa were reduced by massage.