| Las Vegas Massage Professional Therapeutic Massage in Las Vegas Licensed & Nationally Certified Barbara Potter, LMT Body Restoration Massage (702) 524-5686 |
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Massage Today March, 2006, Volume 06, Issue 03 Massage Effective in Treating Common Ailments Click for link to MassageToday.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An increasing amount of research suggests that massage helps to ease or prevent common ailments that are most often treated with prescription drugs and/or extended hospitalization. Some of the most surprising research supports the effectiveness of massage therapy in reinforcing psychological stability and its positive effects on pre-term infants. Studies show that massage therapy can reduce anxiety and depression associated with anorexia and bulimia, post traumatic stress disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Patients suffering from eating disorders who received massage therapy two times a week for a little over a month experienced a decrease in anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction, while their dopamine levels increased.1,2 Survivors of the 1996 Hurricane Andrew underwent massage therapy to treat symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. They also experienced decreased anxiety and depression, and an decrease in cortisol (stress hormone levels).3 And following 10 days of massage therapy, chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers experienced fewer somatic symptoms, and less difficulty sleeping as cortisol levels decreased and dopamine levels increased.4 Massage also has affected the weight gain, sleep quality, and overall development of preterm infants. Infants who were massaged before sleeping, had a tendency to fall asleep more quickly and exhibited more consistent sleeping patterns than infants who were not massaged.6 After eight months, the same infants who received massage therapy as newborns displayed optimal cognitive and motor control development.7 References Hart, S, et al. Anorexia symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. Eating Disorders. 9; 2001; 289-299. Field, T, et al. Bulimic adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence. 33; 1998; 555-563. Field, T., et al. Alleviating post-traumatic stress in children following Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 17; 1996; 37-50. Field, T., et al. Chronic fatigue syndrome: Massage therapy effects on depression and somatic symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 3;1999;108-112. Scafidi, F, et al. Effects of tactile/kinesthetic stimulation on the clinical course and sleep/wake behavior of preterm neonates. Infant Behavior and Development. 9; 1986; 91-105. Scafidi, F, et al. Massage of preterm newborns to improve growth and development. Pediatric Nursing. 13; 1987; 285-387. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by Julie Engebretson |