Vetenskapliga studier

Företag som levererar massage och friskvård är ofta väldigt snabba på att informera om de positiva effekterna av sina behandlingar. Jag har hitills inte sett någon visa upp några hänvisningar till vetenskapliga studier som kan backa upp allt detta. Så jag har suttit och ögnat igenom Pubmeds artikeldatabas och hittade en hel del användbart:

(samtliga citat är tagna ur sammanfattningar av medicinska studier på massageterapi, länkade på Pubmed)

"52 employed participants' blood pressures were measured before and after a 15-min. massage at work. Analysis showed a significant reduction in participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure after receiving the massage although there was no control group."
[Cady SH, Jones GE, 1997, PMID: 9132704]

“Research demonstrates that back massage has the ability to elicit a relaxation response in the majority of study subjects.”
[Gauthier DM, 1999, PMID: 12870093]

“Following treatment the majority of patients felt far less emotional disturbance, were sleeping better, and consulting their GP less.”
[Hanley J, Stirling P, Brown C, 2003, PMID: 12564272]

“Swedish massage on the BNC (back, neck, and chest) resulted in a minor decrease in blood pressure possibly due to sympathetic inhibition. It may be suggested that massage may be tried as a complementary therapy in patients suffering from increased blood pressure due to stress.”
[Aourell M, Skoog M, Carleson J, 2005, PMID: 16290894]

“Compared to control participants, massage participants exhibited greater improvements in migraine frequency and sleep quality during the intervention weeks and the 3 follow-up weeks. Trends for beneficial effects of massage therapy on perceived stress and coping efficacy were observed. During sessions, massage induced decreases in state anxiety, heart rate, and cortisol.”
[Lawler SP, Cameron LD, 2006, PMID: 16827629]

“Results of the present study demonstrated an average systolic pressure reduction of 10.4 mm Hg, a diastolic pressure reduction of 5.3 mm Hg, a mean arterial pressure reduction of 7.0 mm Hg, and an average heart rate reduction of 10.8 beats per minute.”
[Kaye AD, Kaye AJ, Swinford J, Baluch A, Bawcom BA, Lambert TJ, Hoover JM, 2008, PMID: 18315516]

“According as the physiological changes of subjects before and after treatment were compared, the present research was able to prove that thermotherapy and massage treatment induces physiological change of patients thus relieves stress.”
[Jeong I, Jun S, Park S, Jung S, Shin T, Yoon H, 2008, PMID: 19163795]

“Twenty-minute massage therapy sessions were provided. Evaluation demonstrated possible improvements in job satisfaction, with initial benefits in pain severity, and the greatest benefit for individuals with preexisting symptoms.”
[Back C, Tam H, Lee E, Haraldsson B, 2009, PMID: 19104272]