Massage is beneficial for emotional as well as physical health

Morning paddleboard at Pearl Lake - August 2023

​Have you ever walked out of a massage feeling more stressed than when you walked in? Probably not. Most clients look more relaxed through their faces and the way they are holding themselves, and report that they feel more at ease. Some tell me how much better they sleep that night. 

What does the research show?
Numerous studies have shown that massage decreases stress, anxiety, and depression, in populations young and old, in preterm infants and their parents, in pregnant women. For example, one study measured salivary cortisol (stress hormone) in both preterm infants and their mothers before and after the mothers massaged their infants. Cortisol levels significantly decreased in the mothers after giving the massage. Although prior studies have demonstrated the benefits of massage for this population (preterm infants and parents) using observational data, this study was the first to measure a physiological stress marker. (See study here.)

Another study in 2020 looked at chronic back pain in women, and specifically the effect of massage on pain and depression. The study utilized massage techniques that focused on slow, superficial strokes along the back, shoulder and neck, and found there was a significant decrease in pain and depression compared with classic massage technique. (See study here.)
 
Massage can ease held emotions
You may have heard that emotions are stored in the body. One possible explanation for this is that in a situation where a strong emotional reaction is involved, a person may physically hold themselves back from expressing their feelings. This holding back results in tension in the muscles and connective tissues doing the holding. During a massage, when the muscle tension is addressed and released, the emotions which created the tension can also release. 

This is where the skill, professional training and emotional capacity of the massage therapist come into play. Although a massage therapist is not a psycho-therapist, and thus can not provide counseling during a massage session, the massage therapist can provide a supportive and calm environment for the client. This can include design elements of the massage space, like the colors of the artwork and walls, easy and soothing music, a slight amount of aromatherapy, and a comfortable massage table and room temperature. The massage therapist builds trust by tailoring the massage to the client’s needs, honoring what comes up for the client (words, tears, silence), and providing a space of acceptance and compassion throughout the session.

Massage therapy truly is both physically and emotionally healing.


Sources

• American Massage Therapy Association: Beyond the Physical: Massage Therapy for Emotional Health
• American Massage Therapy Association: A Growing Body of Research Supports the Positive Impact of Massage Therapy for Mental Health
• Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic explores: The role of massage therapy for mental health