A scientific study concluded: Single session of Swedish Massage Therapy session will produce a measurable biological effect on your body. Massage can help to improve your immunity and decrease inflammation.

Initial study data indicates that a single session of Swedish Massage Therapy can produce measurable biologic effects on your body. These findings can help to manage inflammatory and autoimmune conditions in adults and children alike.

At some point about 4 out of 10 adults and approximately 1 out of 9 children used some form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the past year. One of the most popular modalities of Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies is Massage Therapy.

In the United States Massage Therapy is a multi-billion-dollar industry. About 8% of adults receive at least one massage per year. People consume massage therapy to address a wide range of conditions, from muscle spasms, soft tissue aches, back pain, headaches, and insomnia, to psychological stress, anxiety, and depression.

Here are some statistics from Gallup:

Medical Doctors, Chiropractors the Top Choices for Neck or Back Pain

Did you see any of the following healthcare professionals for your neck or back pain in the last 12 months? (asked of those who saw a healthcare professional for neck or back pain in the past 12 months)

Yes

Medical doctor 62%

Chiropractor 53%

Massage therapist 34%

Physical therapist 34%

Physician's assistant 26%

Nurse practitioner 22%

Acupuncturist 9%

Sample sizes: 988-1,157

GALLUP-PALMER COLLEGE, MARCH 12-APRIL 10, 2018

Despite its popularity, little is known about its physiologic actions massage therapy. Reviews suggest that massage therapy helps to decrease pain and improve the qualify of life (QoL) in patients who suffer chronic and severe medical conditions, like cancer. 

Massage therapy stimulates weight gain for preterm infants and can help to decrease the length of stay in neonatal intensive care, as well as reducing prematurity. 

There are also reports indicating that massage therapy may cause a short-term decrease in cortisol levels. Massage therapy has also been demonstrated to improve immune function with an increase in the number of circulating natural killer cells and circulating lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are the white blood cells aka the immune cells.

For the single session Swedish Massage study, the control massage treatment with an identical protocol was performed by the same massage therapists on normal volunteers. Swedish Massage Therapy techniques included effleurage, petrissage, kneading, tapotement, and thumb friction.  

After the session, the measurement of cell surface markers was performed in tandem with appropriate control antibodies. Samples were tested for their characteristics. Based on the data scientists concluded that a single session of Swedish Massage Therapy can have significant effects on your immune system.

It is very wise to incorporate massage therapy as part of your healthy lifestyle regiment to ensure the high quality of your life. 

Link for the research paper: A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals

I recommend taking massages at least once a month, preferably twice. 

Call or text to set up your next massage in Cranford.

Thanks for reading,

Hayk:)