Download High Blood Pressure Reduced by Massage Therapy

High Blood Pressure Reduced by Massage Therapy
“Hypertensive adults who received regular biweekly massage sessions experienced less depression and
hostility and showed a decrease in measured stress-hormone levels, according to a recent research study.
The study titled "High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy" was
completed in May 1999, and was conducted in conjunction with the Touch Research Institute, the
University of Miami School of Medicine and Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Thirty adults with controlled hypertension (for at least the last six months) were randomly assigned to
either a massage therapy group or a progressive relaxation group.
Those in the massage group were given twice-weekly 30-minute massage sessions in the afternoon or
early evening for five weeks. Massages were given on a rotating basis by various therapists. With the
subject in a supine position, the therapist would massage the head and neck, arms, torso and legs with
stroking, squeezing, pressing and pulling motions. With the subject in a prone position, the therapist
would massage the back of the legs, and would then massage the back.
Participants in the progressive muscle relaxation group received instructions on completing selfadministered, twice-weekly 30-minute exercises for five weeks. Researchers instructed subjects to only
perform their session in the afternoon or early evening on assigned days to ensure compatibility with the
massage group's schedule. Relaxation sessions began with participants breathing deeply for several
minutes while in a supine position with the hands alongside the body. They then followed instructions to
tighten and then relax different muscles, moving upward from the feet to the head. Muscle groups
included were of the feet, calves, thighs, hands, arms, back and face.
Pre- and post-treatment assessments included: a state anxiety inventory (STAI) to assess current
emotions; a salivary sample to measure the levels of the stress hormone cortisol; systolic blood pressure
and diastolic blood pressure measures; the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
questionnaire to rate depressive symptoms; Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) self-report
symptom inventory of depression, anxiety and hostility; and urinary catecholamines (biologically active
amines which affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems) and cortisol measurement.
Results showed that while both groups had lower anxiety levels (STAI) and lower levels of depression
(CES-D), only the massage therapy group showed decreases in sitting diastolic and systolic blood
pressure; decreases in salivary and urinary cortisol stress-hormone levels; and lower scores for
depression, anxiety and hostility.
Researchers suggested that future studies be long-term, and examine the effects of massage on individuals
who have high levels of stress. "Longer-term follow-up might also help determine whether the results
reflected short-term effects or whether the results would have persisted beyond the treatment sessions,"
researchers wrote. "If massage therapy can effectively reduce symptoms associated with hypertension,
then it might reduce life-threatening complications, such as the risk of stroke or heart attack."
The above was an excerpt from “Massage Magazine” Issue 151, December, 2008