More Than Relaxation: The Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Massage Therapy
The Waterside Practice recently welcomed a new massage therapist, Amber Manfroi-Lynn, to the team. Amber is a Level 5 qualified massage therapist and, in just her first month at the practice, has already filled her diary with repeat bookings and received some wonderful feedback from very impressed patients.
Amber offers both sports massage and remedial massage, tailoring each treatment to the person in front of her rather than following a standard routine. Whether someone is recovering from physical activity, managing muscular tension or feeling the effects of a demanding working week, Amber adapts her techniques and pressure to suit their individual needs.
Before beginning treatment, Amber takes a thorough medical history to assess whether massage is safe and appropriate. Her work is of a very high standard, and it has been wonderful to see such a positive response from patients.
With so many people already experiencing the benefits of Amber’s treatments, we wanted to share more about the physiological and psychological benefits of massage therapy, supported by evidence-based information. So, here we go…
Massage is often thought of as an occasional luxury: something to book when we want to relax or take time out. While relaxation is certainly one of its benefits, research suggests that massage may also support physical comfort, emotional wellbeing and recovery from the demands of everyday life.
Reducing feelings of stress and anxiety
One of the most frequently cited studies into massage therapy is a meta-analysis by Moyer, Rounds and Hannum, published in 2004. Rather than looking at a single experiment, the researchers combined the findings of 37 randomised studies to identify broader patterns.
They found that a single massage session was associated with a reduction in state anxiety, meaning the anxiety someone was experiencing at that particular moment. Reductions in blood pressure and heart rate were also recorded, suggesting that the benefits of taking time to stop and receive treatment may extend beyond simply feeling relaxed.
The study did not find convincing evidence that a single massage consistently reduced cortisol, negative mood or immediate pain across all the research included. Massage is therefore not as simple as one treatment immediately resolving every symptom, but it may offer an opportunity for the body and mind to settle during a period of stress.
Easing muscular tension and discomfort
Muscular tension can develop for many reasons, including prolonged desk work, repetitive movements, physical training, reduced activity and emotional stress. People commonly notice this tension through the neck, shoulders and back, although it can affect almost any area of the body.
Massage applies pressure and movement to the skin, muscles and surrounding connective tissues. This can temporarily change how an area feels and moves, helping people feel looser and more comfortable after treatment. Massage may also influence the sensory information travelling between the body and nervous system, reducing the feeling of tension or sensitivity surrounding an uncomfortable area.
Deeper pressure is not automatically more beneficial. Treatment should be adapted to the individual, particularly when someone has persistent pain, heightened sensitivity or an underlying health condition. This is why Amber’s thorough medical history and discussion before treatment are such important parts of the appointment.
Supporting the management of persistent pain
The Moyer, Rounds and Hannum analysis found that repeated massage sessions were associated with reductions in pain when this was assessed after treatment rather than immediately afterwards. This may help to explain why some people experience greater benefit from a course of massage than from one isolated appointment.
Further evidence comes from a 2014 systematic review by Li and colleagues, which examined massage therapy for people with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a complex condition involving widespread pain and tenderness, often alongside fatigue, stiffness, disrupted sleep and changes in mood.
The review included nine randomised controlled trials involving 404 participants. When all treatment durations were grouped together, the evidence for pain reduction was not statistically significant. However, participants receiving massage therapy for five weeks or longer experienced significant improvements in pain, anxiety and depression.
The researchers cautioned that the number of studies was relatively small, different styles of massage had been used and there was limited information about whether the improvements continued over the longer term. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that massage may be a helpful complementary option for some people living with persistent pain.
For those with fibromyalgia or another pain-sensitive condition, the pressure, positioning and length of treatment should always be adjusted according to their symptoms and response.
Improving emotional wellbeing
The Moyer study also found that a course of massage was associated with improvements in longer-standing anxiety and symptoms of depression. The size of these effects was similar to effect sizes previously reported within psychotherapy research.
This does not mean that massage should replace counselling, psychotherapy, medication or other forms of medical care. The interventions serve different purposes and were not compared directly with one another. However, the findings suggest that regular massage may provide meaningful emotional as well as physical support.
The therapeutic environment may also contribute to this. Receiving treatment provides dedicated time away from work, screens, caring responsibilities and other daily demands. Feeling safe, listened to and cared for may be an important part of the overall experience alongside the physical effects of massage.
Encouraging the body to slow down
Many people spend much of their day moving quickly from one responsibility to another. Even during periods of rest, the mind may remain busy and the body can continue to feel tense or alert.
Massage creates a deliberate period of stillness. The reductions in state anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure reported in the Moyer analysis suggest that a single treatment may help reduce this immediate state of physical and mental arousal.
A small preliminary study by Rapaport and colleagues in 2010 also found differences in some hormonal and immune measurements following a single Swedish massage when compared with a light-touch control treatment. However, the study involved a relatively small group of healthy adults. It would therefore be too strong to claim that massage reliably reduces stress hormones or boosts the immune system on the basis of this research alone.
What we can say is that many people find massage gives them an opportunity to pause, breathe more comfortably and feel less physically guarded.
Supporting recovery from exercise and physical activity
Exercise, physically demanding work and unfamiliar activity can all leave the muscles feeling tired or sore. Sports massage may help someone feel more comfortable during their recovery by reducing the sensation of muscular tightness and working carefully through sensitive areas.
Remedial massage can be particularly helpful when treatment needs to focus on specific areas of discomfort or restriction. Amber selects and combines techniques according to what she finds during the appointment and how the individual responds.
Massage should not, however, be used to disguise an injury or encourage someone to return to activity before they are ready. Sudden pain, significant swelling, loss of strength or movement, or symptoms that continue to worsen should be properly assessed.
Massage can instead form one part of recovery alongside appropriate movement, hydration, nutrition, sleep and a gradual return to activity.
Providing regular time for self-care
Not every benefit of massage needs to be explained by a measurable biological change. Setting aside time to look after yourself can be valuable in its own right, particularly when work, family life or caring responsibilities make personal recovery time difficult to protect.
For some people, an occasional massage provides a welcome opportunity to relax and reset. For others, particularly those managing persistent muscular tension, stress or widespread pain, a course of treatment may be more beneficial.
The research does not suggest that massage is a cure-all. It does, however, indicate that its potential benefits extend beyond simply feeling relaxed for an hour. When delivered thoughtfully, safely and according to the individual, massage therapy may make a valuable contribution to physical comfort and wider emotional wellbeing.
Book a sports or remedial massage with Amber
Amber offers both sports massage and remedial massage in:
30-minute appointments
45-minute appointments
60-minute appointments
You can view Amber’s availability and book online:
Book a massage therapy appointment with Amber
References
Moyer, C. A., Rounds, J. and Hannum, J. W. (2004). A Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy Research. Psychological Bulletin, 130(1), 3–18. View the study on PubMed
Li, Y. H., Wang, F. Y., Feng, C. Q., Yang, X. F. and Sun, Y. H. (2014). Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLOS ONE, 9(2), e89304. Read the full study
Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P. and Bresee, C. (2010). A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(10), 1079–1088. View the study on PubMed