Massage Therapy for Anxiety

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It is not uncommon for people who suffer from anxiety to use complementary and integrative approaches to manage symptoms and improve their well-being.

It is not uncommon for people who suffer from anxiety to use complementary and integrative approaches to manage symptoms and improve their well-being.

The RMT Education Project is an initiative to promote the benefits of massage therapy to an international audience, here I have to put together a list of research papers relevant to anxiety.

Massage Can be a Source of Safety, Comfort and Relief

  • There is emerging research indicating that massage therapy can improve health related quality of life for people with anxiety. A recent pilot study five sessions of massage therapy was shown to improve the symptoms of anxiety (Rapaport et al. 2016)
  • A biopsychosocial model of massage therapy helps put into context the interconnected and multidirectional interaction between: physiology, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, culture, and beliefs. 

More to Explore

de Oliveira, F.R., Visnardi Gonçalves, L.C., ... de Oliveira Crege, D.R.X. (2018). Massage therapy in cortisol circadian rhythm, pain intensity, perceived stress index and  quality of life of fibromyalgia syndrome patients. Complement Ther Clin Pract.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29389485

Field, T. (2016). Massage therapy research review. Complement Ther Clin Pract. (OPEN ACCESS)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27502797

Jayakody, K., Gunadasa, S., Hosker, C. (2014). Exercise for anxiety disorders: systematic review. Br J Sports Med.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23299048/

Mącznik, A.K., Schneiders, A.G., Athens, J., Sullivan, S.J. (2017). Does Acupressure Hit the Mark? A Three-Arm Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupressure for Pain and Anxiety Relief in Athletes With Acute Musculoskeletal Sports Injuries. Clin J Sport Med.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28653963

Moraska, A., Pollini, R.A., Boulanger, K., Brooks, M.Z., Teitlebaum, L. (2010). Physiological adjustments to stress measures following massage therapy: a review of the literature. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. (OPEN ACCESS)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18955340

Moyer, C.A. (2008). Affective massage therapy. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. (OPEN ACCESS)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21589715/ 

Moyer, C.A., Rounds, J., Hannum, J.W. A meta-analysis of massage therapy research. Psychol Bull. 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14717648

Rapaport, M.H., Schettler, P., Larson, E.R., ... Kinkead, B. (2016). Acute Swedish Massage Monotherapy Successfully Remediates Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Proof-of-Concept, Randomized Controlled Study. J Clin Psychiatry.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27464321/

Sherman, K.J., Ludman, E.J., Cook, A.J., ... Cherkin, D.C. (2010). Effectiveness of therapeutic massage for generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Depress Anxiety. (OPEN ACCESS)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20186971

Stein, M.B., Craske, M.G. (2017). Treating Anxiety in 2017: Optimizing Care to Improve Outcomes. JAMA.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28679009