Kneading Away Stress with Therapeutic Massage

Kneading Away Stress with Therapeutic Massage

What is Massage?

Therapeutic massage is another type of complementary and alternative practice that is further described as a manipulative and body-based practice. Massage has been used for centuries to restore and promote health [2]. Different types of massage techniques exist such as effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, and vibration, and massage therapy will usually integrate each technique in different combinations [2].

  • Effleurage involves use of a flat hand with long stroking motions that results in light friction from the bottom to top of the limb.
  • Petrissage involves squeezing, stretching, and kneading soft tissues and muscles.
  • Friction massage involves deep penetrating pressure from the fingertips typically around the joints to break up scar tissue.
  • Tapotement involves the edge of the hand, cupped hand, or fingertips to create a rhythmic percussion pattern by hitting or tapping the body.
  • Vibration massage involves a tool that presses and releases in an up and down manner to shake the nearby muscles.

           

 How Does Massage Affect Anxiety?

Massage therapy has been determined to decrease anxiety levels. Massage promotes relaxation, thereby enhancing the function of the parasympathetic nervous system. Massage may also increase serotonin and dopamine levels, the neurotransmitters involved in positive moods. Massage may decrease levels of cortisol, the hormone that circulates during stress. Additionally, massage can stimulate the central nervous system, decrease heart rate and breathing, and result in relaxation [1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11].

Self-Massage Methods and Tools:

1. Gua Sha Facial Roller

 

 

3. Facial Tactile Roller or Dermaroller

 

 

 

 

(Designed by Freepik)

 

8. Aromatherapy or CBD Oil Massage

 

(Designed by Freepik)

 

 

11. Massage Gun
(Designed by Freepik)

 

(Designed by Freepik)

 

(Designed by Freepik)

 

(Designed by Freepik)

 

15. Massage Chair

 

We have even more massage options on our store that feature heat and vibration. Get creative and add aromatherapy to your massage sessions to double down on relaxation!

 

 

References:

  1. Bauer, B. A., Cutshall, S. M., Wentworth, L. J., Engen, D., Messner, P. K., Wood, C. M., ... & Sundt III, T. M. (2010). Effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, and tension after cardiac surgery: a randomized study. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 16(2), 70-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.06.012
  2. Billhult, A., & Määttä, S. (2009). Light pressure massage for patients with severe anxiety. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 15(2), 96-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2008.10.003
  3. Cutshall, S. M., Wentworth, L. J., Engen, D., Sundt, T. M., Kelly, R. F., & Bauer, B. A. (2010). Effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, and tension in cardiac surgical patients: a pilot study. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 16(2), 92-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.10.006
  4. da Silva, T. A., Schujmann, D. S., da Silveira, L. T. Y., Caromano, F. A., & Fu, C. (2017). Effect of therapeutic Swedish massage on anxiety level and vital signs of Intensive Care Unit patients. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 21(3), 565-568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.08.009
  5. Field, T. (2014). Massage therapy research review. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 20(4), 224-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2014.07.002
  6. Field, T., Morrow, C., Valdeon, C., Larson, S., Kuhn, C., & Schanberg, S. (1992). Massage reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 31(1), 125-131. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199201000-00019
  7. Garner, B., Phillips, L. J., Schmidt, H. M., Markulev, C., O'Connor, J., Wood, S. J., ... & McGorry, P. D. (2008). Pilot study evaluating the effect of massage therapy on stress, anxiety and aggression in a young adult psychiatric inpatient unit. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42(5), 414-422. https://doi.org/10.1080/00048670801961131
  8. Kukimoto, Y., Ooe, N., & Ideguchi, N. (2017). The effects of massage therapy on pain and anxiety after surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Management Nursing, 18(6), 378-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2017.09.001
  9. Miri, S., Hosseini, S. J., Ghorbani Vajargah, P., Firooz, M., Takasi, P., Mollaei, A., ... & Karkhah, S. (2023). Effects of massage therapy on pain and anxiety intensity in patients with burns: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. International wound journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14089
  10. Shulman, K. R., & Jones, G. E. (1996). The effectiveness of massage therapy intervention on reducing anxiety in the work place. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 32(2), 160-173. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886396322003
  11. Zadkhosh, S. M., Ariaee, E., Atri, A. E., Rashidlamir, A., & Saadatyar, A. (2015). The effect of massage therapy on depression, anxiety and stress in adolescent wrestlers. International Journal of Sport Studies, 5(3), 321-327. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Seyed-Mohammad-Zadkhosh-2/publication/275344015_The_effect_of_massage_therapy_on_depression_anxiety_and_stress_in_adolescent_wrestlers/links/553927ce0cf226723ab9e332/The-effect-of-massage-therapy-on-depression-anxiety-and-stress-in-adolescent-wrestlers.pdf
Back to blog