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massages 2 times per week for 5 weeks. On the first
and last days of the study they were monitored for
EEG, and they performed math computations before
and after the massage. They also completed job
stress, anxiety, and depression inventories. The
massage group was compared to a group of 24
adults who were asked to relax in a massage chair
for the same period.
Frontal delta power increased for both groups,
suggesting relaxation. In the massage group there
was also a pattern of decreased frontal alpha power
and increased frontal beta power, suggesting
enhanced alertness. This pattern was accompanied
by increased speed and accuracy on math
computations. Finally, anxiety, depression, and
salivary cortisol levels were lower following the
massage sessions, and at the end of the 5 week
period, job stress scores were lower.
University of Miami
Touch Research Institute
According to a 1996 survey of
employees who regularly receive
therapeutic massage on-site at Reebok
International:
98% said it helped them
reduce work-related stress.
92% said it increased alertness,
motivation, and productivity.
83% said it addressed a problem that
made medical attention unnecessary.
66% said it had enabled them to stay at
work when they otherwise would
have gone home sick.
