While travelling this month, I and my wife Janice availed ourselves of massages. From a physical perspective, the stress reduction benefits are significant. We discussed this issue in our co-authored book (I Can't Take it Anymore: How to Manage Stress so It Doesn't Manage You; Paul G. Longobardi, Ph.D. and Janice B. Longobardi, R.N., B.S.N., P.H.N.) available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056. For additional information about the authors, book, and other information on stress, please visit our website at www.manageyourhealthandstress.com.
For now, here is an excerpt from that book on the topic of massage and stress reduction:
While we all seek positive well-being and control of our reaction to the stresses of life, sometimes that seems difficult to achieve. To have a good well-being you need to be fit, healthy, and mentally happy. There are many different ways to reach a good well-being and reduce our life stressors. Massage is often cited as a useful tool to reach a state of positive well-being not only because of its physical benefits but also because of its mental benefits. Essentially massage can make your mind, body and soul feel very good. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, in 2006, 39 million Americans, or one in six, received at least one professional massage. Clearly, Americans are seriously interested in stress relief as well as the many other benefits of massage. The Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic, 2015) had identified massage as a valid medical method to reduce stress and pain and reported, "Massage reduced anxiety in depressed children and anorexic women. It also reduced anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in adults trying to quit smoking." Garner et al (2008) conducted a study that concluded, "Massage therapy had immediate beneficial effects on anxiety-related measures." The Franklin Institute website reported, "Massage releases endorphins that calm the peripheral nervous system." In the Psychooncology Journal in 2008, Stringer, Swindell, and Dennis reported that, "Massage in patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy reduces serum cortisol (a stress hormone) and prolactin. A significant reduction in cortisol could be safely achieved through massage, with associated improvement in psychological well-being." What about the possibility of benefits from massage in the workplace? In an article in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Shulman and Jones (1996) showed significant reductions in anxiety levels were found for their massage group compared to a control group who participated in break therapy. In some other workplace studies, reductions in blood pressure have been found as well. In fact, on-site chair massage therapy programs are becoming more common in various organizations. If you never have experienced a therapeutic massage or have not had one in a long time, consider the stress reduction benefits and give it a try.
So for what are you waiting? Give massage a try and experience the positive stress reduction effects. Take charge of your health.
Best wishes on your journey.
Dr. Paul Longobardi
For information on these and related topics, please see my website at www.successandmindset.com