It’s so easy to forget the numerous benefits of massage therapy when the majority of the time we are usually looking for relief from pain or release from stress. If we widen our lens, though, the scientific community has time-and-time-again found benefits to massage therapy (sometimes modality specific) that exceed our health and wellness expectations.
Below is a list of 101 scientific studies that focus on the benefits of massage and manual therapy. Check it out: some may surprise you; some may have you rolling your eyes; some may relate to you specifically.
Enjoy the read and I hope to see you soon! Thank you to MassageChairCompare.com for the incredible list and massage resource.
101 Massage Therapy Studies
- Relief from Fibromyalgia Symptoms
- Reduce Abdominal Fat
- Massage Promotes Blood Health
- Reduction of Labor Pain in Childbirth
- Self-Shiatsu Massage for Sleep
- Benefits for Children with Autism
- Restless Leg Syndrome Relief
- ADHD Improvement
- Reduction in Menstrual Pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptom Reduction
- Increased Interactions Between Mothers and Infants
- Massage to Promote Sleep in Postmenopausal Women
- Increased Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients
- Relief from Depression
- Significantly Improved Social Bonding
- Improved Immune System
- Increased Brain Capacity & Alertness
- Improved Sleep
- Asthma Control
- Less Postpartum Depression
- Reduction in PMS
- Relief for Sore Muscles
- Reduction in Pain
- TMJ Symptom Reduction
- Cure for Tension Headaches
- Reduction of Infantile Colic Symptoms
- Open Heart Surgery Patients Benefit
- Reduction of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
- Massage Therapy Increases Circulation and Alleviates Muscle Soreness
- Reduction of Osteoarthritis Knee Pain
- Lowered Stress in GERD Infants
- Relieves Back Pain
- Reduction in Constipation in the Elderly
- Reduced Constipation for Adults
- Healing for Eating Disorders
- Lessened Heel Stick Pain in Infants
- Reduction in Symptoms of Menopause
- Increased Flexibility and Range of Motion
- Lowered Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
- Mood Booster
- Reduction in Migraines
- Nervous System Calming with Massage and Heat
- Reduced Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms
- Improved Activities for Parkinson’s Patients
- Reduced Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
- Reduced Agitation
- Preterm Infants’ Weight Gain
- Minimizing of Aggression in Preschool Children
- Reduction in Anxiety with Facial Massage
- Reduced Fatigue Related to Cancer
- Reduced Nauseas in Chemotherapy Patients
- Reduced Pain in Knee Patients
- Reduced Ascites-Related Symptoms in Cancer Patients
- Reduced Pain in Post-operative Patients
- Reduction of Inflammation and Healing of Muscles
- Reduced Neonatal Jaundice
- Chronic Pain Management
- Blood Glucose Level Control in Children
- Benefits to Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
- Improvement in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Reduction in Shoulder Pain
- Relief from Chronic Neck Pain
- Chronic Neck Pain Relieved by Longer Massages
- Dyspnoea Improvement
- Reduced Essential Tremor Severity
- Improved Healing of Burn Scars
- Better Balance for the Elderly
- Reduction in Child and Adolescent Anxiety
- Increased Health in Neonates
- Relief for Fibromyalgia
- Immunity Increase in Leukemia Patients
- Reduced Low Back Pain
- Immune System Boost
- Reduced Constipation in MS Patients
- Reduced Symptoms of Metastatic Bone Patients
- Infant Health Benefits from Massage with Oil
- Mental and Physical Health in Infants
- Bone Marrow Transplant
- Improvement Acute and Critical Care Patients
- Reduced Stress in Nurses
- Positive Benefits on Immune System
- Increased Immune System Function
- Hand Massage Reduces Agitation in Elderly
- Minimized Anxiety and Pain from Surgery
- Good for Pregnancy and Marriage
- Healing from Abuse
- Relief for Chronic Low Back Pain
- Eases Fibromyalgia Pain
- Better Work Performance
- Quicker Recovery for Bodybuilders
- Reduced Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Reduced Cocaine Cravings
- Benefits for Post-Surgery Mastectomy Patients
- Aid to Disaster Evacuees
- Pain and Nausea Relief in Pediatric Transplant Patients
- Heart Health Benefits
- Improved Function for MS Patients
- Benefits for Schizophrenia
- Induction of Labor in Post-Term Pregnancies
- Reduction of Illness in Third World Children
- Enhanced Motor Development in Down Syndrome Children