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Date received by Delegate: 2/1/06
Name of Originator: Retta Flagg
Phone Day: (412) 478-1678 Evening: (412)
478-1678
Email: Retta20@comcast.net Fax: (412)
247-0878
Name of Originator: M.K. Brennan
Phone Day: (704)536.3446
Email: MKAMTA@aol.com Fax: (704)536.3446
Name of Delegate: Joy Williams
Phone Day: (252) 635-3065 Evening: (252) 637-2115
Email: rivergirl@earthlink.net Fax: (252) 635-3066
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Stress is a prevalent component in today's fast paced world which can negatively impact on an individual's health and well-being. Massage
therapy has been shown to be a means by which stress can be reduced significantly on physical and psychological levels. While massage therapists
know from experience that massage reduces stress, there is considerable research that validates our experience. In a study on the effect of trigger
point therapy1, there was a significant decrease in heart rate, systolic blood pressure8, and diastolic blood pressure8. Measures of oxygen consumption,
blood pressure, and salivary cortisol levels were all lower after a 10 to 15 minute chair massage in controlled studies2, 3, 4. Changes in psychological
states have been measured by physiological responses1, 3, the Perceived Stress Scale5, the POMS Depression Scale4,6, and the Anxiety State Scale4. In the
attached studies, all subjects in the massage group showed significant changes in emotional states and stress levels.
RATIONALE:
Stress relief is one of the most important aspects of what we do as
massage therapists. Our clients benefit from the measured and immeasurable
elements of the structured touch of trained massage therapists. By
supporting this important benefit of our work we are confirming the
following core values of our Association:
• We believe massage benefits all.
• We are a diverse and nurturing community working with integrity, honesty and dignity.
This position also addresses these primary goals of the AMTA.
• The public and health care communities understand the value of massage
delivered by AMTA members as a regular part of one’s life.
• Increase consumer preferences for massage delivered by AMTA members.
POSITION STATEMENT:
It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that
Massage Therapy can be effective for stress relief.
REFERENCES: (Attach additional information if necessary)
1. Delaney, J.P., Leong, K.S.,
Watkins, A., & Brodie, D. (2002). The short-term effects of myofascial
trigger point massage therapy on cardiac autonomic tone in healthy subjects.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37, 364-71.
2.
Boone, T., Tanner, M., &
Radosevich, A. (2001). Effects of a 10-minute back rub on cardiovascular
responses in healthy subjects. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 29,
47-52
3.
Cady, S. H., & Jones, G. E.
(1997). Massage therapy as a workplace intervention for reduction of stress.
Perceptual & Motor Skills, 84, 157-158.
4.
Field, T., Ironson, G.,
Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T., Goncalves, A., Burman, I., Pickens, J., Fox, N., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (1996).
Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and
math computations. International Journal of Neuroscience, 86, 197-205
5.
Brennan, M.K. & DeBate, R.
(2004). The effect of chair massage on stress perception of
hospital bedside nurses. Massage Therapy Journal 43, (1), 76-86.
6. Field, T., Quintino,
O., Henteleff, T., Wells-Keife, L., & Delvecchio-Feinberg, G. (1997). Job
stress reduction therapies. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine,
3, (4), 54-56.
7. MacDonald, G. (1998).
Massage offers respite for primary care givers. The American Journal of
Hospice & Palliative Care, Jan/Feb, 43-47.
8. Cady, S. H. & Jones,
G. E. (1997). Massage therapy as a workplace intervention for reduction of
stress. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 84(1), 157-158.
Appendix: Abstracts
Appendix one:
Joe Delaney, FIBMS, PhD;
King Sun Leong, BMed Sci, BMBS, MRCP, MD; Alan Watkins BSc, MBBS; David
Brodie, BSc, MIBiol, PhD. The acute effects of myofascial trigger-point
massage therapy on cardiac autonomic tone in healthy subjects.
Aim :
To investigate the effects of myofascial trigger-point massage therapy to
the head, neck and shoulder areas on cardiac autonomic tone.
Background :
No studies have reported on the effect of back massage on autonomic tone as
measured by heart rate variability. This is especially relevant to the
nursing profession, as massage is increasingly available as a therapy
complementary to conventional nursing practice.
Design :
An experimental study in which subjects were initially placed in age- and
sex-matched groups and then randomized to treatment or control by alternate
allocation.
Methods :
The study involved 30 healthy subjects (16 female and 14 male, aged 32.5
8.5 years). A five-minute cardiac inter-beat interval recording, systolic
and diastolic blood pressure and subjective self-evaluations of muscle
tension and emotional state were taken before and after intervention.
Autonomic function was measured using time and frequency domain analysis of
heart rate variability.
Results :
Following myofascial trigger-point massage therapy, there was a significant
decrease in heart rate (P < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.02) and
diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01). Analysis of heart rate variability
revealed a significant increase in parasympathetic activity following
myofascial trigger-point massage therapy. Both muscle tension and emotional
state, showed significant improvement
(P > 0.001).
Conclusion :
In normal healthy subjects, myofascial trigger-point massage therapy to the
head, neck and shoulder areas is effective in increasing cardiac
parasympathetic activity and improving measures of relaxation.
Appendix two:
Boone, T., Tanner, M., &
Radosevich, A. (2001). Effects of a 10-minute back rub on cardiovascular
responses in healthy subjects. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 29,
47-52
Method: This study determined the cardiovascular responses to a 10-minute back
rub. Twelve healthy, college-age males and females volunteered to
participate as subjects. The subjects were assessed for 10 minutes on a
padded plinth lying on one side. During the treatment period, a back rub was
administered. Oxygen consumption and cardiac output was determined. RESULTS:
The central and peripheral components of oxygen consumption were changed and
cardiac output decreased. These results indicate that the back rub was
effective in inducing relaxation.
Appendix three:
Cady, S. H., & Jones, G.
E. (1997). Massage therapy as a workplace intervention for reduction of
stress. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 84, 157-158.
Method: The effectiveness of a 15-min. on-site massage while seated in a chair
was evaluated for reducing stress as indicated by blood pressure. 52
employed participants' blood pressures were measured before and after a
15-min. massage at work. RESULTS: Analyses showed a significant reduction in
participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure after receiving the
massage.
Appendix four:
Field, T., Ironson, G.,
Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T., Goncalves, A., Burman, I., Pickens, J., Fox, N.,
Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (1996). Massage therapy reduces anxiety and
enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. International
Journal of Neuroscience, 86, 197-205.
Method: Twenty-six adults were given a chair massage and 24 control group
adults were asked to relax in the massage chair for 15 minutes, two times
per week for five weeks. On the first and last days of the study they were
monitored for EEG before, during and after the sessions. In addition, before
and after the sessions they performed math computations, they completed POMS
Depression and State Anxiety Scales and they provided a saliva sample for
cortisol. At the beginning of the sessions they completed Life Events, Job
Stress and Chronic POMS Depression Scales.
Results: Analyses revealed the following: 1) frontal delta power increased for
both groups, suggesting relaxation; 2) the massage group showed decreased
frontal alpha and beta power (suggesting enhanced alertness), while the
control group showed increased alpha and beta power; 3) the massage group
showed increased speed and accuracy on math computations while the control
group did not change; 4) anxiety levels were lower following the massage but
not the control sessions, although mood state was less depressed following
both the massage and control sessions; 5) salivary cortisol levels were
lower following the massage but not the control sessions but only on the
first day; and 6) at the end of the 5 week period depression scores were
lower for both groups but the job stress score was lower only for the
massage group.
Appendix five:
Mary Kay Brennan, MS,
RN, LMBT, Dr. Rita D. DeBate, PhD, MPH, CHES. The effect of chair massage on
stress perception of hospital bedside nurses. ABSTRACT
Context:
Studies have shown that hospital bedside nursing is a stressful occupation.
Massage therapy has been shown to be an effective intervention in stress
management.
Objective: The goal of this study
was to determine if a ten-minute on-site chair massage was more effective at
reducing the stress perception of hospital bedside nurses than a ten-minute
break.
Design:
Randomized trial with a
control group, who took a ten-minute break, and a massage group, who
received a 10-minute chair massage.
Setting:
A small suburban hospital
on the maternity, medical-surgical, telemetry, and critical care nursing
units.
Participants: Eighty-two bedside
nurses.
Main Outcome Measure:
Stress
perception was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) in an
experimental pretest - posttest design and analyzed using t-tests for
independent samples.
Results:
Stress perception was
significantly lower in the massage group after the chair massage (P<.05) and
not significantly changed in the control group.
Conclusion: The results of this
study support the effectiveness of chair massage in the reduction of stress
perception for this population.
Further research is
warranted to study the feasibility of providing chair massage on a regularly
scheduled basis on a nursing unit as well as its impact on other aspects of
a nursing position, such as, job satisfaction, retention, absenteeism,
injury, and worker's compensation claims. Additionally, it would be
beneficial to study the effects of chair massage with individuals in other
occupations that are identified as being high stress and burnout
occupations.
Appendix six:
Field, T., Quintino, O.,
Henteleff, T., Wells-Keife, L., & Delvecchio-Feinberg, G. (1997). Job stress
reduction therapies. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 3,
(4), 54-56.
This study assessed the
effects of massage therapy, music relaxation with visual imagery, muscle
relaxation, and social support group sessions in 100 hospital employees
using a within-subjects pre-post test design and by comparisons across
groups. All of the interventions were found to be effective for reducing
stress among the hospital employees. The study had two massage groups: one
which received a 10 minute chair massage on the nursing unit, the other
received a 10 minute chair massage in a designated room, called the Peace
Corps room. The music relaxation group sat in the dimly lit Peace Corps room
for 10 minutes listening to gentle music in a comfortable chair. The muscle
relaxation with visual imagery therapy also lasted 10 minutes and consisted
of progressive muscle relaxation with imagery of claming, peaceful scenes.
Measurement tools used
were the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Profile of Mood
States (POMS).
Appendix seven:
This physical and mental
relief has been documented in a study involving the care givers of hospice
patients in which 85% of the participants reported a decrease in both
emotional and physical stress after receiving weekly or biweekly massage
sessions (MacDonald, 1998).
MacDonald, G. (1998).
Massage offers respite for primary care givers. The American Journal of
Hospice & Palliative Care, Jan/Feb, 43-47.
Sample size was small:
13 caregivers of hospice patients. They received 75 minute sessions of
Swedish massage and other techniques including shiatsu, Reiki, polarity,
jostling, compression, myofascial release, trigger-point therapy and gentle
stretching. Sessions were offered weekly or biweekly. The average number of
massages received was 6. A pre-post test format was used that measured
emotional stress, physical stress, physical pain, and sleep difficulty.
Results indicated that 85% reported a decrease in emotional and physical
stress, physical pain was relieved for 77% of the subjects, and 54 %
reported improved sleep.
Appendix eight:
A fifteen minute chair
massage was found to reduce stress as indicated by a reduction of blood
pressure (Cady & Jones, 1997)
Cady, S. H. & Jones, G.
E. (1997). Massage therapy as a workplace intervention for reduction of
stress. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 84(1), 157-158.
This study evaluated the
effectiveness of a 15 minute on-site chair massage on reducing stress as
indicated by blood pressure for 52 employees at work. There was no control
group for this study. BP was measured before and after the massage sessions
and analysis showed a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic
pressure after receiving the massage.
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American Massage Therapy Association®
