Learn more about how massage can help people who have trouble sleeping find better, more restorative rest.
February 1, 2026
We are continually learning that sleep is a major indicator of health and well-being, and lack of sleep has implications for nearly every system in our body, from cardiovascular health to mental well-being.
We’re also learning more about how massage can help people who have trouble sleeping find better, more restorative rest.
Researchers investigated the effects of aromatherapy massage on sleep quality and mental and psychological disorders in breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy.
The study. This prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial randomly assigned 96 participants to either an intervention group that received lavender aromatherapy massage or a placebo group that received massage with sweet almond oil.
Massage therapists focused on specific areas of the body from the lumbosacral area to the soles of the feet and then the shoulders to the palms of the hands.
From baseline to four weeks after the intervention, assessment was done using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep quality and the Visual Analog Scale for pain. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination, and anxiety and depression were measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory Second Version, respectively.
The results. Baseline statistics were comparable between groups. The intervention group showed statistically significant improvement in sleep quality, anxiety and pain scores when compared to the placebo group at the fourth week post-intervention. No significant differences in depression or cognitive function were found between the two groups.
“Aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil may have a positive effect for breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy,” researchers noted.
This 2025 randomized crossover design study examined the effects of massage on sleep quality for women hospitalized for high-risk pregnancies.
The study. Researchers randomly assigned 60 hospitalized pregnant women to receive either two consecutive nights of 20-minute effleurage massage followed by two consecutive nights of standard care or the reverse order.
Sleep quality was subjectively measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale, as well as objective data gathered via wrist actigraphy.
The results. Participants perceived their sleep quality to be better after receiving massage than after standard care. Women also experienced short sleep latency, fewer awakenings and longer total sleep duration when receiving massage.
“A 20-minute effleurage massage before bedtime for two consecutive days improves sleep quality of hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies,” researchers noted. “Massage should be included in routine care for these women to avoid negative maternal and fetal health outcomes caused by insufficient sleep.”
Scents That Make Sense
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1. Zhang F, Cheng L, Qin S, Wang L, Liu Y, Liu Y, Yang J, Fang S, An N, Zhang Y, Liu J. “Effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on sleep quality, pain, and mental and psychiatric disorders among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial.” Support Care Cancer. 2025 Jul 14;33(8):689.
2. Tien YT, Wang CJ, Chang CH, Chang YJ, Hung HY. “Effects of effleurage on sleep quality in women hospitalized for high-risk pregnancies: A randomized crossover design.” Appl Nurs Res. 2025 Jun:83:151955.