Shareable Research: Massage and Respiratory Health

More research is starting to show that massage can be an effective nonpharmacological intervention for some common respiratory challenges.

August 1, 2026

At a Glance
  • Deep tissue massage improved chest expansion, vital capacity and oxygen saturation in a small study of healthy adults.
  • A 2025 review of childhood asthma research found massage therapy improved measures of peak airflow, quality of life and airway inflammation.
  • More research is needed to understand how massage may support respiratory health and complement other treatments.
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Chronic conditions like COPD and asthma can drastically change how a person lives their life, sometimes severely limiting a person’s ability to take part in everyday activities. With the growth of interest in integrative approaches to health and well-being, more research is starting to show that massage can be an effective nonpharmacological intervention for some common respiratory challenges.

Massage + Respiratory Parameters

Researchers wondered about the effects of deep tissue massage on respiratory parameters in healthy people, specifically how deep tissue massage based in deep palpation and reduction of fascial restrictions may reduce symptoms resulting from fascial disorders.

The Study

This pilot study comprised 40 participants divided into two subgroups. The experimental group were given a single deep tissue massage session. Classic massage was used on participants in the control group.

Before and after each session, chest circumference and oxygen saturation were measured and a spirometry test was performed.

The Results

Although chest expandability significantly improved in both groups, greater effect was achieved in the deep tissue massage group. Vital capacity and saturation significantly increased in the experimental group. No significant changes in dynamic parameters were noticed in the control group.

“In this study, deep tissue massage appeared to improve chest expandability and vital capacity with simultaneous decrease in FVC in healthy subjects,” researchers noted.

Deep tissue massage appeared to improve chest expandability and vital capacity.

Childhood Asthma + Massage

This 2025 systematic review and network meta-analysis explored the efficacy of nonpharmacological interventions for childhood asthma.

The Study

Researchers searched seven English and Chinese databases from inception to April 1, 2025 for randomized controlled trials related to nonpharmacological interventions for childhood asthma.

A total of 41 studies comprising 3,164 participants were included, and involved diverse interventions like structured exercise programs, controlled breathing techniques, traditional moxibustion therapy, psychological interventions and traditional therapeutic massage.

Outcome indicators focused on include FEV1, FVC, PEF, PAQLQ and FeNO.

The Results

Researchers concluded five of the nonpharmacological interventions showed consistent efficacy across all modalities in alleviating asthma symptoms, with psychological interventions emerging as the optimal adjunctive therapy for improving FEV1 and exercise therapy having the greatest therapeutic effect on FVC.

“Massage therapy demonstrated superior efficacy in enhancing PEF, PAQLQ scores and FeNO levels,” researchers noted.

Related Resources

References

1. Trybulec B, Macul B, Koscinska K, Nawrot-Porabka K, Barlowska M, Jagielski P. “The effect of deep tissue massage on respiratory parameters in health subjects-A non-randomized pilot study.” Heliyon. 2023 Apr 5;9(4).

2. Zhang J, Ye Z, Guo F, Ye Y, Yu X, Song Z, Zhang F, Gu N, Ao M, Liu Q. “Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for childhood asthma: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.” BMC Pediatr. 2025 Nov 12;25(1):927.