What the Science Says About the Effectiveness of Massage

A lot of the scientific research on massage therapy is preliminary or conflicting, but much of the evidence points toward beneficial effects on pain and other symptoms associated with a number of different conditions. Much of the evidence suggests that these effects are short term and that people need to keep getting massages for the benefits to continue.

Researchers have studied the effects of massage for many conditions. Some that they have studied more extensively are the following

Pain

• A 2008 systematic review and 2011 NCCIH-funded clinical trial concluded that massage may be useful for chronic low-back pain.
• Massage may help with chronic neck pain, a 2009 NCCIH-funded clinical trial reported.
• Massage may help with pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a 2012 NCCIH-funded study.
• Studies suggest that for women in labor, massage provided some pain relief and increased their satisfaction with other forms of pain relief, but the evidence is not strong, a 2012 review concluded.

Cancer

Numerous systematic reviews and clinical studies have suggested that at least for the short term, massage therapy for cancer patients may reduce pain, promote relaxation, and boost mood. However, the National Cancer Institute urges massage therapists to take specific precautions with cancer patients and avoid massaging:

• Open wounds, bruises, or areas with skin breakdown
• Directly over the tumor site
• Areas with a blood clot in a vein
• Sensitive areas following radiation therapy.

Mental health

• A 2010 meta-analysis of 17 clinical trials concluded that massage therapy may help to reduce depression.
• Brief, twice-weekly yoga and massage sessions for 12 weeks were associated with a decrease in depression, anxiety, and back and leg pain in pregnant women with depression, a 2012 NCCIH-funded randomized controlled trial showed. Also, the women’s babies weighed more than babies born to women who didn’t receive the therapy.
• However, a 2013 research review concluded that there is not enough evidence to determine if massage helps pregnant mothers with depression.
• A 2010 review concluded that massage may help older people relax.
• For generalized anxiety disorder, massage therapy was no better at reducing symptoms than providing a relaxing environment and deep breathing lessons, according to a small, 2010 NCCIH-supported clinical trial.

Fibromyalgia

• A 2010 review concluded that massage therapy may help temporarily reduce pain, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, but the evidence is not definitive. The authors noted that it is important that the massage therapist not cause pain.

Headaches

Clinical trials on the effects of massage for headaches are preliminary and only somewhat promising.

HIV/AIDS

Massage therapy may help improve the quality of life for people with HIV or AIDS, a 2010 systematic review of four small clinical trials concluded.

Infant care

Massaging preterm infants using moderate pressure may improve weight gain, a 2010 review suggested. We don’t have enough evidence to know if massage benefits healthy infants who are developing normally, a 2013 review determined.

Other Conditions

Researchers have studied massage for the following but it’s still unclear if it helps:

• Behavior of children with autism or autism spectrum disorders
• Immune function in women with breast cancer
• Anxiety and pain in patients following heart surgery
• Quality of life and glucose levels in people with diabetes
• Lung function in children with asthma.

Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)