Everyone knows that massage is a popular form of treatment that
provides relaxation and pain reduction benefits. But, think outside
the box, did you know that massage can also affect blood pressure?
Here is some proof.
National University of Health Sciences
(NUHS) researchers carried out a study, "Changes in Blood Pressure
after Various Forms of Therapeutic Massage: A Preliminary Study,"
which was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary
Medicine, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2006.
Jerrilyn Cambron, DC, MPH, PhD,
Jennifer Dexheimer, LMT, and Patricia Coe, DC, CMT, conducted the
research at the NUHS MT Clinic with 150 current adult massage
therapy clients who had blood pressure (BP) readings lower than
150/95. BP was measured before and after a therapeutic massage.
Results showed that the type of massage was the main factor
affecting change in BP. Swedish massage had the greatest effect at
BP reduction, while trigger point and sports massage increased BP.
To read the entire article, click here.