Massage significantly improved self-rated health, mental energy and muscle pain in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, according to a recent study.

“A Randomized Clinical Trial of the Treatment Effects of Massage Compared to Relaxation Tape Recordings on Diffuse Long-Term Pain” was conducted by staff at the Uppsala University Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, in Uppsala, Sweden.

One-hundred-seventeen subjects with long-term, diffuse (spread out) musculoskeletal pain participated in the study. Each subject had pain that had lasted for at least three months and was not caused by a specific disease or condition.

Participants were randomized to either a massage or relaxation group. Subjects in the massage group received anywhere from six to 10 massages, each lasting 30 minutes. Subjects received the massages one to three times per week. Participants received an average of seven massages. One person administered all massages, and each session was adjusted to meet subjects’ individual pain thresholds.

Subjects in the relaxation group listened to a relaxation tape twice a week for five weeks. The tape instructed them to tense and relax the muscle groups and breathe slowly and regularly.
Questionnaires regarding the subjects’ age, gender, smoking habits, country of birth, marital status and profession were filled out before, immediately after and three months following the study. A self-rated health questionnaire and rating scales for mental energy and muscle pain were also administered at these times.

Results of the study showed that, during treatment, there was a significant improvement in self-rated health, mental energy and muscle pain for subjects in the massage group as compared to those in the relaxation group.

“For all three outcome measures, massage was significantly more effective during treatment, even after controlling for other possible factors,” state the study’s authors.

However, at the three-month follow-up evaluation these improved scores had reverted back to their initial levels.

“This lack of long-term benefits could be due to the short treatment period or treatments such as these do not address the underlying causes of pain,” state the study’s authors. “Future studies of long-term pain should include longer treatment periods and post-treatment follow-up.”

- Source: Uppsala University Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, in Uppsala, Sweden. Authors: Dan Hasson, Bengt Arentz, Lena Jelveus and Bo Edelstam. Originally published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2004, Vol. 73, pp. 17-24.

Massage therapy eases the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and increases grip strength, according to a recent study.

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are lessened following massage therapy” was conducted by staff at the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain, tingling, burning and numbness of the hand. Sixteen people diagnosed with this syndrome participated in the study. All of them held jobs involving heavy word processing or computer work.

Subjects were randomly assigned to either the standard-treatment control group or the massage-therapy group. Those in the massage group received one massage per week on the affected arm for four weeks. They were also instructed in self-massage, which they were to perform each night before bed.

The massage routine consisted of stroking of moderate pressure from the fingertips to the elbow. A massage and pain log was kept by subjects in the massage group. In the log, participants recorded the times at which they began and ended self-massage, as well as their levels of pain on a scale from zero to 10.

Subjects in the control group received no intervention, but were taught the massage routine after the study ended.

Physicians evaluated participants’ carpal tunnel symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, pain and strength, at the beginning and end of the four-week study. The Tinel sign, which tests to see if light tapping of the affected area elicits pain or tingling, was also used at the start and finish of the study. Physicians used the Phalen Test at the beginning and end of the study as well. The Phalen Test involves flexing of the wrists to see if numbness or tingling occurs.

A nerve conduction test was also performed at the start and finish of the study. This involved stimulation of the median sensory nerves through electrodes placed on each subject’s index finger and wrist. Peak sensory latencies were recorded to test for nerve compression at the carpal tunnel. Median peak latency was the primary outcome measure.

Assessments were also made before and after the massage sessions on the first and last days of the study, including the Perceived Grip Strength Scale; VITAS, a pain assessment using a visual analogue scale; the state anxiety inventory; and the Profile of Mood States.

Results of the study showed that the subjects in the massage group had significantly less pain and reduced carpal tunnel symptoms, as well as shorter median peak latencies and increased grip strength.

Functional activity also improved as noted in reduced pain and increased grip strength in the massage therapy group, both immediately after the first and last massage therapy sessions and by the end of the study,” state the study’s authors. “Finally, the massage therapy group reported lower anxiety and depressed mood levels both immediately after the first and last sessions and by the end of the study.

Source: Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Authors: Tiffany Field, Ph.D.; Miguel Diego; Christy Cullen; Kristin Hartshorn; Alan Gruskin; Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D.; and William Sunshine. Originally published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2004, Vol. 8, pp. 9-14.

The most common type of headache is known as the tension or stress headache. While this type of headache may be considered garden variety, its causes are not always straightforward and recurrent episodes can be difficult to treat effectively. Tension headaches are considered ‘normal’ as they are not the result of a more serious disease or condition, but their debilitating effects can seriously affect work performance and interfere with one’s lifestyle.

On the surface, the major causes of tension headaches seem easy to define. A heavy workload, long days at the office, anxiety, difficulties in personal or professional relationships, lack of sleep; these are all valid causes, but there are some that may not be as obvious. A sedentary lifestyle can cause an increase in tension headaches, and skipping meals can also be a major contributor.

Massage can be of great benefit to those who suffer from chronic tension headaches and prefer a drug-free alternative. One of the drawbacks of drug therapy is the time it takes for the active ingredient to dissolve and be dispersed throughout the bloodstream. Those who suffer from acute headache pain need relief as soon as possible. Chair massage is an excellent option because it improves circulation and eases tension in the neck and shoulder muscles, which is often a root cause of the headache. These short, concentrated sessions are often performed in a span of fifteen minutes, allowing the client to rest their eyes and experience an immediate reduction in pain.

Films are being produced and released at a feverish pace, offering moviegoers more choices than ever before. Although the red carpet premieres are glamorous, and the special effects are stunning, the business of movie making is an extremely stressful and demanding occupation Production budgets can be vast or miniscule, and it is essential that every dollar is spent wisely. Once shooting starts, cast and crew can expect to be working at least six days in a row, and working overtime is not uncommon. This means many hours spent standing on hard surfaces, carrying heavy equipment, building and tearing down sets, and of course, delivering a stellar performance.
The old adage, “Time is money” is a golden rule in the industry, and production executives are constantly concerned with keeping cast and crew working efficiently. Sickness or absence of key crewmembers can severely compromise a film’s schedule, as well as the overall quality of the finished product. Actors who are unable to focus can cause numerous retakes or days of reshoots, which sends the budget spiraling out of control. Exhaustion is an unfortunate result from the breakneck speed in which films are produced, and it affects all members, whether they are executives, talent or crew.
It’s no surprise that on-set massage therapy is becoming more popular within the film and television industry. Producers are increasingly allotting funds to hire on-set massage therapists. The benefits far outweigh the cost and the boost in morale is palpable. Production executives benefit from the reduction in stress and anxiety that a short massage can have. Crewmembers experience relief from pain caused by overuse and physical injuries, and actors are able to concentrate and focus more clearly on their parts. Many production companies hire massage therapists to come to the set weekly or remain on call for the duration of shooting. So, the next time you are in a theater and asking yourself, “How did they do that?” remember that it took a great amount of coordinated effort and that massage therapy may have played a role in the overall quality of the finished product.

Many organizations face the stiff challenge of attracting and retaining good employees, as the most valuable employees can often take their pick of excellent jobs due to their high qualifications. Whether your company uses chair massage through a regular employee wellness or benefits package, or as part of an incentive program, a chair massage program can be an asset to your human resource department and your company.

The number of organizations that offer massage therapy to lower stress and improve productivity is growing every year. A workplace massage therapy programs help to increase job satisfaction and create a caring environment that employees really appreciate. And a massage program can even help attract skilled workers in the first place!
Corporate chair massage has quickly become one of the most popular and requested benefits in the workplace today. The physical demands of long hours at the computer and the high stress of the new marketplace have made all forms of work stress reduction increasingly necessary. A good chair massage reduces fatigue and tension for greater productivity and safety.

So just what is chair massage? Chair massage focuses on the upper body areas that often cause problems for people who sit at a desk or use a computer keyboard. Chair massage can help prevent or relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, tension headaches, neck pain, and back problems. This massage technique is performed in your normal work attire and requires no oils. Instead of using a table, the massage takes place in a specially designed portable massage chair provided by the massage therapist. Leaning forward in the chair allows you to relax completely with your head resting in a comfy ?face cradle? lined with a soft, disposable cloth cover. The therapist(s) will bring everything that they need, including massage equipment, supplies and music. All you need to provide is some quiet space and eager participants. Chair massage typically takes about 15, 20, or 30 minutes, no longer than a coffee break, but is far more effective!

Take a look below and ask yourself if any of these benefits could help you or your company
Reduce Stress: The overall session is designed to reduce physical as well as mental stress.
Increase Morale: Chair massage is an effective benefit that shows employees that your company cares about their mental and physical health.
Increase Resistance to Illness: Massage can help boost the immune system which helps prevent absenteeism.
Decrease Repetitive Stress Symptoms: Problems like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis are examples of injuries associated with repetitive actions. This type of work leads to chronic tightness and physical injury. Chair massage helps to reduce this chronic muscle tightness and help to educate clients on correcting posture, stretches, and self-help.
Increases Flexibility: By reducing muscle tension and chronic tightness, your flexibility will increase tremendously.
Increase Range-of-Motion: Range of motion is decreased by chronic tension; massage can reduce tension and tightness, thereby increasing range of motion.
Reduce Muscle Soreness: Poor posture and chronic tension lead to soreness and pain. By reducing the tension through chair massage and educating your employees on posture, chair massage can help eliminate pain of this nature.
Reduce Anxiety: Sometimes our hectic lives take an emotional toll on our bodies which leads to physical problems. Massage sessions give an effective way for high stress people to take time out.

On-site chair massage is a cost-effective way of enhancing and improving your employees? all around performance. Stress-related employee turnover, absenteeism and waning morale all affect the bottom line. Job stress and related problems cost companies an estimated $200 billion or more annually, based on information from the American Institute of Stress and the American Psychological Association. A chair massage program demonstrates an employer?s proactive commitment to the health and well being of their employees. Chair massage techniques measurably lower the day-to-day stress of the competitive workplace. Relaxed workers are more likely to cooperate with each other, and lowering stress lowers both anxiety and hostility, improving the work environment for everyone.

After offering corporate message services as part of an incentive program, Dave Joy, of Hannaford Brothers in Standish, Maine state, ?We had very good associate response with [chair massage]. The associates enjoyed it and it made them feel good at work. It really made them aware of their health at work, too, so it was about more than feeling good for one day. Overall [chair massage] has been a really good experience for us,?
In addition to lowering stress and increasing productivity, massage can significantly improve employee problem solving abilities. A recent study in American Psychologist gave one group of workers a 15-minute rest, and another, a 15-minute massage. The group that received the massage performed significantly better on complicated tasks like math problems. Massage also improves creative thinking and relieves fatigue.

Massage can help keep employees healthy as well as happy and that is a great way to retain employees in your company.

About the Author: Angela M. Higley is a student at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida majoring in Creative Writing. She has had numerous articles published in The Eagle Times, the student newspaper at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, Maine, The Octagon, the student newspaper at Elmira College, Elmira, New York, The Triton, the student newspaper at Eckerd College and in The St. Petersburg Times in St. Petersburg, Florida.