Undergoing Massage at Regular Intervals Produces More Biological Effects, New Study Reveals
When was the last time you had a massage? Was it last week? Last month? Do you hardly remember? We all know that massage has many health benefits. But when done repeatedly, there could be more. In a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, scientists found that frequent massage produces a range of positive biological effects, depending on how often a person receives it.
One-time Massage vs. Frequent Massage
A group of researchers from the Emory University School of Medicine studied the biological effects of massage when performed in several sessions. Before this, they had another research conducted at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, showing that people who undergo a single Swedish massage session experienced measurable changes in their body’s immune and endocrine response. There, they found that the biological effects of massage include a decrease in cortisol levels or the hormones that cause stress, a reduction in the arginine vasopressin (a hormone that stimulates the production of cortisol), and an increase in the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes that are vital components of the immune system.
This time, they wanted to know the extent of these benefits when people repeatedly undergo Swedish massage and light touch therapy. The researchers believed that the frequency or the interval between massages may have different biological and psychological effects than the massage provided in one single session.
Regular Massage and its Biological Effects
The study, which lasted for five weeks, assessed the neuroendocrine and immune parameters of the participants. They were randomised into four groups and each group received concurrent five weeks of Swedish massage once or twice a week, or a light touch control once a week or twice a week.
Their findings reveal that repeated massage has continuous, cumulative beneficial effects to the body, which can last for several days to a week, and differ depending on how frequent a person receives it.
Understanding the mechanisms of action behind the effects of massage and light touch in healthy individuals, including their effects on different biological systems when done repeatedly will serve as a guide in future studies about the specific health benefits of massage. This covers devising therapeutic treatments targeted for various biological systems, explained Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD, study lead author and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine.
How often should you schedule your massage session? Although there’s no answer to this question yet, the study strengthens that growing body of research saying massage at regular intervals, is highly beneficial to your health.