Swedish Massage for Wellness

(Massage: Neuro Trial)

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Utah

Must not be taking: Anxiolytics, Antidepressants, Psychotropics, others

Disqualifiers: Nicotine, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Neurological, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how Swedish massage and light touch therapy affect brain activity, mood, and stress. Participants will receive either a Swedish massage or a light touch therapy session. Researchers will then compare the effects on heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and brain function. Suitable candidates are adults who are medically stable, mentally healthy, and can lie down for an hour. Participants should not use nicotine, illicit drugs, or certain medications, and should not have a history of regular massages or medical conditions that could interfere with MRI scans. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to foundational research that could enhance understanding of therapeutic touch benefits.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are currently taking medications for psychological distress, such as anxiety or depression, you will need to stop taking them to participate in this study. The study excludes participants using such medications during the study period.

What prior data suggests that Swedish massage and light touch therapy are safe?

Research has shown that Swedish massage therapy is generally safe and gentle, with most people tolerating it well. Serious side effects rarely occur. Issues such as nerve damage or blood clots have been reported, but these typically arise from more intense massages or untrained therapists. Trained professionals performing Swedish massage present a low risk of harm.

The light touch therapy used in some studies is even safer, involving the gentle placement of hands on the body. This method is very safe.

Overall, both Swedish massage and light touch therapy are considered safe for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Swedish Massage Therapy because it offers a holistic approach to wellness that focuses on the physical manipulation of muscles through techniques like effleurage and petrissage. Unlike typical wellness treatments that may rely on medication or passive therapies, Swedish Massage Therapy involves active, precise techniques that aim to improve circulation and relieve tension, potentially enhancing overall well-being in a single 45-minute session. Additionally, the Light Touch Control arm of the trial helps isolate the effects of the massage's mechanical action, providing a clearer understanding of the unique benefits of hands-on therapeutic interventions.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for wellness?

Research shows that Swedish massage therapy, one of the treatments in this trial, can enhance overall wellness. Studies have found it reduces anxiety, lowers resting heart rate, and decreases cortisol levels, a stress-related hormone. Additionally, Swedish massage improves blood flow, eases muscle tension, and increases flexibility. It may also alleviate lower-back pain and, in some cases, improve nasal breathing. While the effects of a single session are still under investigation, these findings suggest that Swedish massage may boost mood and reduce stress. Participants in this trial may receive Swedish massage therapy or join the Light Touch Control group, which isolates the mechanical intervention effects of Swedish massage. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mark Rapaport, MD

Principal Investigator

Utah, University of

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy individuals interested in how Swedish massage or light touch therapy affects the brain and body. Participants should not have any recent drug use, significant health issues, or changes in medication. They'll be asked about their health and stress levels.

Inclusion Criteria

Medically stable

Psychiatrically healthy as demonstrated by a structured clinical interview that elicits no previous or current Axis I psychopathology

Subjects must have a permanent domicile

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnancy (per participant report, pregnancy testing not done for study)

Participant meets criteria for current suicidal or homicidal ideation

Current (within 3 months of screening visit) nicotine use, illicit drug use, or long-term medication use that, in the opinion of the investigator, could alter the results of the study

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants undergo a single session of Swedish massage therapy or light touch therapy, with brain activity and autonomic function measured before and after the session

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in brain activity and autonomic function immediately after the treatment session

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Light Touch Control
• Swedish Massage Therapy

Trial Overview The study compares Swedish massage to light touch control on brain activity, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, mood and stress. It's randomized with two groups: one gets a single session of Swedish massage; the other gets light touch therapy.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Swedish Massage Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The therapist uses non-aromatic cream to facilitate making long strokes over the body. Swedish massage is done with the subject covered by a sheet, a technique called "draping." One part of the body is uncovered, massaged, and then re-draped before moving to another part. The primary techniques used in the research protocol therapy are effleurage, petrissage, kneading, tapotement and thumb friction. These techniques are performed in a very precise, carefully elaborated manner. The session starts with the subject fully draped in a prone position on the massage table and after approximately 22 minutes the subject is instructed to turn to the supine position. Finally, the therapist moves to the head area of the subject, begins working on the shoulders, neck and head using effleurage and thumb friction, and concludes by using light tapotement on the head. The total time for the entire massage is 45 minutes. Subjects randomized to SMT will undergo a single session.

Group II: Light Touch Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The Light Touch Control protocol entails the same duration and sequence of procedures as the massage protocol, except that the therapist employs only light-touch hand placement on the subject's body. This condition isolates the effect of the mechanical intervention of SMT. Subjects randomized to LT will undergo a single session.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Utah

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,169

Recruited

1,623,000+

Citations

1. nccih.nih.gov nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/massage-therapy-for-health-science

Massage Therapy for Health: What the Science Says | NCCIH A 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 studies (404 total participants) concluded that massage therapy, if continued for at least 5 weeks, improved ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1360859222001565

A preliminary descriptive report of the longevity ... In 2016, our group demonstrated that 6 weeks of twice-weekly Swedish massage therapy (SMT) was clinically effective in decreasing symptoms of anxiety and ...

3. amtamassage.org amtamassage.org/about/position-statements/massage-can-improve-health-wellness/

Massage Can Improve Health and Wellness | AMTA RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in self-reported anxiety (p < 0.001), resting heart rate (p < 0.05) and cortisol levels (p < 0.05) immediately ...

4. propelphysiotherapy.com propelphysiotherapy.com/massage-therapy/benefits-of-swedish-massage-therapy/

Benefits of Swedish Massage Therapy Swedish massage works to improve blood flow, reduce tension in muscles, and enhance the flexibility of muscles and joints.

5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28659510/

Swedish Massage: A Systematic Review of its Physical and ... The studies showed beneficial results in most cases, including improved nasal breathing and cleanliness in children, reduced lower-back pain for nurses, and ...

6. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article-pdf/42/9/1101/5018479/421101.pdf

The safety of massage therapy Most adverse effects are from exotic massage or laymen, not therapists. Adverse events include cerebrovascular accidents, nerve damage, and more.

7. webmd.com webmd.com/balance/what-is-a-swedish-massage

What Is a Swedish Massage? Swedish massages are generally gentle and safe, with a very low risk of harm. Although rare, risks are not unheard of. There may be some ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/10732944_The_safety_of_massage_therapy

(PDF) The safety of massage therapy The reported adverse events include cerebrovascular accidents, displacement of a ureteral stent, embolization of a kidney, haematoma, leg ulcers ...

9. sit.ac.nz sit.ac.nz/Portals/0/upload/documents/NZMTRC/Joanna_Boardman_and_Joanna_Smith.pdf

Unfavourable Events & Harm from Massage Therapy Unfavorable events include hurt beyond constructive pain, inappropriate elements like draping, massaging unconsented areas, and inappropriate conversation. ...