Where do you massage for anxiety

What type of massage was shown to help anxiety

Where was massaged

As the table of clinical trial results below show that massage successfully reduced anxiety when it was applied to the neck and shoulders, the back, or feet and hands.

What type of massage

The types of massage varied from chair massages where typically therapists work generally through clothes, through to more intense massage such as sports massage and Thai massage.

Number and frequency of massages

We note that all the trials used regular shorter duration massages ranging from three times a day through to weekly.

Special massage for anxiety

While we see many articles and videos on special pressure spots and so forth to relieve anxiety none of the clinical trials used these. Instead the used normal remedial type massages. This is not to say those special spots don't work, just that the scientists managed to reduce anxiety quiet well without them.

Your self massage alternatives

The clinical trial results show that massage is an excellent therapy to help reduce anxiety. However with frequencies ranging from three times a day to weekly having a professional massage therapist provide this on a long term basis would likely be prohibitively expensive and inconvenient, so what self massage options are available?

Type of massage

We know that the successful massages were all remedial type massages with the following in common.
• The loosened tight muscles
• the stimulated blood
• the worked on tight spots in muscles

Frequency of massages

As self massage is practically unlimitted a home user could copy any of the frequencies used in the trial. Perhaps daily or three times a week would be a good place to start.

Safety

We recommend you consult a health care professional to make sure any self massage is appropriate and safe.

References

1. Ramu K. “ A Study to assess the effectiveness of Back massage on Anxiety level , Heart rate and Blood pressure among Hospitalized Hypertensive patients at selected Hospitals Tumkur ”. 2018;7(5):87–93.
2. Pinar R, Afsar F. Back massage to decrease state anxiety, cortisol level, blood prsessure, heart rate and increase sleep quality in family caregivers of patients with cancer: A randomised controlled trial. Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev. 2016;
3. Field T, Ironson G, Scafidi F, Nawrocki T, Goncalves A, Burman I, et al. Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. Int J Neurosci. 1996;86(3–4):197–205.
4. Buttagat V, Eungpinichpong W, Chatchawan U, Arayawichanon P. Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage on pain, muscle tension and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: A randomized single-blinded pilot study. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2012;16(1):57–63.
5. Zadkhosh SM, Ariaee E, Atri AE, Rashidlamir A, Saadatyar A. The effect of massage therapy on depression, anxiety and stress in adolescent wrestlers. Int J Sport Stud [Internet]. 2015;5(3):321–7.
6. Shulman KR, Jones GE. The effectiveness of massage therapy intervention on reducing anxiety in the workplace. J Appl Behav Sci. 1996;
7. Cassileth BR, Vickers AJ. Massage therapy for symptom control: Outcome study at a major cancer center. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2004;28(3):244–9.
8. Youssef NFA, Hassan ADA. The Effect of hand and foot massage on alleviating pain and anxiety of abdominal post-operative patients at a University Hospital: A randomized control trial. IOSR J Nurs Heal Sci. 2017;06(03):56–65.