Abstract
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to determine whether giving a massage had an impact of the mental state of the massage therapist.
Design:
The design of this study was a randomized, controlled, blinded study with two parallel groups.
Settings/location:
This study was conducted at an accredited school of therapeutic massage in Dallas, Texas.
Subjects:
The study comprised healthy female and male final-term massage students between ages 18 and 65 years.
Interventions:
The participants were randomized into two groups: (1) the experimental group who gave a 1-hour Swedish massage to a massage client (Massage group), or (2) the control group who sat in a room doing normal, daily activities (Control group). Both these activities were a normal part of the daily routine for these massage students.
Outcome measures:
The primary outcomes were the change in the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) scores pre- and postparticipation.
Results:
Twenty-two (22) participants were randomized in this trial. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. A statistically significant advantage for the massage group was found relative to the control group in subjective anxiety (DASS Anxiety Subscale, p=0.014). There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to total DASS score (p=0.540), subjective depressive symptoms (DASS Depression Subscale, p=0.472) and subjective stress-related symptoms (DASS Stress Subscale, p=0.919). There were no adverse events reported by any participant.
Conclusions:
This study shows that massage therapists themselves may benefit from giving a therapeutic massage by experiencing less subjective anxiety following the giving of a massage.
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