High Blood Pressure??? Try Swedish Massage

thanks to Massage Magazine's April issue


Sixteen healthy males were given massage treatment at the Karolinski Hospital, Stockholm, Sweeden. The participants were randomized to receive massage either on back, neck and chest (BNC) or on leg, arm, and face (LAF). The 12-week treatment was divided into three four-week periods, two consisting of massage treatment on either BNF or LAF, and one consisting of no treatment in between the other two periods. Blood pressure was measured after a five-minute rest period before and after each massage session.

During the two massage-treatment periods, participants received two 30-minute massages each week. At the beginning of each session, they lay face-down and later changed position to lie on their backs. The BNC group received massage on their backs for 17 minutes, chest for 7 minutes, and neck for 6 minutes. Massage was given to the LAF group on legs and feet for 17 minutes, arm and hands for 4 1/2 minutes, and face for 4 minutes. Classical music and massage lotion were used in all massage sessions.

During the period when no massage was administered, the participants were asked not to participate in any similar treatment, but to continue normal daily activities.

Systolic blood pressure decreased directly after each massage session in the first treatment period, but no significant changes were seen in diastolic blood pressure. In the second treatment period, BNC massage decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, whereas LAF massage increased systolic blood pressure. (Systolic and diastolic refer to the contraction phase and the relaxation phase of the heart, respectively.)

The authors state that the decrease in blood pressure after massage on the BNC may have been due to sympathetic inhibition and that BNC massage would be more likely to affect the parasympathetic nervous system. They conclude that "It may be suggested that massage may be tried as a complementary therapy in patients suffering from increased blood pressure due to stress."