There is no doubt that a good massage can relieve your stress and make you feel good. Now, new research suggests that it can also help you maintain good health.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre reported last week that a single massage produced measurable changes in massage produced measurable changes in the immune system and endocrine system of healthy adults.
They studied 29 healthy adults who received a 45-minute vigorous Swedish massage and 24 healthy adults who had a 45-minute session of light touch massage.
The researchers, led by Dr Mark Rapaport, took blood samples before the massage began and at regular intervals up to one hour after the massage was completed.
The study found several changes in the blood tests of the Swedish massage group that indicated a benefit to the immune system.
The vigorous massage caused sizeable decreases in arginine vasopressin, a hormone that contributes to aggressive behaviour and small decreases in the stress hormone cortisol.
The participants in this group also had an increase in lymphocytes, cells that help the immune system defend the body from harmful substances.
- Los Angeles Times
No comments:
Post a Comment