High blood pressure

High blood pressure
Clinical study: : Hypertension and accompanying symptoms were reduced by massage therapy.

Research:
High blood pressure is often associated with increased anxiety, stress, increased stress hormones, hostility, depression, and elevated catecholamine levels. This study examined massage therapy and progressive muscle relaxation as possible treatments.

• Adults diagnosed with hypertension received either:
• 10 massage sessions of 30 minutes each over five weeks
• or instructions for progressive muscle relaxation (control group).
• The results showed:
• Sitting diastolic blood pressure fell after the first and last massage session.
• The lying diastolic blood pressure decreased continuously from the first to the last day of the study.

Results:
While both groups reported less anxiety, only the massage therapy group showed:

• Significantly less depression
• Less hostility
• A decrease in the stress hormone cortisol

Read full study
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J. & Theakston, H. (2000). High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 4, 31-38.