The Effect of Deep-Tissue Massage Therapy on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate.

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J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Mar 3

The Effect of Deep-Tissue Massage Therapy on Blood Pressure and Heart

Rate.

Kaye AD, Kaye AJ, Swinford J, Baluch A, Bawcom BA, Lambert TJ, Hoover

JM.

Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health

Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.

ABSTRACT Aim: In the present study, we describe the effects of deep

tissue massage on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood

pressure. Materials and methods: The study involved 263 volunteers

(12% males and 88% females), with an average age of 48.5.

Overall muscle spasm/muscle strain was described as either moderate

or severe for each patient.

Baseline blood pressure and heart rate were measured via an automatic

blood pressure cuff. Twenty-one (21) different soothing CDs played in

the background as the deep tissue massage was performed over the

course of the study. The massages were between 45 and 60 minutes in

duration. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance with post-

hoc Scheffe's F-test.

Results: Results of the present study demonstrated an average

systolic pressure reduction of 10.4 mm Hg (p < 0.06), a diastolic

pressure reduction of 5.3 mm Hg (p < 0.04), a mean arterial pressure

reduction of 7.0 mm Hg (p < 0.47), and an average heart rate

reduction of 10.8 beats per minute (p < 0.0003), respectively.

Conclusions: Additional scientific research in this area is warranted.