Click on the titles to link to any of the articles or research below.
Articles
6 healthy ways getting a massage benefits your entire body | Prevention
Certified massage therapist vs. licensed massage therapist | Massage Magazine
Complementary medicine: What is it, types and health benefits | Cleveland Clinic
Connective tissue massage: Description and physiological effects | LPG Medical
The danger of deep tissue massage | Sage Bodywork
The dangers of deep tissue massage | Spa Theory
Deep friction massage | Physiopedia
Differences between reflexology, acupressure, acupuncture and massage | Natural Healers
Everything you need to know about massage therapy | Cleveland Clinic
Going gua sha: What to know about this TCM practice that’s everywhere | Verywell Mind
Gua sha: Uses, benefits, and risks | Medical News Today
How does massage work? | University of Minnesota
How to massage for constipation relief | Healthline
How to perform massage techniques to relieve constipation | Medical News Today
How to relieve muscle soreness after a massage | Cleveland Clinic
How to use massage to relieve constipation | Health
Is a deep tissue massage what your muscles need? | Healthline
Is gua sha really effective? | Web MD
MSU researcher linking breast cancer patients with alternative therapies | Michigan State University
Massage therapist’s guide to myofascial release | Massage Magazine
Massage therapy | Mayo Clinic
Massage therapy as beneficial part of integrative treatment plan for fibromyalgia | American Massage Therapy Association
Massage therapy for health: What the science says | National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Massage therapy in the treatment and management of sickle cell anemia | Sickle Cell Society
Massage therapy pressure scale from medical conditions and massage therapy: A decision tree approach | Tracy Walton
Massage therapy: What you need to know | National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Myofascial release (MFR): An overview | Hospital for Special Surgery
Myofascial release therapy | Cleveland Clinic
Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain? | Mayo Clinic
Physiology, Muscle Contraction StatPearls | National Institutes of Health
Physiology, Muscle Energy StatPearls | National Library of Medicine
Poisoned by massage: Rather than being DE-toxifying, deep tissue massage may actually cause a toxic situation | PainScience
RMT, LMT, CMT: Demystifying massage therapy titles | Revision Massage
Role of massage therapy for mental health | Mayo Clinic
Study shows massage helps ease arthritis pain, improve mobility | Duke University Health System
Traditional massage therapy in the treatment and management of lymphedema | Massage Today
Types of complementary and alternative medicine | John Hopkins Medicine
Types of complementary and alternative medicine | Merck & Company
What are the different types of massage? | Healthline
What is medical massage therapy? | Oviedo Chiropractic
What is bindegewebsmassage? | Massagetique
What is gua sha? A guide to this traditional Chinese medicine wellness practice | Everyday Health
What is myofascial release, and does it work? | Healthline
What is Primal Reflex Release Technique™ for pain relief? | Primal Reflex Release Technique™
What is therapeutic massage? | Verywell Mind
What to know about deep tissue massage | Medical News Today
What to know about myofascial release therapy | Web MD
Why painful deep tissue massages are bad for you | Spa Del Rio
Massage Research
Afsaneh, N., & Jamal, F. (2008). Effect of massage therapy on children with asthma. Iranian Journal of Pediatrics.
Armstrong, K., Chevalier, A., Todorsky, W., Durant, et al. (2018). Pain relieving benefits of massage therapy compared to massage therapy combined with microcurrent point stimulation. Journal of Yoga and Physiotherapy.
Antunes, M., & Marques, A. (2022). The role of physiotherapy in fibromyalgia: Current and future perspectives. Frontiers in Physiology.
Beeken, J., Parks, D., Cory, J., & Montopoli, G. (1998). The effectiveness of neuromuscular release massage therapy in five individuals with chronic obstructive lung disease. Clinical Nursing Research.
Bennett, C., Underdown, A., & Barlow, J. (2013). Massage for promoting mental and physical health in typically developing infants under the age of six months. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Castro-Sanchez, A., Mataran-Penarrocha, G., Granero-Molina, J., Aguilera-Manrique, G., et al. (2010). Benefits of massage-myofascial release therapy on pain, anxiety, quality of sleep, depression, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Chen, T., Liu, N., Liu, J., Zhang, X., et al. (2016). Gua sha, a press-stroke treatment of the skin, boosts the immune response to intradermal vaccination. PeerJ Publishing.
Chu, E., Wong, A., Sim, P., & Kruger, F. (2021). Exploring scraping therapy: Contemporary views on an ancient healing — A review. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.
Field, T. (2014). Massage therapy research review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
Field, T., Henteleff, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Martinez, E., et al. (1998). Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy. The Journal of Pediatrics.
Franke, H., Fryer, G., Ostelo, R., & Kamper, S. (2015).Muscle energy technique for non-specific low-back pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Furlan, A., Giraldo, M., Baskwill, A., Irvin, E., et al. (2015). Massage for low‐back pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Goats, G., & Keir, K. (1991). Connective tissue massage. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Hamp, A., Anderson, J., Laughter, M., Anderson, J., et al. (2022). Gua sha, jade roller, and facial massage: Are there benefits within dermatology? Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Hartnett, D. (2021). Gua sha therapy in the management of musculoskeletal pathology: A narrative review. Physical Therapy Reviews.
Hillier, S., Louw, Q., Morris, L., Uwimana, J., et al. (2010). Massage therapy for people with HIV/AIDS. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Hody, S., Croisier, J., Bury, T., Rogister, B., et al. (2019). Eccentric muscle contractions: Risks and benefits. Frontiers in Physiology.
Kahraman, S., & Kizir, Y. (2019). The effect of reflexology or massage therapy on the anxiety of patients before coronary angiography. COJ Nursing & Healthcare.
Kravitz, L., & Achenbach, N. (2010). Cellulite: A review of its anatomy, physiology and treatment. IDEA Fitness Journal.
Li, Q., Gong, M., & Wan, Z. (2024). Axillary massage induced lateral thoracic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture: Case report. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports.
Li, Y., Wang, F., Feng, C., Yang, X., et al. (2014). Massage therapy for fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLOS One.
Meier, M., Unternaehrer, E., Dimitroff, S., Benz, A., et al. (2020). Standardized massage interventions as protocols for the induction of psychophysiological relaxation in the laboratory: a block randomized, controlled trial. Scientific Reports.
Moyer, C., Seefeldt, L., Mann, E., & Jackley, L. (2011). Does massage therapy reduce cortisol? A comprehensive quantitative review. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.
Navaee, M., & Rakhshkhorshid, M. (2020). Comparing the effect of foot massage with grape seed oil and sweet almond oil on physiological leg edema in primigravidae: A randomized clinical trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Nielsen, A. (2009). Gua sha research and the language of integrative medicine. Integrative Medicine.
Nielsen, A., Knoblauch, N., Dobos, G., Michalsen, A., et al. (2007). The effect of gua sha treatment on the microcirculation of surface tissue: A pilot study in healthy subjects. Explore.
Niemi, A. (2017). Review of randomized controlled trials of massage in preterm infants. Children.
Proske, U., & Morgan, D. L. (2001). Muscle damage from eccentric exercise: mechanism, mechanical signs, adaptation and clinical applications. The Journal of Physiology.
Ren, Q., Yu, X., Liao, F., Chen, X., et al. (2018). Effects of gua sha therapy on perimenopausal syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
Ruban, D., Nithya, M., & Velayutham, P. (2020). Effectiveness of foot massage on blood pressure among patients with hypertension. International Journal of Advanced Research in Medical Surgical Nursing.
Saha, F., Brummer, G., Lauche, R., Ostermann, T., et al. (2019). Gua sha therapy for chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
Shin, E., Seo, K., Lee, S., Jang, J., et al. (2016). Massage with or without aromatherapy for symptom relief in people with cancer. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Skubisz, Z., Kupczyk, D., Goch, A., Siedlaczek, M., et al. (2021). Influence of classical massage on biochemical markers of oxidative stress in humans: Pilot study. BioMed Research International.
Vickers, A., & C. Zollman, C. (1999). Massage therapies. BMJ.
Weerapong, P., Hume, P., & Kolt, G. (2005). The mechanisms of massage and effects on performance, muscle recovery and injury prevention. Sports Medicine.
Witt, P., & MacKinnon, J. (1986). Trager Psychophysical Integration. A method to improve chest mobility of patients with chronic lung disease. Physical Therapy.
Wu, J., Yang, X., & Zhang, M. (2017). Massage therapy in children with asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Xu, Q., Yang, J., Zhu, B., Yang, L., et al. (2012). The effects of scraping therapy on local temperature and blood perfusion volume in healthy subjects. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Yin, P., Gao, N., Wu, J., Litscher, G., et al. (2014). Adverse events of massage therapy in pain-related conditions: A systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Yue, L. (2023). Understandings and misunderstandings of gua sha: A discussion from the perspective of scientific multiculturalism. Cultures of Science.