|
Massage tools, Massagers, Herbal Heat Therapy, Buckwheat
Pillows, and Supports
Newsletter Details
Newsletter Signup
| |
Research on Anorexia and Massage
Therapy In this study, women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who received
massage therapy reported decreased anxiety and improved moods immediately
following their first and last massage. reduction in salivary cortisol (stress)
values following the first massage corroborated the selfreports of reduced
anxiety.
These findings also parallel previous massage therapy findings adolescents
diagnosed with bulimia, suggesting that touch therapy has positive and immediate
benefits for attenuating stress levels, stress hormones and depressed mood in
girls and women with eating disorders.
The study also revealed an increase in dopamine values for the women
receiving massage therapy. Dopamine depletion has been associated with a
decrease in food intake and has implicated in anorexia nervosa and feeing
behaviors. Weight gain was not reported in this however, because the scores on
the Eating Disorder Inventory were improved for the women the massage therapy
group it suggests that when massage therapy is combined with standard more
appropriate eating behaviors might begin to emerge.
The findings from this study reveal that massage therapy attenuated anxiety,
depressed eating disorder symptoms, poor body image and biochemical
abnormalities for women with anorexia nervosa. The compelling findings along
with previous findings on massage effects for adolescents with bulimia suggest
that massage therapy added to standard care effective for healing mind and body
issues for individuals with eating disorders.
Sybil Hart, Ph.D., Tiffany Field, Ph.D., Maria Hernandez-Reif,
Graciela Nearing, Psy.D., Seana Shaw, M.D.;Journal of Treatment and Prevention,
37 references, Spring 2001
Site map
|
