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Research on Massage Therapy in the Workplace
Many companies (e.g. G.E., Goldman Sachs, Young & Rubicam, Motorola, and
American Airlines) are inviting massage therapists on-site as an employment perk
and as a means of reducing stress and absenteeism. 1
Among organization benefits managers, 8% report that massage is an employee
benefit. 2
The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami (TRI) has documented
the positive effects of massage therapy on job performance and stress reduction.
The research indicates that a basic 15-minute chair massage, provided twice
weekly, results in decreased job stress and significant increase in
productivity. The massage group showed increased speed and accuracy on math
computations, while the control group did not change. Job stress scores were
lower only for the massage group. 4
A growing number of businesses and organizations offer massage in the
workplace, including the U.S. Department of Justice.5
At Boeing and Reebok, headaches, back strain, and fatigue have all fallen
since the companies started bringing in massage therapists.3
· More than 80 companies, including many Fortune 500 companies, are using
massage therapy to counter such ills as musculoskeletal problems, stress and
poor ergonomic design of furniture.6
By including 15 minutes of free massage therapy once each week, the Calvert
Group, an investment firm in Bethesda, MD, reduced its turnover rate to 5% in an
industry where the norm is 20%.
The Effectiveness of Massage Therapy Intervention on Reducing Anxiety in the
Workplace
This study evaluated the effectiveness of an on-site chair massage therapy
program in reducing anxiety levels of employees. A quasi-experimental
pre-test/post-test control group design was used to determine changes in anxiety
levels due to massage therapy. Eighteen subjects participated for 6 weeks.
Fifteen control group subjects participated in break therapy.
For 15 minutes weekly, subjects either received a massage or were allowed a
break. Stress levels were measured on a self-assessment questionnaire.
Significant reductions in anxiety levels were found for the massage group.
Massage was administered by registered massage therapists.
Shulman KR, Jones GE.; Bowling Green State University;
Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 32(2): 160-173, 1996 June
Sources
1 "Pressing The Flesh," New York 31(1): 36-40 (January 12, 1998).
2 "Society for Human Resource Management 2000 Benefits Survey" (April 4, 2000).
3 "The Magic of Touch," Newsweek (April 6, 1998): 71-72.
4 Field, et. al., "Massage Therapy Reduces Anxiety and Enhances EEG Pattern of
Alertness and Math Computations," International Journal Neuroscience 86 (1996):
197-205.
5 "The Healing Power of Touch," Life (August 1997): 52-62.
6 "Alternative Medicine Moves Into the Workplace," Alternative Therapies 2(1):
47-51 (January 1996).
7 HR Focus (September 1997): 1-3.
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