Massage: Good for the Body & Mind

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“A businessman needs a laptop. Athletes need massages and the right diet.”

— LOSO JONES, OLYMPIC HURDLER AND BOBSLEDDER

Almost everyone loves a good massage. Whether you’re an elite athlete or just have aching muscles, getting a massage feels great. But is there any scientific evidence supporting the use of massage or is it simply something that feels good? It turns out, the two go hand in hand!

In the past it was thought that massage helped speed recovery from exercise by “flushing out” our muscle tissue and thereby speeding the removal of lactic acid after exercise. However, research on this is equivocal and some research even suggests that massage can decrease the rate of lactic-acid removal by reducing blood flow to the tissues.

But there are aspects of massage therapy other than lactate removal. Research at McMaster University found that, despite not having an effect on lactate or glycogen levels, massage decreased inflammatory markers and cellular stress following exercise. Reduced muscle soreness and decreased inflammation may therefore be the biological mechanism that explains why most people report feeling better and more recovered after a massage. However, people might feel better after a massage simply because it feels good!

It appears that massage is very powerful at decreasing stress. Research has shown that physiological markers of stress decrease immediately after massage in a variety of populations. For example, researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine reviewed the use of massage therapy on people with depression, chronic pain, auto-immune conditions, and various causes of stress. The researchers found that on average, massage therapy decreased cortisol levels by 31%. Cortisol is one of the hormones associated with the stress response, and while beneficial in the short term, can be harmful if chronically elevated. They also found that massage therapy increased levels of serotonin and dopamine (by 28% and 31% respectably), two feel-good chemicals that are associated with improved mood and satisfaction. A more recent study found that massage can be useful in reducing pain and anxiety during medical treatment in female veterans who have experienced stress, depression, and pain.

So yes, massage feels good. But these good feelings extend to the body and have been shown to have lasting beneficial effects. So treat yourself to a massage every once in a while knowing that you’re doing something good for your mind and body :)


If you’re using the VIIVIO app, you can record any massage therapy you do in the RECHARGE function. And remember you can download VIIVIO here!