Massage shows promise for those with limited mobility, new study highlights

Massage improves blood flow and alleviates muscle soreness after exercise – but improves vascular function in those who have not exercised too, says research published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Although improved circulation and relief of muscle soreness are common claims made for massage’s benefits, little research has been done to back up such claims.

“Our study validates the value of massage in exercise and injury, which has been previously recognized but based on minimal data,” says lead author, Nina Cherie Franklin. “It also suggests the value of massage outside of the context of exercise.”

Healthy sedentary adults were asked to exercise their legs until they hurt, using a standard leg press machine. Half of the exercisers received leg massages after the exercise. Others volunteers received massage without exercise. Participants rated their muscle soreness on a scale from 1 to 10.

Both exercise groups experienced soreness immediately after exercise. Those who were massaged reported no continuing soreness 90 minutes after massage therapy. The exercise-only group reported lasting soreness 24 hours after exercise.

The researchers used ultrasound to measure vascular health at 90 minutes, 24, 48 and 72 hours after exercise. People who had been massaged had improved blood flow at all time points – it tapered off at 72 hours. The exercise only group had reduced blood flow after 90 minutes and 24 and 48 hours, with a return to normal levels at 72 hours.

“We believe that massage is really changing physiology in a positive way,” says Nina. “This is not just blood flow speeds – this is actually a vascular response.”

Because vascular function was changed at a distance from both the site of injury and the massage, the findings suggest a “systemic rather than just a local response,” she said.

But the big surprise was the massage-only control group, who showed virtually identical levels of improvement in circulation as the exercise and massage group.

“The circulatory response was sustained for a number of days, which suggests that massage may be protective.”

The team hopes that future research will highlight the benefits of massage for people with limited mobility or those with impaired vascular function.