RESEARCH
by Megan Whitby, writer
UFABIZPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK
It was not important whether the massage pressure was soft or moderate
Finishing touch
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Researchers in Germany have revealed that just 10 minutes of massage or rest can help to reduce stress levels
The women in all three groups (even those resting) pending quality time at a spa chilling out and experienced a reduction in both psychological stress, having treatments is an ideal way to unwind, saying they felt more relaxed compared to before. however, many people struggle to schedule a Moreover, all participants showed significant HRV whole morning or afternoon to themselves. A new increases, which demonstrates that the PNS, the body’s study from the University of Konstanz in Germany has natural stress-reducer, was activated by the massages, suggested that there could be a quicker way to relax. It’s and additionally, that the body found that 10 minutes of massage or rest physiologically relaxes just by resting can boost the body’s principal engine Massage alone. However, the physiological for relaxation – the parasympathetic activated the effect was more pronounced when nervous system (PNS) – and lead to a parasympathetic participants received a massage. reduction in perceived mental stress. Researchers noted that it was not nervous system important whether the massage Physical and psychological was soft or moderate, but that tactile contact in general The research involved 60 female participants who seemed to improve the relaxation of the body. were split into three groups of 20 and randomly assigned to a 10-minute relaxation intervention, either a vagus nerve massage or a soft shoulder Next steps massage, or a seated resting control scenario. According to researchers, the discovery that massage is The vagus nerve massage focused on the head and neck effective on the level of both psychology and physiology and involved applying moderate pressure to the vagus via the PNS will help pave the way for future studies nerve – which activates the PNS. The neck-and-shoulder on understanding the role of relaxation on stress. massage used soft stroking movements designed to “Massage, being such a commonly used relaxation examine whether just touch can also be relaxing. therapy, was our first study,” says Maria Meier, Psychological relaxation was measured by asking study first author and doctoral student in the lab participants to describe how relaxed or stressed they felt of Neuropsychology at Konstanz. “Our next step is before and after the intervention, using a questionnaire. to test if other short interventions, like breathing Physiological relaxation was gauged by monitoring exercises and meditation, show similar results.” participants’ heart rate and heart rate variability Called ‘Standardized massage interventions as (HRV). The researchers say this is an indication of protocols for the induction of psychophysiological how the PNS responds to changes in the environment: relaxation in the laboratory’, the study was published the higher the HRV, the more relaxed the body is. in the journal Scientific Reports in September. ●
110 spabusiness.com issue 4 2020