Research and Massage Breast Cancer: A French study of 129 breast cancer patients found massage generally reduced lymphedema, a swelling of the lymphatic system, following treatments. The total reduction of lymphedema volume was 33 percent among those receiving massages, according to Gynecologic Oncology. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Thirty minutes of massage with trigger point reduced symptoms and improved function in a study of 21 carpal tunnel patients (Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies). Constipation: Massage therapy increased the average number of bowel movements among 33 hospitalized Korean children, as reported in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. Dementia: Research from Spain’s Extremadura University on 120 institutionalized elderly adults diagnosed with dementia found massage therapy generally helped improve behavior and sleep. Migraines: Craniosacral massage reduced migraine occurrence in a study of 20 migraine sufferers from Iceland’s University of Akureyri, as published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. Osteoporosis: A study of 48 postmenopausal women receiving traditional Thai massage showed increased bone formation after just four weeks. The massage group’s serum P1NP levels—which assesses bone formation—increased by 15 percent, while the control group saw no increases (BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine). Stroke: Massage therapy tended to speed rehabilitation after strokes for 45 Russian patients in a study published in Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult.
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