25/01/2026
Massage is an ancient and natural form of therapy with a measurable impact on health and well-being and no major side effects.
According to a new report published in Nature Human Behaviour by Julian Packheiser:
"The recent coronavirus pandemic has raised awareness regarding the need to better understand the effects that touch—and its reduction during social distancing—can have on our mental and physical well-being. The most common touch interventions, for example, massage for adults or kangaroo care for newborns, have been shown to have a wide range of both mental and physical health benefits, from facilitating growth and development to buffering against anxiety and stress, over the lifespan of humans and animals alike."
The new report found:
- "The power of touch can ease depression and anxiety.
Consensual touch isn’t just pleasant — it also has a measurable impact on our health and wellbeing"
- "For adults, touch improved various measures of both physical and mental well-being. However, it was especially effective at reducing pain, feelings of depression, and anxiety."
- "The analysis revealed similar levels of mental and physical health benefits across the various patient groups, suggesting that touch is broadly effective. The only group that stood out as benefiting even more than others was adults with neurological disorders."
"Touch can improve a variety of health outcomes, and given current levels of anxiety, depression, and pain [...] can be employed across the population to preserve and improve our health".
The full report can be read here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-01841-8
Sports Massage Therapist | www.bridgemassage.co.uk | Barton-upon-Humber