veterans with post traumatic stress disorder are less stressed following massage therapy

Abstract The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to assess the effects of massage therapy on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and comorbid conditions including sleep disturbances, depression and suicide ideation in veterans. Massage therapy was expected to be effective for reducing these comorbid conditions in veterans given that massage therapy has reduced these problems in non-veterans. Forty veterans were recruited and, following informed consent at their first session, they were randomly assigned to a massage therapy or a waitlist control group. Thirty-minute massages were provided weekly for a 4-week period by a massage therapist. Moderate pressure massages were done with the participant in a side-lying position on a massage table. The massage included circular rocking, stroking and kneading the head, neck, shoulders and back. Immediately following the massages on the first and last days of the study the massaged versus the waitlist control veterans were more accurate on math computations, had lower stress levels and lower heart rate. At the end of the study, the massage group had lower PTSD scores, fewer sleep disturbances and expressed less intent of self-harm. In a follow-up one month later, the massage group was no longer showing the improvement noted at the end of the study, although they continued to express less intent of self-harm. These data highlight immediate positive effects of massage on memory, stress and heart rate and long-term effects on PTSD symptoms, sleep, and self-harm ideation. The absence of follow-up effects highlights the importance of continuing massage therapy (stimulation of pressure receptors) for these positive effects to persist. Keywords Veterans; Massage therapy, Post traumatic stress disorder