title: Side-effects of massage therapy: a cross-sectional study of 100 clients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the amount and type of negative side-effects and positive (unexpected) effects experienced after a massage session.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Massage clinic at a health sciences university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 100 new and returning massage therapy clients who agreed to participate, 91 completed all survey questions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone survey and medical chart review 2-7 days postmassage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 10% of the massage clients experienced some minor discomfort after the massage session; however, 23% experienced unexpected, nonmusculoskeletal positive side-effects. The majority of negative symptoms started less than 12 hours after the massage and lasted for 36 hours or less. The majority of positive benefits began immediately after massage and lasted more than 48 hours. No major side-effects occurred during this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This the first known study to define the rate of side-effects after massage therapy treatment. These data are important for risk-benefit analyses of massage care. Larger studies are needed to verify these data and to assess effects of different massage types and durations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, IL 60148, USA. jcambron@nuhs.edu
authors.forename: Jerrilyn A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cambron
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dexheimer
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swenson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome