title: The benefits of giving a massage on the mental state of massage therapists: a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine whether giving a massage had an impact of the mental state of the massage therapist.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design of this study was a randomized, controlled, blinded study with two parallel groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at an accredited school of therapeutic massage in Dallas, Texas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised healthy female and male final-term massage students between ages 18 and 65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were randomized into two groups: (1) the experimental group who gave a 1-hour Swedish massage to a massage client (Massage group), or (2) the control group who sat in a room doing normal, daily activities (Control group). Both these activities were a normal part of the daily routine for these massage students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcomes were the change in the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) scores pre- and postparticipation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two (22) participants were randomized in this trial. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. A statistically significant advantage for the massage group was found relative to the control group in subjective anxiety (DASS Anxiety Subscale, p=0.014). There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to total DASS score (p=0.540), subjective depressive symptoms (DASS Depression Subscale, p=0.472) and subjective stress-related symptoms (DASS Stress Subscale, p=0.919). There were no adverse events reported by any participant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that massage therapists themselves may benefit from giving a therapeutic massage by experiencing less subjective anxiety following the giving of a massage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. anne.jensen@wolfson.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Adaikalavan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hotek
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roel
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riffe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult