Massage therapy: We all know it’s relaxing, but did you know it can also boost your immunity? As cold and flu season drags on, we’re reviewing research on how receiving regular massage (such as through our Oregon massage school’s student clinic) can protect you against getting sick.
Massage Therapy and Immunity

Massage impacts immunity in several ways.

Pain Relief. Researchers have uncovered a connection between pain and immune suppression. While more research is needed in how this connection works, it’s suspected that massage may increase immune system functioning by decreasing pain (Citroner, 2020).

Increased Circulation. By boosting circulation in lymph and vascular systems, massage therapy helps immune cells more effectively protect all areas of the body (Citroner, 2020).

Lowered Stress. During a stress response, the body deprioritizes immunity. While this helped our ancestors escape danger, it challenges recovery from modern daily stressors such as email and social media. By relieving stress, massage therapy activates immunity via the parasympathetic response. (Bellocchi, 2022).

Regular Massage and Immunity Markers

Our Oregon massage school’s last blog on immunity and massage examined how massage has been shown to increase immunity markers such as natural killer (NK) white blood cells, lymphocyte immunity cells, as well as feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Several studies on the biochemical link between massage therapy and improved community have been published since that blog, including one we’d like to focus on today.

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) highlighted how regular massage impacts health (Brown Menard, 2019). The article published on the AMTA’s website reviewed a study on neuroendocrine and immune effects of Swedish massage versus a light-touch intervention. In this study, fifty-three participants were placed in one of four groups: 45-minute massage sessions once or twice a week, or 45-minute light-touch sessions once or twice a week. The light-touch subjects are the control groups in this study.

While some previous studies on immunity and massage were limited in sample size and quality, the researchers conducting this study were careful to create strong research parameters. Massage sessions were conducted between 3 and 7pm, with those in the light-touch groups receiving the same protocol delivered lightly with the back of the hand. Participants were excluded from the study due to use of nicotine, illicit drugs, and excess alcohol; pregnancy; shift work; dieting; regular medication use; and active medical problems. In other words, this research shows the immunity impact of regular massage for healthy individuals. That’s critical because previous studies had examined how massage impacted specific groups, such as individuals with HIV.

The results of the study found that those in both massage groups had “increased circulation of lymphocyte markers and decreased cytokine production” (Brown Menard, 2019, para. 8). Lymphocytes are white blood cells that fight infections, produce antibodies, regulate the immune response, and protect against cancer. Lowered cytokine production is preferred because in excess, cytokine production can damage healthy tissue via excessive inflammation. You may have heard of deadly cytokine storms during the days of the COVID pandemic.

However, only those in the group that received massage therapy twice per week saw significant changes in HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) function. The HPA axis assists with managing the body’s stress response. The researchers concluded that twice-weekly massage is better for neuroendocrine outcomes, i.e. stress relief.

Massage Training School Clinics: A Win-Win for Immunity & Learning

Increasingly, researchers are uncovering a link between regular massage and positive health outcomes. How can you make weekly or semiweekly massage therapy a healthy habit in your life? We recommend making appointments at our Oregon massage school student massage clinic in Portland’s education district. You’ll receive a 40-minute massage from a student in our massage therapy program who is supervised by a skilled licensed massage therapist. It’s a win-win situation because you can enjoy regular, affordable massage while your student therapist prepares for their career. We invite you to make an appointment for student massage therapy today at OurMassageClinic.com.

Sources
Bellocchi, C. (2022, March 7). The autonomic nervous system and interaction with immunity. Scholarly Community Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/20226

Brown Menard, M. (2019, August 1). Research: Cumulative effects of regular massage. American Massage Therapy Association. https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/cumulative-effects-of-massage/

Citroner, G. (2020, April 8). Massage and immune system: Building Healthier Practices. Massage Magazine. https://www.massagemag.com/this-is-how-massage-helps-build-a-healthy-immune-system-122365/