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Massage at the Office (Oct 2010) |
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A 1996 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience found that 15 minute chair massage given twice weekly for a period of five weeks lowered anxiety, improved alertness and even showed increased speed and accuracy on math computations. ['Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations", PMID 8884390]. Given that stress in the workplace can cost companies in absenteeism and productivity, there is a strong case for introducing chair massage into the workplace. Workplace MassageThe benefits of massage therapy in a corporate or work environment has been researched for a number of years now. A 2005 study conducted by the Touch Research Institutes in Miami, Florida found that massage therapy had stress-alleviating effects on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences, ["Cortisol decrease and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy," PMID: 16162447]. Another study conducted found 15 minute seated chair massages significantly reduced participants systolic and diastolic blood pressure ["Massage therapy as a workplace intervention for reduction of stress", PMID: 9132704]. Introducing Massage to the OfficeCompanies across Canada are introducing stress reduction programs to cut down on employee absenteeism. Massage therapy is a popular choice for health risk management and workplace wellness programs. Progressive companies hire a professional chair massage practitioners for monthly visits to the office to offer 10-20 minute increments of massage. Other companies seek to have the massage therapist "roam" through the office offering neck and shoulder massages right at the employee's desk. Massage services can be fully employer funded or co-funded with the participating employees. At Lewis-Daly & Associates, we have a national team of massage therapist eager to bring stress reduction to your staff. |
