Neck, shoulder and back pain

Neck, shoulder and back pain
Clinical study: Effects of massage therapy and relaxation on university dance students.

Research:
In this study, 30 female dance science students were randomly assigned to either a massage therapy group or a relaxation therapy group. Both groups received 30-minute sessions twice a week over a period of five weeks.

Results:
Both groups reported improved mood and lower anxiety levels.

However, a reduction in cortisol levels was only seen in the massage therapy group.

Both groups reported less neck, shoulder and back pain after the sessions, and the extent of back pain in particular was reduced over the entire study period.

Read full study
Leivadi, S., Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Rourke, M., DÕArienzo, S., Lewis, D., del Pino, N., Schanberg, S. & Kuhn, C. (1999). Massage therapy and relaxation effects on University dance students. Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, 3, 108-112.