Post-Exercise Massages Work: New Research Proves Connection

What if you could get a doctor's note for that massage?

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine found that a short, 10-minute Swedish-style massage session can reduce inflammation, which can help your muscles recover after a hard workout.

"What massage seems to do is ... it reduces the inflammatory response as a function of the damage you incurred while you're exercising," explained one of the study's authors Simon Melov, a molecular biologist at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.

He and the other researchers, including lead author Dr. Mark A. Tarnopolsky of McMaster University, had 11 healthy young male participants work out to their maximum capabilities on a stationary bike. They took muscle tissue samples from the legs of each study participant before and after the intense workout. They also took a third sample from one of the legs, after it had been subjected to a 10-minute massage.

They found that the post-workout tissue samples from massaged leg muscles were vastly different from those that didn't receive the massage. Namely, the massaged samples had less of a protein called NF-kB, which plays a role in creating an inflammatory response to exercise.

Reported the Los Angeles Times:

Massage also seemed to help cells recover by boosting amounts of another protein called PGC-1alpha, which spurs production of new mitochondria -- tiny organelles inside cells that are crucial for muscle energy generation and adaptation to endurance exercise.

To learn more, listen to Melov explain the research in this video:

Buck Institute Faculty Simon Melov, PhD, Discusses Recent Study on Molecular Benefits of Massage Therapy Following Exercise from Buck Institute on Vimeo.

Comments

[Susan Chasse]

01:28 PM on 01/04/2013

We cannot emphasize the benefits of massage enough! Great article! Thanks!!

[massageher]

11:46 AM on 06/06/2012

I agree, massage has many uses and relaxation is just one of them. I use www.massage-her.co.uk as a service that hits all the right spots for me.

[nova9sw]

02:02 AM on 02/10/2012

What were the other 8 benefits of massage?

[BabyParentingCoach]

05:34 PM on 02/09/2012

My favorite preventative modality! Also good for boosting immunity. The health benefit of massage are many and especially valuable if you like to take responsibility for your wellness.

[DocHeather]

06:57 PM on 02/06/2012

I have to agree. Massage is great for relaxation, immunity, and pain management. It might be all you need or maybe just a temporary fix. With all the low cost massage places popping up, hopefully more people will be doing it.

[racebird1k]

04:06 PM on 02/02/2012

i would give the lady in the pic a massage for free-hubba hubba. i would hit that at leat once

[DogDancer]

12:42 AM on 02/03/2012

Oh, come on, now. Geez.

[dpkjj]

03:41 PM on 02/02/2012

Of course it masage works - for arthritis and sciatica as well as post-workout soreness and other ailments as well. But will insurance cover it? No chance. By using therapeutic massage, chiropractic, supplements, neutraceuticals, tai chi, yoga, other exercise programs, meditation, spiritual healing, and other strategies I have avoided orthopedists (except for an initial evaluation). surgery, and heavy-duty pain meds. None of the former are covered by insurance - all of the latter would be - at considerably more cost. To say nothing of the fact that many, if not most, back surgeries fail, and that pain killers have side effects and can be addictive. This, of course, incurs even more costs.

This does not make sense at any level.

[Jessica Fager]

08:08 PM on 02/12/2012

Actually, a lot of insurance companies do cover massage as well as chiropractic visits. There may be limitations on how often but they usually will cover something.