EVANSTON, Ill. , Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- During National Massage Therapy Awareness Week ® , the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is sharing a recent wave of research highlighting the benefits of massage therapy throughout pregnancy and labor .
These studies demonstrate how massage therapy can reduce pain, ease insomnia, improve mental health, and enhance overall comfort during pregnancy and childbirth. Collectively, these findings suggest that massage therapy is a promising, non-pharmacological option for reducing symptoms during pregnancy and labor. "The growing body of research continues to reveal the many benefits of massage therapy during pregnancy and labor," said Kim Kane-Santos , AMTA National President.
"As part of an integrative approach to care, massage serves as a valuable non-invasive tool to help manage troubling symptoms during these critical stages." Massage Therapy Reduces Pain and Anxiety During Labor In a recent randomized clinical trial, researchers aimed to determine the most effective cervical dilation stage for applying massage therapy to reduce labor pain and anxiety. Sixty women in active labor were randomly assigned to either a massage group or a control group.
The massage group received three 20-minute massages at 5, 7, and 9 cm of cervical dilation, while the control group received standard care without massage. Pain intensity was measured using a pain ruler, and anxiety levels were assessed through questionnaires. The findings ind.