A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Massage Therapy As a Treatment for Migraine

study

2006 randomized, controlled trial on massage therapy as a treatment for migraine.

Purpose

To replicate and extend the findings of an earlier study using a larger sample, additional stress-related indicators, and assessments past the final session to identify longer-term effects of massage therapy on stress and migraine experiences.

Methods

47 Migraine sufferers who were randomly assigned to massage or control conditions completed daily assessments of migraine experiences and sleep patterns for 13 weeks. Massage participants attended weekly massage sessions during Weeks 5 to 10. State anxiety, heart rates, and salivary cortisol were assessed before and after the sessions. Perceived stress and coping efficacy were assessed at Weeks 4, 10, and 13

Results

Compared to control participants, massage participants exhibited greater improvements in migraine frequency and sleep quality during the intervention weeks and the 3 follow-up weeks. Trends for beneficial effects of massage therapy on perceived stress and coping efficacy were observed. During sessions, massage induced decreases in state anxiety, heart rate, and cortisol.

Conclusion

The findings provide preliminary support for the utility of massage therapy as a nonpharmacologic treatment for individuals suffering from migraines. The size of the sample, difference in treatment administered from therapist to therapist, and a lack of a double blind study should be considered when applying the results to other groups.

link to full study

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Massage Therapy As a Treatment for Migraine