seize the daylight savings opportunity; massage therapy can help reduce winter blues | reuters

7/21/2019 Seize the Daylight Savings Opportunity; Massage Therapy Can Help Reduce Winter Blues | Reuters

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/seize-the-daylight-savings-opportunity-massage-therapy-can-help-reduce-winter 1/3

Seize the Daylight Savings Opportunity; Massage Therapy

Can Help Reduce Winter Blues | Reuters

One in five Americans are impacted by seasonal change

Massage therapy shown to improve mood and elevate energy levels

PR Newswire

EVANSTON, Ill., Oct. 29, 2015

EVANSTON, Ill., Oct. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- People looking to fend off the winter blues may find

relief by integrating massage therapy into their health maintenance routine. Shorter days and colder

temperatures leave many Americans feeling depressed and lethargic, yet studies show that regular

massages improve mood and reset circadian rhythms, leading to better sleep and more energy.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is recognized as a major depressive disorder with seasonal

patterns. A less severe form of seasonal mood disorder, known as the winter blues, impacts an even

larger portion of the population. Combined, the two disorders affect as many as one in five

Americans, and may be aggravated by the change to Daylight Savings Time.i Symptoms include

reduced energy, difficulty rising in the morning and a tendency to eat more, especially sweets and

starches.ii

"As we approach the colder, darker months, massage therapy may be an effective method of

deflecting common seasonal challenges," said Jeff Smoot, President of the American Massage

Therapy Association (AMTA). "Massage benefits the way our bodies react to negative influences,whether that's weather, anxieties or disorders."

A growing body of research is documenting the impact of massage therapy for relief of anxiety and

depression for people in a wide range of health situations. For example, in a controlled study

composed of HIV-positive adolescents, participants who received massage therapy reported feeling

less anxious and less depressed by the end of the 12-week study.iii

A randomized study found women with stage 1 and 2 breast cancer benefited from regular massage

therapy sessions. The immediate massage benefits included reduced anxiety, depressed mood and

anger while the long-term impact reduced depression and increased serotonin values.iv Serotonin, aneurotransmitter with functions in various parts of the body, works to regulate mood, appetite,

sleep, memory and learning. Massage therapy was also found to improve sleep, specifically by

assisting with circadian rhythms, or the body clock. A study investigating the effects of massage

therapy on the adjustment of rest to activity, as well as melatonin secretion rhythms in full-term

infants, found massage therapy enhanced coordination of the circadian system.v

Find a Massage Therapist Near You

A qualified massage therapist can play an important role in health and wellness. Individuals should

consult with a professional massage therapist to determine the best massage therapy approach fortheir specific needs. By meeting or exceeding state training requirements, ascribing to a code of

ethics and participating in continuing education, AMTA massage therapists are appropriate

additions to any wellness regimen and create specialized approaches based on individual conditions,



fitness and goals.

To find a massage therapist near you, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the most

trusted name in massage therapy, offers a free professional massage therapist locator service at

www.findamassagetherapist.org.

Contact:

Ron Precht

[email protected]

500 Davis Street, Suite 900

Evanston, IL 60201

Ph: 847-905-1649

About The American Massage Therapy Association

The American Massage Therapy Association, the

most respected name in massage therapy, is the

largest non-profit, professional association serving

massage therapists, massage students and

massage schools. The association is directed by

volunteer leadership and fosters ongoing, directmember-involvement through its 51 chapters.

AMTA works to advance the profession through

ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and

consistent licensing of massage therapists in all

states, and public education on the benefits of

massage.

References:

i Targum SD, Rosenthal N. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2008;5(5):31-33.

ii Targum SD, Rosenthal N. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2008;5(5):31-33.

iii Diego, M., Field, T., Hernandez-reif, M., Shaw, K., Friedman, L., & Ironson, G. (2001). Hiv

Adolescents Show Improved Immune Function Following Massage Therapy. International Journal of

Neuroscience, 35-45.

iv Hernandezreif, M. (2004). Breast Cancer Patients Have Improved Immune And Neuroendocrine

Functions Following Massage Therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 45-52.

v Ferber, S., Laudon, M., Kuint, J., Weller, A., & Zisapel, N. (2002). Massage Therapy by Mothers

Enhances the Adjustment of Circadian Rhythms to the Nocturnal Period in Full-Term Infants. Journal

of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 410-415.



To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seiz-

-the-daylight-savings-opportunity-massage-therapy-can-help-reduce-winter-blues-300168479.html

SOURCE American Massage Therapy Association

seize the daylight savings opportunity; massage therapy can help reduce winter blues | reuters

Documents