It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that massage therapy can help improve sleep.
Quality sleep is vital to health and wellness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
“Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions—such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression—which threaten our nation’s health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome. Moreover, insufficient sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related crashes, causing substantial injury and disability each year. In short, drowsy driving can be as dangerous—and preventable—as driving while intoxicated.”
It is estimated that 50 to 70 million Americans experience sleep issues that affect their health.
Research is indicating that massage can improve sleep in:
- children and adolescents
- those with psychiatric disorders
- those who are hospitalized or institutionalized
- those with lower back pain
- adults
- those with cerebral palsy
- those with fibromyalgia
- those with insominia
- those in pain
- those with hand pain
- those with cancer
- infants
- infants with dyssomnia
- those who have had heart surgery
- those with breast disease
- those with migraines
- caretakers of hospitalized individuals
- the elderly
