Therapy relieves stress

By Dion Teasdale
THE positive effects of massage therapy on a number of work-related conditions will be the focus of this year’s Massage Therapy Week.
Run by the Australian Association of Massage Therapy (AAMT), this year’s Massage Therapy Week will be held from 4 to 11 September, and will highlight the benefits of corporate massage.
Geoff Waldron, president of AAMT, said massage therapists are seeing the physical results of stress and injuries related to the workplace on a daily basis.
“Introducing massage as part of staff wellness programs is a smart way for employers to balance health with working life – and there are benefits for both employee as well as employer,” he said.
“Across Australia many of our members will be hosting talks, providing hands-on massage to both corporations and the general community and holding events to demonstrate the health benefits of corporate massage.”
A corporate Massage Therapy trial conducted over a six-week period in June and July by the AAMT in conjunction with Toll Ipec’s Call Centre, has delivered extremely encouraging results, Mr Waldron.
Ten staff members received seated corporate massage for 10 minutes, once a week, for six weeks.
Compared with a control group who did not receive massage therapy, by the end of the trial there was on average a decrease of 38 per cent in neck, shoulder or arm pain, a 27 per cent decrease in reported incidence of lack of productivity and a 14.3 per cent decrease in headaches.
Eight of the respondents who received massage said they experienced many positive benefits from the trial and wanted it to continue, while the same number felt less stiffness, tension or pain following the massage therapy program.
The periods of lack of concentration experienced by this group also decreased by 78 per cent compared with an actual increase of 12.5 per cent in the control group.
“The response to the massage therapy program was overwhelming,” National Contact Centre team leader from Toll Ipec, Ashley Bone said.
“Each Wednesday after everyone had their massage, the place was humming! As a result there has been a renewed sense of wellbeing and energy in the centre which I haven’t seen before.”
Mr Waldron said employers see increased productivity when they offer massage in the workplace and the recipients report less muscle tension, lower stress and anxiety, reduction of pain and stiffness and inflammation in joint and soft tissue.
A recent study by Medibank Private found that healthy workers are three times more productive than those who define themselves as having poor health – taking on average 18 sick days a year as compared to two for those who describe themselves as having good health.
Massage therapists performing massage therapy in the workplace usually provide their own mobile massage chair or table and concentrate on back, shoulders, neck and arms. The client stays fully clothed and a session generally lasts 10 -15 minutes.
Visit www.aamt.com.au for more information, to find a therapist and for upcoming events for Massage Therapy Week in your area.