Randomised trial, 2000
Does massage therapy help premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms?
Massage therapy reduced anxiety, depressed mood, and pain right after sessions. Over 5 weeks, it reduced pain and water retention but did not improve mood or activity level long-term.
What they did
24 women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder were randomly assigned to receive either massage therapy or relaxation therapy. Symptoms were measured immediately after sessions and over 5 weeks.
What they found
After the first and last massage sessions, women had less anxiety, depressed mood, and pain. Over 5 weeks, massage reduced pain, water retention, and overall menstrual distress. However, mood and activity level did not improve over the longer term.
What it means for you
Massage may help with pain and water retention, especially in the short term. This was a very small study with only 24 women, so we need larger studies to be sure it works.
24
Women in study
5 weeks
Follow-up period
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual symptoms are relieved by massage therapy
- Authors
- Hernandez-Reif M, Martinez A, Field T et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Massage therapy compared to relaxation therapy
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674820009075603
Topics
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