On-Site Massage has become the fastest growing employee wellness benefit for the workplace. It is a safe, convenient, and cost effective means of boosting employee moral and increasing effectiveness.
“A growing number of US firms are curbing employee stress by offereing free or low-cost massage right at the office” _USA Today
Effects of stress and elevated stress hormone levels on the body:
- Increases heart rate
- Releases stress hormones, suppressing the immune system and healthy endocrine function
- Activates fight/flight response of the nervous system
- Alters respiration rate
- Adrenaline released taxes the kidneys and adrenals
- Impedes the natural healing process through suppressing the formation of new connective tissue
In a 5 week study comparing a 26
person group receiving 2 chair massages per week,
verses a 24 person control group that relaxed in a
chair for the same amount of time. the massaged adults
exhibited the following benefits from their bi-weekly
sessions:
- Increased and enhanced alertness from decreased alpha and beta brain waves.
- Increased relaxation from increased delta brain waves
- Math problems were completed in significantly less time with fewer errors after the massage.
- Decreased anxiety levels from a lowering of cortisol (stress hormones). Job stress levels were also lower at the end of the 5 week period.
- Enhanced immune function- less illness & sickness reported among massaged adults.
Disorders exacerbated by
stress:
|
Benefits of Massage for
employers;
|
~ Published by the International Journal of Neuroscience, v86, 1996: 197-205.
Milia Lando: Massage Therapist. 828 335 1707