Effect of Massage Therapy in Cortisol Level

This study evaluates the effect of a single session of Massage Therapy in salivary cortisol level. All participants were assessed on three conditions: Massage session, rest in supine position listening music, and under normal working conditions. The hypothesis of the investigators is that the effect of the massage action in reduction of cortisol is superior to only rest.

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Key information

Conditions

Asymptomatic State Asymptomatic Diseases Disease Attributes Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile

Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8380453, Chile

About this study

Several studies have postulated that one of the physiological markers of the effect of massage therapy is to reduce the level of cortisol, the "stress hormone". However it is not clear whether the effect is due to the manual action on the skin, or only by the relaxation induced rest. Therefore the variation of salivary cortisol in both conditions, and also in everyday working conditions was compared. Cortisol has a circadian cycle, with a maximum value upon awakening, which decreases during the morning; therefore a sample of saliva (in Salivette tube) it was collected in the three experimental conditions at the same hour time in the morning: 8:45(after intervention), and 9:30 and 10.30 (both, before).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Office/administrative workers of Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile.

Exclusion criteria

Musculoskeletal disease or injury in spine.
Body Mass Index over 35.
Smoking (over three cigars at day)
Depression.
Pregnancy
Corticosteroid treatment.
Skin wound or disease.
Intolerance to the prone position.

Treatment and study plan

Massage therapy

Other

It's a Physical Therapy manual procedure, based in Swedish technique, and applied in a standirzed way for all participants (stroke, kneading, pressure).

Rest in supine

Other

It's only rest, in a clinic stretcher, with warm ambient temperature, and listening relaxing music with headphones.

Primary outcomes

Change of Salivary Cortisol Level

Time frame: All participants were measured in three different condition, one week apart one each other. In each condition, three measurements were performed, in the morning

Data (a saliva sample in a Salivette (r) tube) were collected at: immediately before the intervention and placebo procedure, immediately after and later, one hour after. The control condition (normal working condition) was measured at the same hours (8:45 AM, 9.30 AM and 10.30 AM) in the workplace. After collected, were refrigerated.The three conditions (intervention, placebo and office work) were a week apart. Therefore, each participant had nine measurements. Determining the level of cortisol was performed by ELISA method, after all samples were collected.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Chile

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of a Single Session of Massage Therapy in Salivary Cortisol Levels in Asymptomatic Persons With Administrative Tasks and / or Office Work.

Acronym: MTCL

Important dates

Study start: 2014
Primary completion: 2014
Study completion: 2015
First posted: May 12, 2015
Registry last updated: May 12, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed