Original Massage Therapy Research Papers

by Tim H. Tanaka, Ph.D., RMT, Director of The Pacific Wellness Institute

The effect of massage on localized lumbar muscle fatigue.

Tanaka TH, Leisman G, Mori H, Nishijo K.  BMC Complement Altern Med. 2002 Oct 14;2:9. 

There is not enough evidence to support the efficacy of massage for muscle fatigue despite wide utilization of the modality in various clinical settings. This study investigated the influence of massage application on localized back muscle fatigue.  Free Pubmed Abstract Here

Effect of massage on blood flow and muscle fatigue following isometric lumbar exercise.

Mori H, Ohsawa H, Tanaka TH, et al.,  Med Sci Monit. 2004 May;10(5):CR173-8. Epub 2004 Apr 28.

This study attempted to investigate the influence of massage on the skin and the intramuscular circulatory changes associated with localized muscle fatigue. Free Pubmed Abstract Here