Some studies have shown improvement in insomnia following an anti-stress massage.
In a recent pilot study to investigate the benefits of massage in people with insomnia, the present research group found improvement in sleep patterns by polysomnography, including a significant decrease in REM latency and sleep stage 1, and a significant increase in sleep stages 3 and 4, in addition to significant improvement in anxiety and depression. The study included use of a Sleep Diary, which enabled subjective evaluation.
Sleep Diary analysis indicated that all participants fell asleep faster, experienced improved quality of sleep and felt better upon waking. Finding a significant decrease in depression, insomnia and increased quality of life. This indicates an improvement in sleep quality.
Massage act on receptors for touch, pressure, heat, vibration, and pain and are transduced via the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems to the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain). The triggering of neurochemical reactions such as relaxation, improved sleep, tranquility, wellbeing, decreased heart rate and breathing, peristalsis, increased diuresis, dysmenorrhea reduction, and restoration of homeostasis can be clinically observed.
The findings from this line of research support the potential of massage as a therapeutic tool to improve sleep quality.