Table 3 Effects of mechanical and automated massage on psycho-physiological variables

Massage chair

Zullino et al. [53]

RT

Healthy 5 males and 5 females (age = 35.6 ± 7.9 years)

NR

NR

5 min of no massage followed by 3 different massages: Roll-stretch, shiatsu and beat—5 min each. No rest in-between

NR

–

STAI, SAM, EMG (gastrocnemius and frontalis), skin temperature and conductance

Significant difference found compared to no massage condition:

SAM valence: roll-stretch and shiatsu

EMG (gastrocnemius): roll-stretch and shiatsu

Conductance: shiatsu and beat

Temperature: roll-stretch and shiatsu

Muller et al. [38]

RCT

93 participants

–

NR

3 sessions each week for 8 weeks by each group

Each session 15 min

NR

5 groups:

G1—massage and mental training (n = 19)

G2—massage (n = 19)

G3—mental training (n = 19)

G4—pause (n = 19)

G5—CON (n = 17)

SSP with sub-scales: STA PSTA, SS, SD and D

After 8 weeks

STA: only G2 changed

SS: only G1 tended to change

NS found with PSTA, SD and D subscales with all 5 groups

Muller et al. [37]

RCT

93 participants

–

3 sessions each week for 8 weeks by each group

Each session 15 min

NR

5 groups:

G1—massage and mental training (n = 19)

G2—massage (n = 19)

G3—mental training (n = 19)

G4—pause (n = 19)

G5—CON (n = 17)

Taken at baseline, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks—3 times: HR, BP, Fingertip temperature

HR:

Significant differences:

After 4th week: G5 < G3 < G2 < G1 < G4

After 8th week: G3 < G2 < G5 < G4 < G1

SBP:

NS between groups

Significant decrease within each group after 4th week

DBP:

After 4th week: only G2 & G3

NS between groups after 8 weeks

Temperature:

After 4th week: G2 & G3 significantly decreased

After 8th week: only G2 increased; other groups unchanged

Lee et al. [25]

–

186 healthy subjects (age = 18–27 years)

–

full body

Single group pre-test and post-test design

MCT 20 min including squeezing, shiatsu, kneading, tapping, punching, vibration and heating

NR

–

Questionnaires (pre- and post-test):

(i) Marteau and Bekker’s (1992) [62] measure of anxiety and

(ii) an index of tranquillity

Post-massage anxiety < pre-massage anxiety, with a decrease of -1.04

Post-massage tranquillity > pre-massage tranquillity, with an increase of + 1.04

Lim et al. [27]

RCT, single crossover

25 subjects

–

All participants received each treatment once

Each session 20 min

1 treatment a day for up to 3 weeks with 1 day interval between treatments

Treatment A = CON

Treatment B = MCT

Treatment C = MCT + binaural beats

NR

3 treatment groups

Pre- and post-treatment data collection

(i) Cognitive test (memory and attention):

d2-test

digit span test

Corsi block-tapping test

Picture recognition test

Face recognition test

(ii) EEG (indices for mental fatigue inducing test)

EEG:

(i) theta/beta index: treatment C significantly reduced mental fatigue compared to A & B. NS between A & B treatments

(ii) theta + alpha/beta index: marginally significant reduction in treatment C compared to A & B

Cognitive test (significant improvement post-treatment):

(i) d2-test: only B & C

(ii) digit span test: only C

(iii) Corsi block-tapping test: NS between A, B&C

(iv) Picture recognition test: only C

(v) Face recognition test: only B & C

Willeke et al. [50]

RCT

69 females and 24 males (age = 47.6 ± 9.84 years)

–

3 sessions each week over 8 weeks for each group

Each session 15 min

Massage techniques NR

NR

5 groups:

G1—massage and mental training (n = 19)

G2—massage (n = 19)

G3—mental training (n = 19)

G4—pause (n = 19)

G5—CON (n = 17)

Taken at baseline, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks—3 times:

HRV (using ECG) and Cortisol (blood sample)

Taken only at baseline:

SBP

HRV:

NS between groups at baseline

NS within each group after 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Cortisol:

Only G2 showed significant ↓ between 4 and 8th week

Correlation of SBP with HRV and Cortisol:

(i) ↓ G2 HRV (suggesting lower SBP = stronger increase in HRV)

(ii) ↑ G3 cortisol (lower SBP = less decrease in cortisol)

Seung Kim et al. [22]

–

EG1: 13 males and 14 females (age = 48.40 ± 9.52 years)

EG2: 15 males and 16 females (age = 38.84 ± 9.68 years)

–

lower back

Each group 6 sessions in 3 weeks

Each session 20 min

EG1:

5 min USM + 5 min of TENS + 5 min ICT+

5 min hot pack application

EG2:

3 min of constant stretching + 5 min of vibration and stroke mode + 40℃ heating

NR

2 groups:

EG1: Physical therapy (PT)

EG2: Massage chair therapy (MCT)

Taken at baseline, after 1, 2 and 3 weeks after intervention—4 times: VAS, MPQ, FRI

Both PT and MCT group showed improvement after 3 weeks according to VAS, MPQ and FRI scores

Mechanical bed massage

Lee et al. [26]

–

139 subjects: 131 females and 8 males

–

L5-S1

Massage with heating at 50–55℃ for 40 min

Treatment duration  weeks

Treated 5 times/week

NR

–

At baseline, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks: HRV, cortisol, Norepinephrine and SSR

Compared to baseline:

HRV: significant changes after 2 weeks, but NS after 4 weeks

Cortisol: significant decrease after 2 weeks, NS after 4 weeks

Norepinephrine: significant decrease after 4 weeks

SSR: significant changes after 2 and 4 weeks

Do Kim et al. [21]

RCT

15 males (age = 26.2 ± 2.68 years)

13 females (age = 18.6 ± 1.1 years)

–

–

20 min

NR

2 groups: CON & EG

TE, EMG, HRV, EEG, STAI, VAS-10

HRV: SM↓ > CON, CM↓ > CON and NS between SM & CM

EEG (alpha and beta): CM↓

STAI: CON↓ > SM↓ > CM↓

VAS: CON↓ > SM↓, CON↓ > CM↓ and NS between SM & CM

Zhong et al. [52]

RCT

Athletes:

EG: 6 males (age = 20.2 ± 0.6 years)

CON: 6 males (age = 18.6 ± 1.1 years)

Lower back

20 min Kneading

–

2 groups: CON & EG

VAS-10, HRV, BME

Immediately post-intervention:

VAS: CON↑ > EG ↑

HRV: NS

24 h post-intervention:

VAS: CON ↓ > EG ↓

HRV: NS

Vibration massage

Yang et al.[67]

RCT

40 subjects

–

lower back (lumbar vertebrae)

Both EG and CON group 3 sessions/week

Total duration: 6 weeks

–

2 groups:

1. EG: WBV with lumbar stability training

2. CON: only lumbar stability training

VAS for chronic LBP

VAS score: EG > CON

Wang et al. [66] 

RCT

99 patients of Knee Osteoarthritis (age = 61.5 ± 9.1 years)

–

Knee

Both EG and CON group 5 sessions/week

Total duration: 24 weeks

–

2 groups:

1.EG: WBV with QSE

2.CON: Only QSE

VAS for knee pain

Ramalingam et al. [65]

RCT

100 males

2 groups of 50:

1. EG (age = 21.80 ± 1.62 years)

2. CON (age = 22.40 ± 1.98 years)

–

Muscles: gastrocnemius muscle and tibialis anterior

Vibration massage for 2 min activated at 30 min interval within 2 h treatment session

Frequency = 30 Hz

2 groups: EG & CON

Borg's scale measurement to assess comfort

Scores recorded at 0th, 15th, 30th, 60th, 75th, 90th, 105th, and 120th min of the 2-h session

Significant progressive improvement in the calf region for EG compared to CON

Robotic massage

Peng et al. [41]

–

1 healthy male

NR

Back muscles

Pushing, picking-up and kneading

Session time NR

NR

–

HR, breathing rate, skin temperature

↓ HR

NS: Breathing rate and temperature

Lei et al. [64]

CT

30 patients with lumber muscle strain

NR

Latissimus dorsi and erector spinae

Rolling, thumb kneading, pinching, pressing and vibrating

Each technique 3 times with 5 min interval

NR

–

Lumber PPT

Lumber strain VAS-10

↓ Lumber sensitivity

↓ Lumber strain