The effect of six weeks of massage therapy on immune and inflammatory markers in overweight and obese women
Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1565-12THCONG
Authors
Exercise Physiology, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran.
Abstract
Studies have shown evidence for many of the physiological effects of massage, such as its ability to relax skeletal muscle (1), increase blood and lymph circulation (2), and reduce anxiety (3). The immunological effects of massage therapy, however, particularly in healthy individuals, have received little attention.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of six weeks of massage therapy on immune and inflammatory markers in overweight and obese women.
Twenty-one healthy women, mean age 32.1 ± 5.4 years and BMI= 29.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2, volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into massage therapy (n=11) and control (n=10) groups. The massage program was performed on the massage therapy group for 6 weeks and three sessions per week. Blood samples were taken before and after the intervention. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophils (Nut), lymphocytes (Lym), monocytes (Mon), platelets (PLT) count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured also Nut to Lym and PLT to Lym ratios were determined.
The results showed that there were no significant differences in WBC, Nut, Lym, Mon, PLT, Nut to Lym and PLT to Lym ratios and serum CRP levels between the two groups (p>0.05). Also, in the massage therapy group the number of Lym and Mon significantly increased and the ratio of PLT to Lym significantly decreased compared to the pre-test (p<0.05).
According to the results of this study, it seems that massage therapy does limited effects on the immune and inflammatory markers in overweight and obese women.
Twenty-one healthy women, mean age 32.1 ± 5.4 years and BMI= 29.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2, volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into massage therapy (n=11) and control (n=10) groups. The massage program was performed on the massage therapy group for 6 weeks and three sessions per week. Blood samples were taken before and after the intervention. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophils (Nut), lymphocytes (Lym), monocytes (Mon), platelets (PLT) count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured also Nut to Lym and PLT to Lym ratios were determined.
The results showed that there were no significant differences in WBC, Nut, Lym, Mon, PLT, Nut to Lym and PLT to Lym ratios and serum CRP levels between the two groups (p>0.05). Also, in the massage therapy group the number of Lym and Mon significantly increased and the ratio of PLT to Lym significantly decreased compared to the pre-test (p<0.05).
According to the results of this study, it seems that massage therapy does limited effects on the immune and inflammatory markers in overweight and obese women.
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