Durability of effect of massage therapy on blood pressure

Pre-hypertension is considered as a cardiovascular disease predicator. Management of pre-hypertension is an appropriate objective for clinicians in a wide range of medical centers. Treatment of pre-hypertension is primarily non-pharmacological, one of which is massage therapy that is used to control the BP. This study aimed to evaluate the survival effect of Swedish massage [face, neck, shoulders, and chest] on BP of the women with pre-hypertension. This was a single-blind clinical trial study. Fifty pre-hypertensive women selected by simple random sampling which divided into control and test groups. The test group [25 patients] received Swedish massage 10-15 min, 3 times a week for 10 sessions and the control groups [25 patients] also were relaxed at the same environment with receiving no massage. Their BP was measured before and after each session and 72 h after finishing the massage therapy. Analyzing the data was done using descriptive and inferential statistical methods [Chi- square, Mann-Whitney, paired t-test and Student t-test] through SPSS software. The results indicated that mean systolic and diastolic BP in the massage group was significantly lower in comparison with the control group [P < 0.001]. Evaluation of durability of the massage effects on BP also indicated that 72 h after finishing the study, still there was a significant difference between the test and control groups in systolic and diastolic BP [P < 0.001]. Findings of the study indicated that massage therapy was a safe, effective, applicable and cost-effective intervention in controlling BP of the pre-hypertension women and it can be used in the health care centers and even at home