Reducing stress with onsite massage therapy

The American Institute of Stress estimates that stress in the workplace costs U.S. corporations over $300 billion annually.

Many companies in high-stress industries or those with a strong culture of wellness are turning to massage therapy to calm workers' nerves, enhance productivity and preserve a healthy bottom line.

"Massage therapy benefits every system in the body. It reduces blood pressure, it aids relaxation, it improves posture, it fosters faster healing of strained muscles, it helps relieve tension, headaches and eye strain, it reduces levels of anxiety, it satisfies the need for caring, nurturing touch and it increases the mind body connection," says Marilyn Kier, licensed massage therapist, Wellness at Work, LLC.

It also helps with depression, enhances the health and nourishment of skin, encourages deeper breathing and strengthens the immune system, she explains.

According to a 1993 study by Dr. Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute of the Miami School of Medicine, massage can lower anxiety and improve productivity.

The experimental group who had massages showed more relaxation, less stress, and preformed better on math computations following the massage.

Other studies chronicled on the American Massage Therapy Association website show that recipients of onsite chair massages had a significant reduction in blood pressure after the massage, lowered anxiety and tension levels, as well as reduced pain intensity.

Further, relaxation levels and overall mood state improved after treatments in one study.

"When companies bring massage in, it does boost morale, increase productivity and lower stress," Kier says. Her team helps employees achieve better ergonomics and posture and shows employees how stretch at their desk.

To counter arguments that massage can be a distraction from employees' work, Kier notes such therapy has been shown to improve productivity, and that massage increases endorphins (nature's painkillers), which make people feel happier and more alert.

There's no need to convince employers - let alone employees - of the benefits of massage; research and media coverage have made its advantages known, says Kier.

In fact, says she often has employers calling her because a competitor offers a program, adding that a massage program is a great way to attract and retain top talent and increase the bottom line.

"It's one thing in our line [of benefits and perks] for attracting new people and keeping current workers happy," Kevin Nitz, operations manager at Prospect Mortgage Company, says of its massage program, which subsidizes half the cost of 20-minute in-office chair massages once a month.

"You get a lot of bang for buck from the loyalty and happiness you get from the employee," Nitz adds. "It helps them relieve some stress, and it's only 20 minutes," he says. Ultimately, the employees are happier, and when they're happier, they get a lot more done.

"Massage is one of the benefits that people really want; it's a really desired service, and we never have trouble filling slots for it," says Kevin Herman, director of worksite wellness for Horton Health Initiatives, an employee benefits administrator and a division of The Horton Group.

"I always find myself recharged to go back to work. It helps you feel better, whether you're sitting a lot or active, and it can make you more flexible at work. It's a temporary, relaxing thing that gives you an additional boost in productivity throughout the course of the day," Herman adds.

Horton Health Initiatives uses massage as a reward for other wellness or worksite activities.

Along with weight loss programs, smoking cessation programs, health screenings and walking programs, massage therapy is a key component of an overall wellness program, Herman says, while qualifying that he "would never say that massage therapy alone is going to reduce medical costs."

Still, with massage as part of its overall wellness program, he notes Horton has experienced fewer sick days.

To begin, Herman advises employers try a massage program on a limited basis, such as at a wellness fair or offer it as an employee cost or with cost-sharing.

Programs vary, and a professional can visit the office once a week, twice a month, once a month or a custom amount. The subsidy also varies, but programs are most successful when employers pay the full amount.

Kier advises employers to check with AMTA for a qualified massage therapist in their area at www.findamassagetherapist.org.

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