Massage Therapy of Electrical Chair-Massager Effects on EEG Patterns

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of EEG patterns induced by three types ((1) resting mode(control group), (2) light massage mode, (3) strong massage mode in the electrical chair-massager for 15 minutes) in a sample of 16 healthy adults. Changes in anxiety and stress were assessed, and electroencephalogram was recorded. Anxiety scores(STAI: State Anxiety Inventory, VAS: Visual Analog Scale) decreased in all groups. For anxiety scores, the strong massage group showed the greatest decrease in stress. All groups also showed an increase in delta and theta activity, but only strong massage group showed a signigicant difference. All groups showed a decrease in alpha activity. Also, EEG changes in two groups except a control group showed a decrease in beta activity.