Thai massage: effects on body and mind according to studies

What happens during a Thai massage

You lie fully clothed on a mat. The therapist presses with thumbs, the heels of the hands, elbows and feet along set lines and moves your arms, legs and torso into stretches you could hardly reach on your own. The sequence is described step by step in Traditional Thai massage: sequence, effects, what makes it special.

A difference few people know about: in Thailand there are two schools. The folk style works with the whole body and a lot of stretching. The court style, once taught at the royal court, uses only the hands and thumbs and keeps more distance. It is exactly this court style that was tested for headaches in one of the studies below.

Effects on the body

Chronic pain

A systematic review found six controlled studies on Thai massage for chronic pain. In all of them, pain decreased after treatment, by a quarter to four fifths depending on the study. There were also fewer limitations in everyday life, less muscle tension and more mobility. In some studies the effect lasted up to 15 weeks.

The caveat belongs here too: these were few, small studies, and rarely with a strong comparison treatment. The direction is consistent, but the exact size of the effect is unclear.

Tension headache

In a study of 60 people with chronic tension headache, half received 45 minutes of court-style massage twice a week for four weeks, and the other half a common preventive medication. In the massage group, pain fell more clearly, and the muscle tissue was measurably softer. It is a single study without blinding, but an interesting comparison, because the control was not doing nothing.

Mobility

After just one 30-minute session, people with back pain in one study were measurably more mobile than a comparison group that only lay quietly. That fits with the many passive stretches.

Effects on the mind

In the same study with 36 participants, anxiety and perceived muscle tension fell after 30 minutes of Thai massage, but not in the resting group. At the same time, heart rate variability rose.

Heart rate variability describes how much the interval between two heartbeats varies. A relaxed body varies more, while a stressed one beats more uniformly. Among other things, the share that reflects the recovery nerve, the parasympathetic system, had risen. The headache study also found this increase. It is an objective sign of relaxation, not just a feeling.

What this does not mean: Thai massage is not a treatment for depression or anxiety disorders. The effect was measured directly after the session. How long it lasts has hardly been studied.

What is not proven

• Energy lines: The ten main lines of Thai teaching, called Sen, cannot be demonstrated anatomically. The pressure along the lines still reaches muscles, and you feel that.
• Detoxification: Massage does not release toxins or waste products. Drinking a lot afterwards does no harm, but it is not necessary.
• More pain, more effect: There is no evidence for this. Why it sometimes hurts anyway is explained in Why does Thai massage hurt?

When you should be careful

Tell the therapist before the massage if you have osteoporosis, artificial joints, recent surgery, an acute slipped disc, thrombosis, varicose veins, take blood thinners or are pregnant. The therapist will then leave out stretches or work more gently. If you have a fever or an infection, postpone the appointment.

Sudden severe head or neck pain, dizziness, visual disturbances or numbness after a massage are an emergency. Call 112 immediately.

How often makes sense?

In the studies, even single sessions had an effect. The programmes for chronic pain usually ran over several weeks with one or two appointments per week. You can find a guideline for everyday life in How often can you have a Thai massage?

Thai massage or massage chair?

A massage chair does not replace the stretches of a Thai massage. It is suited to what is missing between two appointments: regular pressure on the back, neck and calves, with no appointment and no journey. If you are in Hamburg, you can try this for an hour at the NAIPO Relax Lounge.

Frequently asked questions

How long do the effects of a Thai massage last?

The relaxation is strongest immediately afterwards. For chronic pain, some studies found an effect lasting several weeks after a series of treatments.

Does Thai massage help with back pain?

Small studies suggest so, especially with tense muscles. With numbness, paralysis or pain after an accident, your back should be examined by a doctor first.

How does it differ from a classic massage?

No oil, fully clothed on a mat, plus lots of stretches. You can read the detailed comparison in The difference between a normal massage and Thai massage.

Sources

• Keeratitanont K, Jensen MP, Chatchawan U, Auvichayapat P (2015): The efficacy of traditional Thai massage for the treatment of chronic pain: A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.01.006
• Buttagat V, Eungpinichpong W, Chatchawan U, Kharmwan S (2011): The immediate effects of traditional Thai massage on heart rate variability and stress-related parameters in patients with back pain associated with myofascial trigger points. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.06.005
• Damapong P, Kanchanakhan N, Eungpinichpong W et al. (2015): A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Court-Type Traditional Thai Massage versus Amitriptyline in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. doi:10.1155/2015/930175

This article does not replace medical advice.