Pilot Study
Research on stress management
For the purpose of proving that massage and aromatherapy are effective tools in a holistic stress management therapy program, a pilot study was undertaken and completed successfully, using the employees of a large corporation as test subjects.
In one study conducted by the Touch Research Institute in Miami, massage therapists gave 15-minute massages to workers on the job twice a week for five weeks. At the end of the five-week period, the workers reported less job stress and were less depressed. The same study also found that after a massage, the workers completed math problems in less time and with fewer errors. Therefore, it turns out that you can function better if you have reduced stress. The Miami study was a departure point for our own study although we could not exactly replicate it since we did not have access to ECG equipment, a laboratory or brain scanning equipment. For this reason we measured short-term memory rather than concentration as well as Cardiac Output and Mean Arterial Pressure (Quantitative Results). We also tested the impact of therapy on Physical and Emotional Stress, Depression, Anxiety and Sleep Disorders (Qualitative Results).
The study comprised a test group and a control group. Both groups were screened for a profile of stress related conditions such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression as well as physical and emotional symptoms of stress. Only those who were identified as suffering from any of these conditions were chosen for the study. The test group received therapy for 15 minutes twice weekly, their Blood Pressure, Pulse and Short Term Memory was tested before and after each session. They regularly completed screening questionnaires to monitor their progress. They were absent from their workstations for only 30 minutes, twice weekly. The study produced positive results in various areas.
Continue reading: Screening Questionnares
Extracts from pilot study report
- Screening Questionnares
- K10 Anxiety And Depression Scale
- Insomnia Questionnare
- Zung Depression Questionnare
- Emotional Stress Questionnare
- Phyisical Stress Questionnare
- Blood Pressure and Pulse Profile
- Results Of Cardiac Output
- Short Term Memory Profile
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