A Model for the Mechanism of Action of Massage

描述(申请人提供)：按摩疗法是增长最快的补充和替代医疗疗法之一，在1990-1997年间，去看按摩治疗师的人数增加了36%，估计每年的费用为40-60亿美元。据称，它可以改善血液循环，增强放松，减少焦虑、抑郁和疼痛的症状，以及刺激幸福感。据报道，按摩疗法对一系列疾病有各种各样的治疗好处，包括疼痛综合征、关节炎、纤维肌痛、注意力缺陷障碍、创伤后应激障碍、抑郁症、哮喘、艾滋病毒感染和乳腺癌。然而，尽管它被广泛使用，但人们对按摩疗法的作用机制知之甚少，白宫补充和替代医学政策委员会(2002)呼吁增加对按摩疗法作用机制和疗效的研究。根据这一建议，这项建议的目标是产生试验数据，研究按摩疗法的作用机制。我们的工作假设是，按摩会导致血浆催产素水平上升。这种催产素分泌的增加将导致基础皮质醇水平下降，副交感神经张力增加，免疫功能增强，以及焦虑和抑郁程度的降低。该项目的具体目的是收集正常志愿者的初步数据，调查：(1)按摩对内分泌、副交感神经张力、免疫功能以及抑郁、焦虑和幸福感指标的即时和累积影响；以及(2)按摩剂量/频率对这些指标的影响。拟议的研究结果将有助于将现有的临床和基础科学研究结果联系起来，并有助于未来研究在病理条件下按摩的治疗效果的机制。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Massage therapy is one of the fastest growing complementary and alternative medical therapies, with a 36% increase in visits to massage therapists between 1990-1997, and an estimated cost of $4-6 billion annually. It is purported to improve circulation, enhance relaxation, decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain, as well as stimulate feelings of well-being. Massage therapy is reported to have a myriad of treatment benefits for a wide array of disorders, including pain syndromes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, attention deficit disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, depression, asthma, HIV infection, and breast cancer. However, despite its widespread use, little is known about the mechanism of action of massage therapy, and the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy (2002) has called for increased research investigating the mechanism of action and efficacy of massage therapy. In accordance with this recommendation, the goal of this proposal is to generate pilot data investigating the mechanism of action of massage therapy. Our working hypothesis is that massage will cause an increase in plasma levels of oxytocin. This increase in oxytocin secretion will be responsible for a decrease in basal cortisol levels, an increase in parasympathetic tone, enhanced immune function, as well as decreased measures of anxiety and depression. The specific aims of this project are to gather preliminary data in normal volunteers investigating: (1) The immediate and cumulative effects of massage on endocrine, parasympathetic tone, immune function, and measures of depression, anxiety and well-being; and (2) The effects of the dosage/frequency of massage on these measures. The results of the proposed studies will serve to link existing clinical and basic science findings, as well as facilitate future investigations of the mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of massage in pathological conditions.