I don’t know about medical professionals, but my informal impression that the majority of adults in developed countries knows that massage reduces stress.
Personal perspective, not grounded in research: Similar to yoga or walking, I think the main issue is the counterfactual. Studies tend to show that massage is better than nothing for stress reduction, but is nothing really the baseline we want to use?
Research suggests that massage therapy can be effective in reducing stress levels. Multiple studies have found that massage can significantly decrease self-reported stress and anxiety (Françoise Labrique-Walusis et al., 2010; C. Heard et al., 2012; Bost & Wallis, 2006). Even brief interventions, such as a 5-minute hand or foot massage or a 15-minute weekly massage, can lower perceived stress levels (Françoise Labrique-Walusis et al., 2010; Bost & Wallis, 2006). Mechanical massage chairs have also shown promise in reducing stress for individuals with serious mental illness (C. Heard et al., 2012). While some studies have observed single-treatment reductions in physiological stress markers like salivary cortisol and heart rate, evidence for sustained physiological effects is limited (Moraska et al., 2008). Despite the need for more rigorous research, the existing literature suggests that massage therapy can be a beneficial tool for stress management, particularly in healthcare settings (Françoise Labrique-Walusis et al., 2010; Bost & Wallis, 2006).
I don’t know about medical professionals, but my informal impression that the majority of adults in developed countries knows that massage reduces stress.
Personal perspective, not grounded in research: Similar to yoga or walking, I think the main issue is the counterfactual. Studies tend to show that massage is better than nothing for stress reduction, but is nothing really the baseline we want to use?
Here is a research summary from Elicit: