(HealthDay News) -- Hand and foot massages can help console bereaved people, Swedish researchers have found.
The study included 18 people, aged 34 to 78, who'd just lost a relative to cancer. They were offered a 25-minute hand or foot massage once a week for eight weeks and could choose whether to have their massages at home, work or in a hospital.
Nine participants chose foot massage, eight chose hand massage, and one had both types of massages. Only three had previously received a soft-tissue massage.
"Soft-tissue massage is gentle, but firm. This activates touch receptors, which then release oxytocin, a hormone known for its positive effects on well-being and relaxation," study lead author Dr. Berit S. Cronfalk, of the palliative care provider Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, said in a news release. Read more...
