25/06/2026
Research Spotlight 🔍
Each week I'll be sharing interesting research relevant to massage, reflexology, wellbeing and complementary therapies. Here is the first Research Spotlight. Let me know what you think?
What does the research say about supportive touch?
A 2024 review published in Nature Human Behaviour examined 212 studies involving touch-based interventions, including massage, human touch, weighted blankets and other forms of tactile support.
The review found that touch interventions were associated with benefits for pain, anxiety and depression, with human touch showing particularly strong effects for mental wellbeing.
This doesn't mean massage or reflexology are a cure, and they should never replace appropriate medical care. However, it does support something many people already recognise from experience: safe, therapeutic touch can play an important role in wellbeing.
In my practice, I often see people carrying far more tension than they realise. Sometimes the greatest benefit of treatment is not just physical relief, but creating space for the body and mind to slow down, relax and reset.
What are your thoughts? Do you think supportive touch is an important part of wellbeing?
www.fusion-therapies.co.uk
Source:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-01841-8