Trial reportBMC complementary medicine and therapies2025
Massage positively influences daytime brain activity and reduces arousal state in poor sleepers: a randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06780072 (The Acute Effect of Manual Massage Therapy on Daytime Napping in Poor Sleepers), which is not on this map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
The Acute Effect of Manual Massage Therapy on Daytime Napping in Poor Sleepers
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effectiveness of manual therapy on physical and mental health promotion in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Global trends and neurobiological frontiers of manual therapy in sleep disorders: integrating bibliometrics with clinical evidence.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Curative Effect and Autonomic Nerve Function of Patients With Primary Insomnia of Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency Type Based on the Acupoint Selection of Meridian Theory: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- The Proximity Prediction Hypothesis: How predictive coding of CT-touch explains Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and its therapeutic applications.Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDaytime napping is used as a strategy to complement insufficient night-time sleep and improve daytime mental and physical performance. Massage can play a crucial role in promoting relaxation and wellness at various settings including the work place. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of two different types of manual massage sessions on day-time napping in poor sleepers.
methodsThis was a randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled, three arm, interventional clinical trial. Fifteen participants (aged 21.6 ± 1.3 years) participated in three different conditions over one week apart: 1) 30-min Sports massage condition (ACT), 2) 30-min Relaxation massage condition (REL) and 3) control condition with no massage. Brain activity was monitored using a polysomnography EEG system, while vitals and relaxation/stress state were assessed by validated questionnaires and functional tests. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Score > 5 was used as cut off for distinguishing poor sleeper.
resultsResults showed significant differences between the three conditions, with muscle tone to be reduced by 7.2% after ACT session (p = 0.000) and relaxation scores to be increased by 23.4% after REL session (p = 0.008). In addition, Sleep Latency N1 was improved only after the REL session compared to other two conditions (p = 0.037).
conclusionsIn conclusion, massage can positively impact the quality and quantity of daytime napping and may serve as a complementary intervention to enhance mental well-being, reduce work related stress, improve performance and promote overall a healthier living.
trial registrationRetrospectively registered (registration date: 16/01/2025; trial registration number at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06780072).
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.