Massage once a month for a year: a stress fix for healthcare heroes?

NCT ID NCT05555082

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: University Hospital, Linkoeping Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study tested whether getting a 30-minute Swedish massage once a month for a year could improve the mental and physical health of healthcare workers in a hospital. Twenty-five staff who work at least half-time with patient care took part. Researchers measured stress, anxiety, sick leave, and quality of life to see if regular massage made a difference.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Swedish classical massage
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to reduce stress and improve well-being for healthcare workers.
What could go wrong: This is a very small pilot study with only 25 participants and no comparison group, so results may not be reliable or apply to other settings.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEALTH-CARE WORKERS MASSAGE THERAPY PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS QUALITY OF LIFE

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Linkoping University

Norrköping, 601 74, Sweden
Peter Johansson

Norrköping, Linköpings Universitet, 601 74, Sweden

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