Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Corresponding Author: Wichai Eungpinichpong, e-mail: wiceun yahoo. Stress can cause psychological and physiological changes.
Many studies revealed that massage can decrease stress. However, traditional Thai massage has not been well researched in this regard. Twenty-nine healthy participants were randomly allocated into either a traditional Thai massage TTM group or Control C group, after which they were switched to the other group with a 2-week wash-out period.
Each of them was given a minute mental arithmetic test to induce psychological stress before a 1-hour session of TTM or rest. We conclude that both TTM and rest can reduce psychological stress, as indicated by decreased sAA levels, increased parasympathetic activity, decreased sympathetic activity, and decreased PRA. Stress affects all body systems e. During stress, the cerebral cortex sends signals to the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system becomes activated and sympathetic activity increases, resulting in increased HR and changes in HRV [ 1 β 5 ], decreasing peripheral blood flow and renal blood flow, and increased blood pressure and vascular resistance [ 6 β 10 ].
Moreover, preganglionic nerves of the sympathetic nervous system send signals to epithelial acinar cells in the salivary gland, leading to increases saliva secretion and sAA levels [ 11 β 13 ].
Furthermore, in the stress condition many sympathetic nerve signals into the kidney increase renal sympathetic nerve activity RSNA , which consequently and complexly leads to a decreased blood circulation to the kidney.
