Pregnancy massage
Massage therapy has been demonstrated to be effective during pregnancy in three studies by
our group [2-4]. In the first study, therapists provided massage therapy for 20 min per week
for 5 weeks [4]. The women reported decreased depression, anxiety and leg and back pain.
Cortisol levels decreased and, in turn, excessive fetal activity decreased, and the rate of
prematurity was lower in the massage group.