Natural killer cells and lymphocytes increase in women with breast cancer following massage therapy.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer received massage therapy or practiced progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) for 30-min sessions 3 times a week for 5 weeks or received standard treatment. The massage therapy and relaxation groups reported less depressed mood, anxiety, and pain immediately after their first and last sessions. By the end of the study, however, only the massage therapy group reported being less depressed and less angry and having more vigor.

Fetal activity following stimulation of the mother's abdomen, feet, and hands.

Fetal activity during midgestation (M age=19.8 weeks) was studied in response to vibratory stimulation of the mother's abdomen (at the height of the fetal head), foot massage, hand massage, or control condition (no stimulation). Consistent with previous research conducted during midgestation, the fetuses of mothers who received two trials of 3-sec, 60-Hz vibratory stimulation did not show changes in movement.