Psychophysiological Mechanisms of the Relaxation Effects of Multimodal SPA Massage Protocols in Adults with Elevated Anxiety

Анотація

Background. The relevance of this topic is determined by the high prevalence of anxiety disorders and the limited efficacy of exclusively pharmacological approaches to their treatment, which increases the importance of identifying evidence-based non-pharmacological methods capable of complementing conventional therapy and improving the psychophysiological status of patients.

Objective. To investigate the psychophysiological mechanisms of relaxation and anxiety reduction induced by massage techniques.

Methods. The study employed the methods of analysis, synthesis, abstraction, induction, and deduction.

Results. The application of SPA massage practices was found to produce systemic positive changes in psychophysiological parameters among individuals with elevated anxiety levels. Specifically, a statistically significant decrease in resting heart rate was observed, along with stabilization of blood pressure values and an increase in heart rate variability, indicating enhanced parasympathetic activity within the autonomic regulatory system. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in subjective psychoemotional tension, improved mood, and enhanced overall emotional well-being of the participants. Concurrently, SPA massage was found to affect hormonal stress mechanisms by decreasing cortisol levels and increasing serotonin and endorphin concentrations, suggesting the formation of a sustained anti-stress hormonal profile.

Conclusions. A consistent relationship was established between the regular application of SPA massage practices and the normalization of autonomic and hormonal regulation, which underlies the reduction in anxiety levels. The theoretical significance of the findings lies in expanding the understanding of the role of body-oriented interventions in the mechanisms of psychophysiological adaptation to stress. The practical significance of the study consists in substantiating the rationale for incorporating SPA massage protocols into the comprehensive therapy of anxiety disorders as an effective non-pharmacological modality that enhances the sustainability of therapeutic outcomes and contributes to improving patient quality of life.