The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of thermal massage on the abdominal obesity and stress of middle-aged and elderly women. This study was conducted on 16 adult women who resided in Seoul, experienced childbirth, and measured over 80c...
The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of thermal massage on the abdominal obesity and stress of middle-aged and elderly women. This study was conducted on 16 adult women who resided in Seoul, experienced childbirth, and measured over 80cm around the waist and over 0.85 in WHR (waist-hip ratio). They were divided into two groups, test group A (middle-aged women) and B (elderly women) consisting respectively of eight persons, and received eight sessions of thermal massage on their abdomen rubbed with blended essential oil of which one lasted for twenty minutes, twice a week for four weeks. After each of sessions, they were surveyed on general characteristics, abdomen characteristics, stress level, and level of satisfaction.
To determine changes in stress levels, stress indexes and changes in sympathetic nerve, parasympathetic nerve, and autonomic nerve activity were measured by using a pulse wave meter (uBioClip v70) before massage, and after massage 4 and 8. To determine changes in body composition, abdominal circumference was measured by using a tapeline and weight, BMI, WHR, body fat percentage, and body fat mass were measured by Inbody 510. By comparing stress index before and after massage, it was found that test group A showed significant increase (p<0.01) and test group B showed no statistically-significant changes. By comparing sympathetic nerve activity before and after massage, it was found that both test group A and B showed significant increase (p<0.05). By comparing parasympathetic nerve activity before and after massage, it was found that test group A showed significant increase (p<0.01) and test group B showed increase, not statistically significant. By comparing autonomic nerve activity before and after massage, it was found that neither test group A nor B showed any significant change.
By comparing abdominal circumference before and after massage, it was found that both test group A (p<0.001)and B (p<0.05) showed statistically significant decrease. By comparing weight before and after massage, it was found that both test group A (p<0.05))and B (p<0.01) showed statistically significant decrease. By comparing BMI and body fat mass before and after massage, it was found that both test group A and B showed statistically significant decrease (p<0.05). By comparing WHR before and after massage, it was found that both test group A (p<0.05) and B (p<0.01) showed statistically significant decrease. By comparing body fat percentage before and after massage, it was found that test group A showed no statistically significant changes but test group B showed statistically significant decrease (p<0.05).
As it has been revealed that thermal massage with essential oil relieves stress and helps middle-aged and elderly women reduce their abdominal circumference, weight, BMI, WHR, body fat percentage, and body fat mass, it is thought that it will be usefully applied to health promotion programs to improve the quality of life for middle-aged and elderly women.