Sian O Flynn

Jing Institute of Advanced Clinical Massage & Complementary Medicine, United Kingdom

Title: Evaluating the effects of The Jing Method™ of Advanced Clinical Massage on stress, anxiety, and depression in those with desk based work/sedentary lifestyles

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Biography

Sian has been working as a professional aromatherapist and massage therapist for 11 years initialling qualifying with Neal’s Yard Remedies on their level 5 Essential Oil Science Diploma. Working alongside physiotherapists and osteopaths as a holistic and clinical massage therapist she completed her degree level 6 BTEC in Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy and

Sports Massage, graduating from the Jing Institute, Brighton in 2024. During the Covid pandemic she took referrals for NHS Community Living Well mental health service and ran online sessions for Kensington and Chelsea Social Care, which in part directed her choice of research study subject.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The upward trend in mental health disorders (MHD) and longer working hours in the UK by 2020 (Trade Union Congress, 2019) has been greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization declared that it “has created a global crisis for mental health” (World Health Organization, 2022c). With increased risk of stroke and heart disease in those

with longer working hours (Johnson and Jasarevic, 2021) and the NHS stating that a seated lifestyle can lead to early death (NHS, 2022b) this study assessed the effects of a 6-week course of Jing Method™ massage on those with a desk-based/sedentary lifestyle affected by stress, anxiety and depression.

METHOD

A mixed group of 22 adults joined the 16-week study. Eligibility & levels were assessed throughout using the DASS-42 self-report instrument, with a 6-week control period, 6-week treatment phase of weekly Jing Method™ chronic stress protocol massage and daily self-care routine of stretches and breathing techniques.

RESULTS

All participants showed marked improvements with group average scores decreasing by 77% for depression, 85% for anxiety and 66% for stress. Overall DASS-42 scores decreased by 68% during the treatment phase, continuing to decrease by 9% post-treatment with an overall decrease of 74% for the full study.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates Jing Method™ chronic stress protocols and HFMAST multi-modal approach as an effective complementary therapy, and potentially valuable adjunct with conventional treatment. Given high and increasing levels of MHD, and relative lack of research in massage therapy, these results warrant future research and investigation.