Thai Massage Benefits, Techniques, What To Expect - Healthline

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What Are The Benefits of Thai Massage?

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Tom Rush and Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA — Updated on September 19, 2024

Headaches
Back pain
Joint pain
Flexibility
Stress
Energy
Techniques
What to expect
Safety
Takeaway

In Thai massage, a practitioner uses stretching, pulling, and rocking techniques to attempt to relieve tension, promote relaxation, and improve flexibility and circulation.

Sometimes referred to as assisted yoga, Thai massage is focused on improving the flow of energy throughout your body.

In this article, we’ll examine the science-backed benefits of traditional Thai massage and what to expect if you choose this type of massage.

What are the benefits of traditional Thai massage?

Thai massage may offer a range of health benefits. However, studies into the benefits of Thai massage and other complementary therapies are often older or of low quality.

It is important to speak with a medical professional before engaging in complementary therapies. While they may benefit some people, they are not suitable in all instances.

Headaches

If you have migraine or experience tension headaches, traditional Thai massage may help ease your symptoms.

A small 2015 study found that Thai massage may help reduce the intensity of chronic tension headaches. An older 2014 study found similar potential benefits for migraine headaches.

If you’re interested in trying nonpharmaceutical remedies for headache relief, researchers concluded that the benefits of Thai massage could last from several days to around 15 weeks.

Back pain

Some people may find that Thai massage may be an effective, nonpharmaceutical means of reducing back pain.

A 2017 study in Thailand assessed 120 people with nonspecific low back pain. Half the test group was treated with Thai massage and the rest with other conservative management techniques that included joint mobilization (a technique that involves applying pressure), hot packs, and manual stretching to painful areas.

Both groups were treated twice a week for 4 weeks, and both groups had significant pain relief.

Joint stiffness and pain

Thai massage may improve your joint function if you experience pain and stiffness when you move.

In one 2014 study, researchers employed a program of Thai massage combined with wand exercises to study the effects on people with knee arthritis. The researchers found that the study participants felt less pain and walked with greater ease after the 8-week program.

In another study involving 60 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers found that 3 weeks of Thai massage provided the same pain relief as 3 weeks of ibuprofen.

Increases flexibility and range of motion

If your range of motion and flexibility are affecting your athletic performance or making it hard to get around, Thai massage may help you move more easily.

Thirty-four soccer players were part of a small, localized study to test the effects of Thai massage on athletic performance. After receiving Thai massage three times in a 10-day period, the soccer players who had Thai massages showed significant improvement in all physical fitness activity tests.

Researchers hypothesize that the increase in flexibility may be due to Thai massage’s ability to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles. This, in turn, may help reduce pain and decrease muscle adhesions.

Stress

Many forms of massage therapy offer a relaxing, calming environment. Although Thai massage is more energetic than other forms of massage therapy, limited studies suggest that it, too, can aid in managing stress and anxiety symptoms.

A small 2015 study reported that people who receive Thai massage test lower on measures of psychological stress following treatment.

Energy levels

Thai massage incorporates whole-body movements, many of which are yoga-like. For that reason, many people report leaving Thai massage sessions feeling not only relaxed but also rejuvenated.

In one 2018 study, researchers compared the effects of Thai massage and Swedish massage on people who were fatigued. They interviewed the participants after their massages and found that those who had Thai massage felt mentally invigorated and physically energized.

The study size was small, so more research needs to be done to confirm these results.

What techniques are used with Thai massage?

In a traditional Thai massage, practitioners use their hands, thumbs, elbows, forearms, and sometimes even their feet to reduce tension in your muscles.

Thai massage is based on the idea that energy moves through your body along predictable lines or pathways known as sens.

To increase the flow of energy along the sens, the practitioner will move your body into yoga-like positions in addition to pulling and rocking your body in various ways.

The combination of stretching, movement, and pressure is what distinguishes Thai massage from other types of massage.

Thai massage may be a good option if you want a more active type of massage. In this type of massage, you move and participate instead of lying down throughout your massage.

What to expect

With Thai massage, you can wear your own loose-fitting clothes, or the practitioner may have you change into scrub-like garments. You keep your clothes on throughout the massage.

Typically, you’ll lie on a mat or massage mattress on the floor, not on a massage table. Once on the mat, your practitioner will slowly move your body through multiple stretches, using the weight and pressure of their body to assist you.

The practitioner will use their hands, thumbs, elbows, and knees to stretch, pull, and rock different parts of your body. They may even sit on you to stretch you into certain positions.

Some types of stretches may involve yoga-like movements, with the practitioner holding or pulling you to maintain a pose.

Discomfort

If your muscles are sore or tense, you may feel some discomfort. If you do, let your practitioner know so the pressure and stretching can be reduced.

If you have an injury, or some part of your body is particularly sensitive to pain, be sure to let the practitioner know before they start the massage session.

Risks and safety

Because Thai massage has profound effects on your circulatory system, make sure you check with your doctor before you schedule a massage, especially if you have:

heart disease or coronary artery disease
high blood pressure
conditions that affect your spine, including osteoporosis and neurological diseases
diabetes
recent surgery
open wounds
cancer

Thai massage isn’t recommended for pregnant women.

In addition, medical experts recommend that you avoid massage if you have:

bleeding disorders
deep vein thrombosis
burns
thrombocytopenia

The bottom line

Thai massage is an ancient practice with many benefits that are supported by modern science. It may reduce the severity of your headaches, decrease lower back and joint pain, increase your flexibility, calm your anxieties, and energize your mind and body.

Thai massage isn’t a passive treatment. Your practitioner will move you through a gradual series of yoga-like positions in addition to working on the tension in your muscles.

Thai massage may not be safe for everyone. If you have an underlying health condition, be sure to ask your doctor if this traditional form of massage is safe for you.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Chatchawan U, et al. (2014). Effects of Thai traditional massage on pressure pain threshold and headache intensity in patients with chronic tension-type and migraine headaches.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2013.0176
Chiranthanut N, et al. (2014). Thai massage, and thai herbal compress versus oral ibuprofen in symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled trial.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4165631/
Damapong P, et al. (2015). A randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of court-type traditional Thai massage versus amitriptyline in patients with chronic tension-type headache.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4587431/
Hongsuwan C, et al. (2015). Effects of Thai massage on physical fitness in soccer players.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4339173/
Juntakarn C, et al. (2107). The effectiveness of Thai massage and joint mobilization.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5495387/
MacSween A, et al. (2018). A randomised crossover trial comparing Thai and Swedish massage for fatigue and depleted energy.https://www.bodyworkmovementtherapies.com/article/S1360-8592(17)30238-3/abstract
Peungsuwan P, et al. (2014). The effectiveness of Thai exercise with traditional massage on the pain, walking ability and QOL of older people with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial in the community.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3927027/
Sripongngam T, et al. (2015). Immediate effects of traditional Thai massage on psychological stress as indicated by salivary alpha-amylase levels in healthy persons.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4599180/

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Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Tom Rush and Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA — Updated on September 19, 2024

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