Research shows that shiatsu is both safe and effective.
Shiatsu originates from Japan and has a consistent history of evidence that dates back to the 1960s. It is an acupressure therapy which the World Health Organization recognises as founded in Traditional Chinese Medicine and yet the Federal Government denies this link.
Research includes:
- A 2013 pilot study* into the management
of fibromyalgia symptoms showed ‘the potential of Shiatsu in the improvement of pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, sleep quality, and symptoms impact on health of patients with bromyalgia. The proposed Shiatsu treatment protocol was feasible and well accepted by the patients.’ - A 2001 study** of 66 individuals with lower back pain found ‘Both pain an anxiety decreased signi cantly over time…These subjects would recommend shiatsu massage for others suffering from lower back pain’.
- A 2011 systematic review*** stated that ‘Shiatsu, similar to acupressure, uses nger pressure, manipulations and stretches, along Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians… Shiatsu practitioners are trained in the anatomical location, functions and uses of over 150 pressure points on the body. Evidence for the ef cacy of acupressure may therefore potentially support claims about the efficacy of Shiatsu.’
More research can be viewed on the Shiatsu Therapy Association of Australia (STAA) website at: https://www.staa.org.au/research