Perceptions of Massage Treatments and Health Benefits: A Report

This report investigates the perceptions of service users regarding the health benefits of massage treatments, specifically focusing on the context of Dormy House spa. It begins with an introduction, outlining the aims, objectives, theoretical framework, and rationale for the study. A comprehensive literature review explores the history of massage, demographics, lifestyle changes, short and long-term benefits, and the scientific evidence supporting massage therapy. The methodology section details the research philosophy, design, approach, and data collection methods, including sampling and procedures. Data analysis includes both secondary and primary research findings. The report concludes with a discussion of the findings, recommendations for Dormy House, and suggestions for further study, providing a detailed understanding of the research process and outcomes.

To investigate the perceptions of
services users regarding health
benefits from massage treatments

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my thanks to my family and friends for support and giving me
strength which help do implement research study. I also thankful to my senior manager who
provide guidance to do this project in an appropriate manner. Because with the help of their
suggestion I am able to complete this research and enhanced my knowledge and experience.

Abstract
Now a day, the use of complementary and alternative medicine treatment is growing
due to increase in various health issue especially stressful life. It having an adverse impact on
health and quality of life which required to be improved in an appropriate manner. Massage is
considered a type of therapy without any kind of risk on behavioural and physical manner.
despite of massage popularity, the debate is going on whether massage beneficial on health or
not. This issue is rapidly grown and research has been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness.
In the previous research there are limited understanding of the topic which required to
analyse and evaluate. The present report will be providing a clear understanding about the
perception of customer regarding health benefit of massage.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents...................................................................................................................................4
Chapter 1: Introduction......................................................................................................................6
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................6
1.2 Aims and Objectives....................................................................................................................6
1.3 Theoretical framework.................................................................................................................7
1.4 Rationale......................................................................................................................................7
Chapter 2: Literature review..............................................................................................................7
2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................7
2.3 Demographics:.............................................................................................................................8
2.4 Lifestyle change:..........................................................................................................................9
2.5 Short and long term benefits:.....................................................................................................10
2.6 Proven health benefits of massage:............................................................................................11
2.7 Scientific evidence of massage treatment:.................................................................................12
Chapter 2: Literature Matrix...........................................................................................................12
Chapter 4: Methodology...................................................................................................................18
4.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................................18
4.2 Research philosophy..................................................................................................................19
4.3 Research Design........................................................................................................................19
4.4 Research approach.....................................................................................................................19
4.5 Research type.............................................................................................................................19
4.6 Data collection...........................................................................................................................20
4.7 Sampling....................................................................................................................................21
4.8 Procedure...................................................................................................................................22
4.9 Construction of design...............................................................................................................22
4.10 Validity and Reliability............................................................................................................22
4.12 Contraction of design...............................................................................................................23
Chapter 5: Data Analyses..................................................................................................................24
5.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................................24
5.2 Secondary research Data analyses:............................................................................................25
5.3 Primary research Data analyses:................................................................................................26
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendation.................................................................................35
6.1 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................35
6.2 Recommendation.......................................................................................................................36
6.3 Recommendation for further study............................................................................................36

References..........................................................................................................................................37
Appendices.........................................................................................................................................39

Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Introduction
Massage has been used for as a therapy in order to gain relaxation for many years. There is
various professional such as coaches, sport personal believes that it provides different
benefits. These advantage related with the effective blood flow, reducing muscle pressure and
increase body relaxation in an appropriate manner. Massage can help to create mechanical
pressure, which increase joint motion which is too essential for reduction tension and
pressure on different aspects effectively (West and Carroll, 2014). The present report based
on Dormy House which is one of the most popular spa centre in the United Kingdom. The
firm wants to expand their business operation across the country which required to
investigate the benefit of massage of their customer which can help to promote its operation
in to other part. Apart from that, company also know the current satisfaction level of their
customer which leads to maximise its loyalty and profit through creating awareness in the
public (Posadzki and et. al., 2013). Before starting a project, researcher required to
understand historical aspects which are given below:
Historical aspects: From ancient history massage was the integral part for human being and
their life. According to the historical data, the study on massage from related with 3000 BC to
today which described in both ways written and practical. It explained in ‘Con Fou of the
Tao-Tse’ which is one of the oldest book contain about the different types of exercise,
massage technique and so on (Dima and et. al., 2013). On the other hand, In India book
AyurVeda which was written in early 1700 BC described these all exercised in a more
appropriate manner.
1.2 Aims and Objectives
Background of study: This study is related with the identify various massage techniques and
its benefit in the context of Dormy House. The cited firm are required to investigate their
service performance through service user. Therefore, this research helps to provide various
information and the satisfaction level which helps to meet its short and long term targets in an
effective manner (Posadzki and et. al., 2013). Further, report will analyse the collected
response and make their strategy according which provide competitive advantage in the
market over its competitors.
Aims: To investigate the perceptions of services users regarding health benefits from massage
treatments- study on Dormy House spa.

Objectives: There are following objectives given for the present study:
 To identify perception of service user of massage at Dormy House.
 To determine different types of massage treatment at Dormy House
 To determine relationship between massage service and its impact on customer health.
1.3 Theoretical framework
This is another significant part in the research where different types of theories will be
provided in order to attain research aims and objectives in an effective manner (Anvekar,
2012). Once project topic has been selected this is the responsibility of researcher is to
provide appropriate basic framework which increase the effectiveness and efficiency of
proposed research in an appropriate manner.
1.4 Rationale
In this report explain various benefits of massage which a human body need to be feel
relaxed. Massage is mainly uses for release the tension and stress of body. Apart from that
various other benefits such as helps to relief from body pain (Lee and et. al., 2014). This
therapy is also beneficial for cure many diseases like cancer and other major problems which
arises in human body. It helps to increase the flexibility of human body and blood circulation
is also can maintained by the use of massage.
Chapter 2: Literature review
2.1 Introduction
A literature review explains different thought and past study experience regrading benefit of
massage in a scientific way. This part of the report is give attention to different types of
massage therapy and its benefits for the life and their well-being an individual. This part of
this report provide the information sources and the critical analyses of expert and authors
opinion which helps to understand in a much better way. This part of the report having to
significant for the researchers where they compare the opinion of an individual authors which
helps to meet the aims and objectives of research. There are various forms of massage which
can be modern and traditional and their short and long term result in an effective manner (Lee
and et. al., 2014). There are various countries such as China, India and other Asia pacific
nation having different types of massage treatment which helps to minimise various health
problem in an appropriate manner. On the other hand, western countries also adopt these
techniques in a more appropriate way. UK is one of the leading nation where number of spa
are too high and the people also use as an illness therapy in order to make their life better and

improve standard of leaving. This paper include mechanism in the massage treatment and its
impact on physical life by using literature review (Kreitzer, 2013). This type of remedy is
known as complementary alternative treatment using as a Medicare by the various hospital
and other business enterprise in hospitality sectors. Today, customer needs are dynamic
which increase new demand for product and services. Spa industry newly sector which too
complex and competitive. Therefore, this is role of higher authorities to understand overall
change and react according to these change to meet their objectives in an effective manner. In
the also decade the growth rate of this sector is growing which also increase the competition
level in the market.
2.2 Defining massage therapy:
It is one of the big challenge for expert to define massage in a specific sentence. Because this
is a multidimensional approach for different nations such as Indian, Chinese, Swedish,
Californian and many more. Further, there are various massage service provider who having
enough experience can transform such treatment by using their knowledge and provide a
unique flavour (Islam, 2015). Apart from that, it also required training and development
which are depending on the particular region and regulation made by the government body.
There are various educational institute specially in South Asian countries who provide
specialised course for student which help to make them professional in an effective manner.
According to AMTA which is group of massage therapy treatment in America it is a
systematic approach of applying hand pressure on body by using different techniques. In
short, everyone knows massage but no one individual can define in a specific way (Versnik
Nowak and et. al, 2015). In a massage treatment it can be single or multiple dose according to
the client requirement. In modern era, quality of life is too complex which create mental and
physical pressure, social and aspects for an individual. A massage treatment can be classified
in to primary affective which is based on feeling and emotions, physiological and
Behavioural.
2.3 Demographics:
There are different demographics which categorize UK in to Britain, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
where most of the population are 30 to 60 years old. The life expectancy also quite good as
compare to other European countries (Willison and et. al., 2013). It shows that, they are more
aware towards health awareness and other aspects. The healthcare services which mostly
under control in the government hand responsible to provide effective services which help to
increase well-being. Further, there are various private healthcare providers and hospitality

organization which more focused on massage treatment which is one of the growing sector in
the country.
2.4 Lifestyle change:
It is essential for every individual to eat healthy diet and take enough time for relax key
aspects for balanced life. Therefore, massage treat will become the integral part for every
individual which helps to reducing stress and provide a relaxed feeling. In various society
especially western and Pacific nation where massage become as a part of their life and some
experts argued that it will helps to change individual life style in an effective manner.
According to (Panchal, 2014), massage plays a critical role in the life and demonstrate and
reducing anxiety and stress level which is too essential. It also provides an effective treatment
and reduced the regular Medicare. On the other hand, as per (), despite the various advantage
of massage it not provides the full proof healthy life for a person. They also need their regular
medical treatment to become fit and fine. Therefore, this is the responsibility for an individual
to make sure that they can use carefully and focus on other aspects which is also important.
Other expert’s opinion that, massage also prevent serious sports injuries and help to recover
such injuries in effective manner. There are various people who facing regular headaches
which create a serious issue for them in the near future. Massage therapy helps to overcome
such problem in the longer run. Whereas, as per (Rosenbaum and Smallwood, 2011), he said
that there are various people who having illness includes bleeding disorders, serious fractures,
burns and so on. They required that to use anther treatment rather massage which help to
minimise their health issue. If such individual is going to use these therapies can be facing
more serious problem. It required that to take advise from health experts which is more
appropriate. There are other experts who believes that therapeutic massage one of the most
appropriate complementary medicine treatment for anxiety and minimise several mental and
behavioural disorder. According to the national Centre for CAM, which is a part of NHS
define that different types of medical interventions, practices, process, product and services
are not considered as tradition approach of treatment. They said that a quality of life required
different elements such as physical and behavioural health, social and physiological
relationship and environment related issue needed (Chen, Chang and Wu, 2013). In the
previous study paper, poor QOL having adverse impact on their performance which leads to
increase pressure on their life. But with the help of CAM which is part of massage treatment
maximise satisfaction level and improve their life in an effective manner. generally, massage
can be classified in to various types such as Swedish massage, Deep massage, Cool

Therapeutic massage, Myofascial Release massage and so on. each types of treatment having
their benefits which provide the physical and mental health. These are all basic therapy and
having different methods for a particular region. Therefore, this is the reasonability of cited
firm is to understand all these concepts and studies its pros and cons and promote in a manner
which helps to meet its short and long tern gaols and target.
2.5 Short and long term benefits:
This part of the literature will provide the information and knowledge about the various short
and long tern benefits of different types of massage and impact on human life and their
performance which is too essential in modern world. Stress is affects everyone which need to
be minimise to enjoy a life in a much better manner. therefore, individual tries to use different
approaches and reduced its stress level, so that they can concentrate on their work in regular
basis. According to (Nelson, 2015), massage treatment having various long term benefits and
mostly related with the relaxation of body and mind. This required to destroying mental
pressure large impact on reduction of stress through a good massage. It directly helps to relax
on immune system and it will lead to gain a positive change in the whole body and mind. It
will also help to increase quality of sleep through an effective massage. Flexibility is plays a
prominent role in the joint of body part which increase muscles efficiency. On the other hand,
according to (Berley, Berley and Brewer, 2012), blood circulation is too significant for an
individual which supply blood to each and every single part of body. These all required a
massage which increase such circulation in an effective manner.
There are other experts which belong to American cancer society argued that massage also
benefit for a cancer patient. Because such people who always in depression and pain help to
overcome their illness for a limited time period. Apart from that it also having several
advantage for a shorter time period. As pert the (Turkeltaub, Yearwood and Friedmann,
2014), after completion of massage an individual noticed that he feels more relaxed as
compare to before. Because it will have reduced anxiety immediately after completion of first
season. On the other hand, other specialist believed that massage treatment having more long
term impact rather than a limited time. For an individual required that to take advise from
health and make their life more enjoy in an appropriate manner. This is significant for an
individual to focused on effectiveness of massage and provide positive impact in low back
pain for a longer run (Reddy, York and Brannon, 2010). A person also facing problem in
neck due to their setting job through various massage techniques. Additional, massage service
provider required to conduct more research regarding different types of tools and techniques

of massage treatment and its pros and cons for the near future. They also need to promote the
benefits and its impact on quality of life which is too significant in the challenging and
competitive life. There are various expert’s argued that yoga is better option rather than
massage to minimise various health related issue but both having its own benefits which must
be understand in an appropriate manner.
2.6 Proven health benefits of massage:
It is very important for human body to maintain their health and massage play important role.
Better quality and better sleep is including in favours health and helps to reducing anxiety.
Massage advertisement says that they reduce tension or increase blood circulation which is
very important for maintain health benefits of human. There are lots of benefits of massage
which is very important for good health. These are the physiological effects from massage
which relief tensions of a human body. People can increase their blood circulation by going
for a brief walk. If a person is incapable and cannot go for a walk than massage is not best
solution for those peoples. Massage is providing comfort to human body and other benefits
which is very important for biddy of many persons. It helps to give relaxation to the body.
Massage is also beneficial for the patient of HIV/AIDS with the use of conjunction with other
techniques such as meditation and relaxation. According to this (West and Carroll, 2014)
anxiety, pain, sleep quality and general quality of life one 30 minutes’ massage forb three
constructive weeks is helpful for relaxation. Some persons those have bounded to walk and
have limited mobility they need massage in every week. Massage is very effective technique
by which all tension can be released of a human body and they feel very comfortable.
Another problem is that some persons have sleeping problem they cannot sleep properly so
massage will help them to reducing sleep disturbances. Benefit is also including connective
tissues massage combined with joint manipulation helped to improve hand motion, hand
function and quality of life. Massage is effective for the human body to move any part of
body. It also reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation which affect health of
human body. Massage is also reducing depression, anger, distress, fatigue and pain and also
improve mood to patients following bone marrow. It also includes pain relief and better
satisfaction for pain management in labour. It also includes that massage is give relaxation to
preventing preterm labour there is some evidence that used for mind body therapies. It also
reduces matapolism problems which are very common in human bodies (Posadzki and et. Al,
2013). They also reduce shorten hospital stay in premature infants. Massage treatment is
helps to and effective for posterior should tightness. Massage is also reducing neonatal

abstinence syndrome. Massage is very effective for the releases the tension of human body;
they can feel more relaxing. People have various kind of problems in their body massage is
reducing all the tensions. Massage is more effective than is TENS or sham TENS for
polymyalgia. Massage is also useful for those people who have suffering from eating disorder
such as anorexia nervous, a complex eating disorder. Basically massage is very important to
releases all the tensions of body of human. blood circulation can also increase by the massage
which is very important for human body.
2.7 Scientific evidence of massage treatment:
A scientific evidence helps to present a topic in a more effective manner and largely
acceptable by the public. Therefore, researcher also collect the information which can proved
the massage treatment provide health benefit at large. According to (), there are various
professional workers who having stresses more as compare to another individual which is too
significant. massage therapy is widely acceptable tool that it controls high blood pressure and
normalize stress to a great extent. Different people who facing anxiety disorder also negative
influenced on their health such as QOL. This will use as a complementary medical option to
address mental and physical symptoms. It is clinically and scientific approved approach to
relive daily stress and helps to cope with behavioural aspects.
Chapter 2: Literature Matrix
Author Year Title Source Reason for Use
Holey, L. A.,
Dixon, J. and
Selfe, J
2011 An exploratory
thermographic
investigation of the
effects of connective
tissue massage on
autonomic function
Journal This journal
helps to explain
about massage
benefit.
Crane, J. D.,
Ogborn, D. I.,
Cupido, C.,
Melov, S.,
Hubbard, A.,
Bourgeois, J. M.
and
Tarnopolsky,
2012 Massage therapy
attenuates
inflammatory
signaling after
exercise-induced
muscle damage.
Journal It is related with
the different
types of
massage
techniques used
as a therapy.