Can Massage Lower Blood Pressure? What Research and Real Users Say

Quick Answer: Studies suggest massage can lower blood pressure a little, mostly in the short term, often for hours to a few days. Most of the trials are small or low quality, and the one randomised trial of an automated massage chair that we found showed no significant change in blood pressure. Massage can be a relaxing extra, but it is not a treatment for high blood pressure and should never replace medication, diet, exercise or regular check-ups.

High blood pressure is very common in Malaysia. In the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023, 29.2% of adults had hypertension, and 11.9% of all adults had raised blood pressure without knowing it. So it is no surprise that many people ask whether a regular massage, or a massage chair at home, can help bring the numbers down. Here is what the research shows, how strong it is, and how to use massage safely if you have high blood pressure.

What the research says about massage and blood pressure

The biggest review: encouraging, but weak

A 2015 systematic review in the Journal of Human Hypertension pooled 24 randomised controlled trials with 1,962 people with essential (primary) hypertension. Its main findings:

• Massage plus blood pressure medicine vs medicine alone: systolic pressure (the top number) was on average about 7 mmHg lower, and diastolic (the bottom number) about 3.6 mmHg lower.
• Massage vs medicine: some trials reported slightly lower systolic pressure with massage, by about 3.5 mmHg.
• The catch: the authors rated the quality of most trials as generally low, said the evidence was weak, and noted that the safety of massage was still unclear. They called for better-designed trials.

In plain terms, the direction looks positive, but the studies are not strong enough to say massage can replace medicine. Please do not stop or reduce any blood pressure medication because of massage.

Smaller trials of manual massage

• Swedish back massage (2021, 90 patients): In an open-label trial published in Arterial Hypertension, people with primary hypertension had a 10-minute back massage twice a week for six weeks. In the massage group, systolic and diastolic pressure fell by about 6.4 and 4.8 mmHg, and heart rate also dropped slightly. The study was not blinded and the report is unclear about how groups were compared, so treat it as preliminary.
• Self foot massage (2016, 57 adults): A crossover randomised trial in Japan, published in PLoS ONE, taught community-dwelling adults (52 women, 5 men) to give themselves an aroma foot massage, 12 sessions over four weeks. Both systolic and diastolic pressure fell significantly. Almost all participants were women, which limits how widely this applies.
• How long does it last? (2013, women with pre-hypertension): A study from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, reported by MASSAGE Magazine, gave 10 to 15 minutes of Swedish massage three times a week for 10 sessions. Blood pressure stayed lower than in a rest-only group right after sessions and 72 hours after the last one. We could only read a summary of this study, not the full paper, and it says nothing about effects beyond three days.

Why might massage lower blood pressure?

A 2015 scoping review in the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension looked at 27 publications to understand the possible mechanisms. The main ideas are that massage may calm the "fight or flight" (sympathetic) nervous system, improve how the body's stress-hormone system works, and increase blood flow, which might help blood vessel function. The author stressed that these are theories and that more rigorous research is needed.

What about massage chairs?

Almost all of the studies above used a human therapist or self-massage. Research on automated massage chairs and blood pressure is very limited:

• A 2025 randomised trial (24 healthcare workers): Published in Health Science Reports, it compared 15-minute automated massage chair sessions with progressive muscle relaxation, three times a week for four weeks, in staff with moderate stress, anxiety and depression. The abstract reports no significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Participants were not selected for high blood pressure, and the trial was small.
• A 2024 qualitative study (20 adults with pre-hypertension): Researchers at the University of Kansas had participants use a mechanical massage chair and mindfulness exercises, six sessions each. The published abstract describes how people felt about it but does not report blood pressure results.
• A Malaysian trial in progress: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) registered a crossover trial testing a 30-minute electric massage chair session (neck, shoulders, back and buttocks, not the abdomen) alongside usual medicine in pregnant women admitted with high blood pressure. We could not find published results yet.

So, for massage chairs specifically, the honest answer is: we do not yet know whether they lower blood pressure in a meaningful way.

Keep it in perspective: what clearly works

Mayo Clinic lists lifestyle changes with much better-established effects. Regular aerobic exercise can lower blood pressure by about 5 to 8 mmHg, a DASH-style diet by up to 11 mmHg systolic, cutting sodium by about 5 to 6 mmHg, and losing weight by roughly 1 mmHg per kilogram lost. For Malaysians, cutting back on salty sauces, instant noodles and processed food, plus a daily walk, is likely to do far more than any massage. Mayo also lists easing stress and good sleep as helpful, while noting that more research is needed on stress reduction. That is where massage may fit best: as a way to relax, not as a blood pressure treatment.

What real users say

We found very few public owner discussions that track blood pressure with a massage chair, so this section draws on study participants and general owner feedback:

• Enjoyment and relaxation come first. In the Kansas study, adults with pre-hypertension described enjoying the chair sessions, feeling relaxed, and wanting to keep using them. They also suggested design improvements.
• Effects feel short-lived. In a patient forum discussion, a chair owner said the relief only lasted a short time, so they used it now and then alongside exercises and posture work.
• Lightheadedness when getting up. The British Heart Foundation notes that lying back for a massage can cause short-term blood pressure changes and lightheadedness when you stand. This is worth remembering after a long reclined session.

The takeaway from users matches the research: people value massage for how it makes them feel, not as a blood pressure fix.

Who should be careful / talk to a doctor first

According to the British Heart Foundation and Mayo Clinic, check with your doctor before massage, including a massage chair, if you:

• Have high blood pressure that is not well controlled, or very high readings
• Recently had a heart attack, heart surgery or a blood clot in the leg
• Have atrial fibrillation (AF) with worsening symptoms, or recently had cardioversion or ablation. The BHF advises against neck massage with AF
• Take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, as strong or deep pressure can cause bruising
• Are pregnant, especially with high blood pressure in pregnancy
• Have a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, burns, broken bones or severe osteoporosis

Practical tips: start with a gentle intensity, avoid strong pressure on the neck, and sit up slowly at the end of a reclined session. Sit for a minute before standing, especially if you take blood pressure medicine or are older. The BHF also suggests drinking some water after a massage. If you want to know whether massage affects you, measure your blood pressure at home at the same times each day and share the readings with your doctor.

The bottom line

Massage may lower blood pressure slightly and briefly, and it is a pleasant way to unwind. But the evidence is mostly small or low-quality trials, effects seem to last hours to days, and there is no solid proof yet that massage chairs lower blood pressure. Proven steps such as medication when prescribed, less salt, regular exercise, healthy weight and regular check-ups should come first.

If you would like a relaxing way to unwind at home as part of a healthy routine, you can explore our massage chairs or try one in person at a SnowFit store near you. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor first.

References

1. Xiong XJ, Li SJ, Zhang YQ. Massage therapy for essential hypertension: a systematic review. Journal of Human Hypertension (2015)
2. Moghadasi M, et al. Cardiorespiratory effect of Swedish back massage in hypertensive patients: a randomized clinical trial. Arterial Hypertension (2021)
3. The effects of aroma foot massage on blood pressure and anxiety in Japanese community-dwelling men and women: a crossover randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE (2016)
4. MASSAGE Magazine: Massage may produce durable changes in blood pressure (on a 2013 Isfahan study)
5. Nelson NL. Massage therapy: understanding the mechanisms of action on blood pressure. A scoping review. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension (2015)
6. Recharging healthcare professionals: a randomized controlled trial on the impact of automated massage chairs on depression, anxiety, stress, musculoskeletal pain and biochemical markers. Health Science Reports (2025)
7. Manickam F, et al. Perceptions of mechanical massage chair and mindfulness for stress relief: a qualitative study. Kansas Journal of Medicine (2024)
8. ISRCTN: Participant information sheet, massage chair trial for pregnant patients with high blood pressure, University of Malaya Medical Centre
9. British Heart Foundation: Is massage safe if you have a heart condition?
10. Mayo Clinic: 10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication
11. Mayo Clinic: Massage therapy
12. Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia: NHMS 2023 fact sheet
13. Parkinson's UK Forum: Does anyone use an electric massage chair or pad?

This article is for general information and is not medical advice.