Massage Boosts Blood Flow Confirmed by MRI 

A small-scale study has found that a type of massage combining heat and movement can significantly boost blood flow in the body. The research tested whether MRI technology could measure changes in circulation after using a commercially available massage device.

Ten participants underwent a 20-minute session where the device applied heat and gentle mechanical stimulation to the lower back. MRI scans were taken before and after the session to track changes in blood flow.

The results showed a clear improvement: blood flow speed in a major artery increased by 27% after the treatment. Interestingly, other body responses—such as heart rate and blood vessel size—didn’t change, suggesting that the massage mainly affected circulation in the targeted area.

This study highlights that MRI scans can be a useful tool to measure how massage therapies influence blood flow. It also supports the idea that heat and movement-based treatments can help improve circulation in specific parts of the body.