Abstract
This study aimed to verify the physiological and psychological effects of laugh massage therapy. Study participants included healthy females who were randomly assigned to either laugh massage or control groups. The experiment was interventions of laugh massage therapy or control. Physiological phenomenon was monitored, including pulse wave fluctuation, surface skin temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. A psychological test was used to assess the degree of laughter and state anxiety. LF/HF was significantly reduced due to stress in the laugh massage group than in the control group. Skin temperature was significantly increased in the laugh massage group than in the control group. In addition, state anxiety decreased significantly as the degree of laughter increased. Our results suggest that laugh massage can promote stable physiological and psychological effects in subjects with state tension and anxiety.
