CLASSICAL MASSAGE AND PERCEPTION OF COLORS

By Katarzyna Krawczyk
and Piotr Tomasik
Poland

ABSTRACT

It is postulated that the effectiveness of classical massage can be reinforced with a simultaneous engagement of the visual analyzer. Thus, 1,421 females and males from 11 countries from different parts of the world were asked about their associations between the seven colors of the rainbow and seven elements of classical massage, i.e., effleurage, friction, kneading, percussion, vibration, shaking, and rolling.

The statistically valued associations between colors and particular massage techniques were examined, and these associations were then correlated with gender and age. The results suggested that the correct selection of a color during a massage session might enhance the therapeutic impact of a classical massage session. Considering personal preferences, this issue should also be discussed individually with each client before treatment.

Keywords: classical massage, sense of sight, sense of touch, sensory associations

INTRODUCTION

The sense of touch is formed in the central nervous system as a result of activation of peripheral receptors located in the skin, fascia, skeletal muscles, and periosteum of bones and joints. The various groups of peripheral receptors are responsible for the formation of the sensation of touch, pressure, vibration (mechanoreceptors), changes in local temperature (thermoreceptors), pain (nociceptors) and body position (proprioceptors) (Hayward et al., 2004). The activation of these receptors is the primary therapeutic tool used by massage practitioners to control and correct the client’s physical and psychological well-being.

Effleurage, kneading, friction, vibration, shaking, percussion and rolling are the massage techniques regularly used during a classical or therapeutic massage session (Zborowski, 2006; Marszalek, 2009). The regular use of classical massage is greatly beneficial for the soft tissues and inner-organ systems. It seems that such therapy is needed especially for the normal function of skeletal muscles by assisting with the supply of oxygen and essential nutrients and the removal of waste products.

Frequently, a classical massage session is supplemented by additional stimulation of thermoreceptors – massage in warm water (Schoedinger, 2008) or the use of cold and hot stones (Alexandra, 2005; Fleck and Jochum, 2006; Nelson and Scrivner, 2007; Walaszek and Goniwiecha, 2009; Walaszek and Goniwiecha, 2009). To optimize the healing impact of massage, various methods of sensory stimulation are used (Magiera, 2009) in the form of aromatherapy (stimulation of smell receptors) or music therapy (stimulation of the auditory system).

Little is known about the healing combination of massage and the stimulation of the visual analyzer by different colors. It is commonly accepted that the best clinical outcome of massage results if the massage room has dim light. However, we did not find any mention of the impact of color on the outcomes of massage sessions, despite the fact that colors play an essential role in human behavior, psyche and health (Graham, 1996; Pluszynska, 2009).

We proposed an integrative evaluation and scaled responses to sensory stimulation of the visual, smell, taste and auditory analyzers in direct correlation with each other (Tomasik-Krotki and Strojny, 2008). In a recent study (Krawczyk and Tomasik, 2011), we examined the sense of touch (smoothness/roughness, hardness/softness) and sense of temperature (warm/hot) in correlation with different colors. The data acquired from this last study allowed us to speculate that it will be beneficial to examine the correlation of massage as a form of sensory stimulation with various colors.

We also decided that we should examine whether the addition of color(s) to the classical massage session has any clinical value for massage practitioners and their clients and, if it does, what the best ways to apply such combinations are. We examined only the effect of visible light from the shortest wavelength region of 400 nm belonging to the violet color up to the longest wavelength region of 750 nm belonging to the red color. The results of this study are presented in this paper.

METHOD

We developed a questionnaire to ask potential respondents about their associations between the seven colors of the rainbow (red – R, orange – O, yellow – Y, green – G, greenish-blue – GB, blue – B and violet – V) and seven basic techniques of classical massage (effleurage, friction, kneading, percussion, vibration, shaking and rolling).

The questionnaire was developed in Polish and English and was distributed among 1,421 respondents (1,060 females and 361 males, aged between 13 and 82 with an average age of 30.56) in Poland, Taiwan, Sweden, India, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Trinidad & Tobago, Nepal, the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia.

Respondents were informed about the purpose of the questionnaire, and they filled it out anonymously. We also asked them to provide us with information about their gender, age, profession and education as well as their country of residence. Responses were collected in winter 2010 and spring 2011 using personal contacts and the Internet. Among the respondents were students, teachers, scientists, clerks, cosmetologists, retirees, etc.

The collected data were subjected to monofactorial analysis involving the Snedecor test at the 0.05 significance level. The statistical analysis was conducted separately for female and male groups, and we additionally grouped responses by age. For the female group, the value taken from the F-Snedecor distribution table for n1 = 14 and n2 = 90 degrees of freedom was F0.05 = 1.83. Corresponding data for the male group were n1 = 9 and n2 = 60 and F0.05 = 2.04. The statistical analysis was performed for both groups together for n1 = 1 and n2 = 12 degrees of freedom at the 0.05 significance level, F0.05 = 4.75. The summary of the data is presented in Table 1.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We registered gender-based differences in the selection of a color matched with a specific massage technique; in every case, F > F0.05 (Table 1).

Massage Technique	F		F/F0.05
	Females	Males	Females	Males
Friction	3.82	4.27	1.74	2.09
Effleurage	4.63	4.64	2.53	2.27
Kneading	9.71	8.70	5.31	4.26
Percussion	9.73	8.61	5.31	4.22
Vibration	7.00	13.13	3.82	6.43
Shaking	6.17	8.59	3.37	4.21
Rolling	5.62	6.63	3.07	3.25

Table 2 presents data from the questionnaire that indicated how respondents from both genders associated different colors with massage techniques.

Technique	Gender	Number of responses [%]
		Colors
		R	O	Y	G	GB	B	V
Friction	F	26.79	26.70	15.66	13.86	7.83	4.06	4.52
	M	31.86	24.93	9.97	8.31	14.40	5.54	2.49
Effleurage	F	9.15	13.58	32.45	21.79	3.77	11.50	8.68
	M	7.75	10.80	30.74	27.14	5.23	9.69	8.58
Kneading	F	14.15	16.41	13.30	15.28	17.73	10.47	12.64
	M	11.35	13.85	17.17	14.12	18.56	10.24	14.67
Vibration	F	16.69	7.83	7.73	11.32	25.96	10.66	15.84
	M	14.40	10.24	11.35	10.80	17.17	17.17	11.84
Percussion	F	13.96	12.07	11.22	13.86	16.03	17.26	15.47
	M	15.79	21.85	9.69	9.97	8.31	14.40	19.94
Shaking	F	9.09	14.24	7.55	13.77	15.94	22.17	17.26
	M	6.40	12.18	12.10	17.45	22.43	19.11	9.97
Rolling	F	10.37	9.24	12.17	10.09	14.52	18.10	25.37
	M	12.46	3.32	8.86	11.35	13.55	24.64	25.76

F – females,
M – males. 100% corresponds to 1,060 females and 361 males.
R – red,
O – orange,
Y – yellow,
G – green,
GB – green-blue,
B – blue,
V – violet.
Dominating association of color with each technique emphasized separately for female (bold font) and male (underlined italic font) groups.

The association of color with a particular massage technique appears to change with age within the same gender group (see Table 3).

Color	Gender	Age interval
		13- 15	16- 19	20- 24	25- 29	30- 34	35- 39	40- 44	45- 49	50- 54	55- 59	60- 64	65- 69	70- 74	75- 79	80+
FRICTION
R	Female	30	23	66	39	51	15	19	12	4	10	11	0	0	1	3
	Male	1	20	20	9	12	12	10	3	12	6
O	Female	25	21	44	5	25	29	19	24	25	23	10	24	3	5	1
	Male	14	12	24	12	0	16	2	6	9	4
Y	Female	28	8	24	9	16	1	9	8	8	12	24	3	18	1	3
	Male	4	0	6	3	6	4	4	6	9	4
G	Female	9	12	15	12	32	6	1	0	17	12	3	3	12	9	4
	Male	3	0	9	3	6	0	0	0	9	0
GB	Female	7	8	7	5	3	5	7	4	25	0	0	3	3	4	1
	Male	4	12	6	6	0	4	2	6	0	12
B	Female	0	6	11	5	1	0	0	0	4	4	3	7	2	0	0
	Male	5	8	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
V	Female	5	12	9	0	0	0	0	4	0	15	0	2	1	0	0
	Male	2	0	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	0

Table 3 indicates that younger females associated friction with the red color, while older respondents shifted their preferences to the orange-yellow part of the spectrum.

Respondents from the male group exhibited smaller variations associated with age. Younger males selected orange instead of red as their association with friction.

Considerable inconsistency in the color preferences appeared among females and males aged 55-59, who selected orange and greenish-blue, respectively.

Color	Gender	Age interval
		13- 15	16- 19	20- 24	25- 29	30- 34	35- 39	40- 44	45- 49	50- 54	55- 59	60- 64	65- 69	70- 74	75- 79	80+
EFFLEURAGE
R	Female	7	3	16	10	7	0	0	4	12	15	4	3	12	2	2
	Male	5	0	0	3	0	4	2	3	6	0
O	Female	16	21	17	8	9	0	15	4	21	13	11	5	4	9	9
	Male	3	8	6	0	6	0	0	0	12	4
Y	Female	23	17	42	12	56	32	11	16	25	38	10	27	9	12	2
	Male	7	16	16	15	6	12	4	6	9	20
G	Female	19	17	43	24	24	7	20	16	17	4	15	4	11	6	4
	Male	5	16	17	9	3	16	12	9	3	3
GB	Female	4	3	8	4	7	0	0	4	4	0	3	1	2	0	0
	Male	3	0	1	6	3	0	0	3	3	0
B	Female	19	12	33	8	17	7	5	4	4	4	6	2	1	0	0
	Male	2	0	17	3	9	4	0	0	0	0
V	Female	16	17	17	9	8	10	4	4	9	2	2	0	0	1	2
	Male	8	12	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

The majority of male and female respondents associated effleurage with a narrow band between yellow and green. Only females aged 16-19 and older than 80 chose the orange color, and females between ages 70-74 selected red. Young males associated effleurage with violet and yellow colors.

Young adult males, ages 20-24, associated effleurage with green and blue, while older males, ages 30-34, pointed to the blue color. Males of all other age groups chose yellow and green.

Color	Gender	Age interval
		13- 15	16- 19	20- 24	25- 29	30- 34	35- 39	40- 44	45- 49	50- 54	55- 59	60- 64	65- 69	70- 74	75- 79	80+
KNEADING
R	Female	11	15	28	5	17	10	7	8	12	16	9	5	7	0	0
	Male	4	3	15	3	0	8	0	0	3	4
O	Female	19	15	42	33	16	11	3	8	13	7	1	3	3	0	0
	Male	0	4	14	3	3	0	8	6	0	12
Y	Female	16	15	23	16	7	6	1	16	17	11	1	3	0	0	0
	Male	11	12	12	12	3	0	0	3	9	0
G	Female	7	6	26	13	23	14	10	8	4	12	9	21	6	2	1
	Male	4	8	8	6	9	4	2	3	3	4
GB	Female	21	17	13	6	32	8	14	0	8	15	16	5	13	13	7
	Male	7	4	10	3	6	20	4	6	3	4
B	Female	19	17	11	0	8	1	4	4	17	8	6	5	1	6	4
	Male	3	4	6	6	3	0	2	0	9	4
V	Female	11	5	33	2	25	6	16	8	12	7	9	0	0	0	0
	Male	4	16	8	3	3	4	2	3	6	4

There were no specific trends registered in either group in regard to the kneading technique. There were great variations in the chosen colors that respondents associated with kneading, and these variations did not present an established pattern.

Females up to age 19, those aged 30-34, and those aged 50 and over selected greenish-blue and blue colors. However, females older than 20 selected red and orange colors, while respondents between ages 30-34 also pointed to violet, and females aged 45-54 selected yellow. Male respondents made very close selections.

Color	Gender	Age interval
		13- 15	16- 19	20- 24	25- 29	30- 34	35- 39	40- 44	45- 49	50- 54	55- 59	60- 64	65- 69	70- 74	75- 79	80+
PERCUSSION
R	Female	14	15	27	7	15	6	6	12	28	9	2	8	1	0	0
	Male	8	12	10	12	3	4	2	6	0	0
O	Female	16	2	35	9	13	15	9	0	4	0	6	2	7	6	4
	Male	6	16	7	9	12	8	2	9	6	4
Y	Female	9	2	21	14	9	4	18	8	12	8	0	6	3	5	1
	Male	2	4	12	0	0	8	6	0	3	0
G	Female	9	23	22	2	9	8	4	16	8	24	9	1	8	2	2
	Male	3	0	6	3	6	4	0	0	6	8
GB	Female	19	21	27	21	11	14	0	8	8	9	15	9	9	0	0
	Male	2	4	15	0	0	0	2	0	3	4
B	Female	21	15	23	13	23	8	14	0	17	12	12	6	9	7	3
	Male	9	12	9	6	0	0	2	3	3	8
V	Female	16	12	21	9	48	1	4	8	8	15	7	10	2	1	2
	Male	3	4	14	6	6	12	4	3	12	8

Although the respondents from both groups produced a variety of responses in regard to the percussion technique, some common trends can be discerned. Young females from ages 19-35 associated percussion with the green-to-blue part of the spectrum. At the same time, significant numbers of females ages 20-25 and 50-55 chose the red-to-orange and yellow parts of the spectrum. Some females from the 30-35 age group chose the violet color.

In the male group, young respondents up to age 25 associated percussion with greenish-blue and violet colors.

Color	Gender	Age interval
		13- 15	16- 19	20- 24	25- 29	30- 34	35- 39	40- 44	45- 49	50- 54	55- 59	60- 64	65- 69	70- 74	75- 79	80+
VIBRATION
R	Female	14	13	18	5	17	21	10	4	21	11	15	5	10	9	4
	Male	4	8	10	3	6	4	4	6	3	4
O	Female	7	14	16	11	1	0	0	8	4	17	2	2	1	0	0
	Male	4	8	12	3	0	4	2	0	0	4
Y	Female	7	6	22	0	16	6	1	4	4	0	9	3	0	1	3
	Male	2	8	7	3	3	4	4	3	3	4
G	Female	25	9	18	7	23	6	6	0	17	0	0	4	2	2	1
	Male	2	8	9	6	0	4	0	6	0	5
GB	Female	14	14	42	21	48	7	10	16	17	31	1	21	9	2	1
	Male	7	8	13	12	3	8	2	0	9	0
B	Female	21	14	31	13	7	14	15	16	8	16	15	1	5	0	0
	Male	5	8	12	0	9	12	6	0	6	4
V	Female	16	20	29	18	16	2	13	4	12	1	9	6	12	7	3
	Male	9	4	10	9	6	0	0	6	12	12

Respondents from both groups mostly associated percussion vibration with the green, blue and violet colors of the spectrum. In contrast to the percussion technique (see Table 6), the respondents’ association switched more to the violet part of the spectrum. Some female respondents between ages 45-65 associated vibration with the red color.

Color	Gender	Age interval
		13- 15	16- 19	20- 24	25- 29	30- 34	35- 39	40- 44	45- 49	50- 54	55- 59	60- 64	65- 69	70- 74	75- 79	80+
SHAKING
R	Female	16	20	10	4	10	4	13	4	8	4	0	0	0	2	1
	Male	5	4	10	0	6	0	0	0	0	4
O	Female	9	6	17	9	48	1	9	8	8	8	9	3	9	4	3
	Male	3	4	7	3	0	8	4	0	0	4
Y	Female	7	20	16	5	17	1	4	0	0	4	6	0	0	0	0
	Male	4	12	11	3	3	4	0	0	3	4
G	Female	19	20	35	0	0	7	10	8	12	20	6	9	0	0	0
	Male	8	8	13	3	0	4	4	3	12	4
GB	Female	14	6	46	14	14	21	15	12	8	12	3	0	0	1	3
	Male	5	12	16	6	3	4	8	3	6	12
B	Female	11	15	26	26	22	20	1	16	22	16	9	21	21	8	1
	Male	6	0	5	12	9	16	2	12	6	4
V	Female	28	3	26	17	17	2	3	4	25	12	18	9	9	6	4
	Male	2	12	10	9	6	0	0	3	0	0

Shaking, similarly to percussion and vibration, evoked associations with the green, blue and violet parts of the spectrum. However, a large number of respondents from both groups associated shaking with the blue color.

Color	Gender	Age interval
		13- 15	16- 19	20- 24	25- 29	30- 34	35- 39	40- 44	45- 49	50- 54	55- 59	60- 64	65- 69	70- 74	75- 79	80+
ROLLING
R	Female	12	3	11	5	11	0	0	8	0	11	10	21	9	7	3
	Male	6	4	10		6	6	4	0	3	9	4
O	Female	11	12	5	0	16	0	0	0	9	8	12	3	12	6	4
	Male	3	0	7	6	0	0	0	0	0	0
Y	Female	14	20	28	19	7	6	11	0	17	3	1	0	0	2	1
	Male	3	0	11	0	6	4	0	3	3	4
G	Female	16	3	17	17	17	8	4	4	8	4	9	0	0	0	0
	Male	4	12	16	3	6	0	0	3	9	0
GB	Female	25	20	33	4	13	1	9	8	12	10	13	3	3	0	0
	Male	4	12	16	3	6	0	0	3	9	0
B	Female	14	12	41	10	50	6	16	12	12	16	0	0	0	0	4
	Male	5	20	5	6	0	4	6	6	9	12
V	Female	12	20	41	20	14	35	15	20	25	24	6	15	15	6	1
	Male	6	4	10	9	9	20	12	6	3	8

Females linked rolling primarily with the green-blue, blue and violet colors, but the older group of female respondents shifted their association toward the red and orange colors.

Males initially also preferred shorter-wavelength colors, but with increasing age, their preferences shifted to the green-blue and violet colors.

The classical massage session, in conjunction with a properly selected color correctly adjusted to the client’s gender and age, may augment the healing impact of massage therapy. Color will involve the visual analyzer in the treatment process in the same way as a practitioner uses the stimulation of the auditory analyzer by music therapy or of the smell analyzer by aromatherapy as important components of the massage therapy session.

This study does not contain sufficient data to firmly support this conclusion, but it points in the direction of further research. This study does present general guidelines for massage therapy practitioners who may consider the use of color therapy as part of a therapeutic massage session.

This study also suggests that despite the statistically sound correlations between particular color(s) and massage techniques, personal preferences must be considered. Furthermore, the final decision about using color therapy as an additional tool in the massage session must be discussed with each client before any treatment.

CONCLUSION

We have discussed the results of this study with panels of physicians and psychologists to find a possible explanation for the correlations in the perception of a massage technique with a particular color. Ophthalmologists excluded age-dependent changes in vision as a reason for the obtained data. Endocrinologists excluded changes in hormonal levels as a DIRECT factor in the observed correlations.

We agree with the positions of the experts that age-related changes in perception of the massage technique within the same gender group are the result of the lesser aggressiveness of older subjects and their increased emotional stability. Colors of shorter wavelengths seem to be less aggressive.

The information disclosed in this data may have practical applications for massage therapy practitioners. We think that the best way to include activation of the visual analyzer in the massage session is the use of colored light during the massage session. Thus, the use of colored lights that match age, gender and applied techniques during treatment may enhance the therapeutic impact of massage therapy.

LED strip lights are relatively inexpensive, simple to install and easy to control using various controls, including remote ones. Thus, the practitioner may enhance treatment by changing the color while changing the application of major massage techniques. For example, while applying friction therapy on a 25-year-old woman, the practitioner uses a red color light. Then, if the shaking technique is used, the practitioner may consider changing the color to blue.

Considering the practical use of data obtained by this study, we would like to summarize our recommendations below:

• Effleurage techniques are associated primarily with the yellow part of the spectrum
• Kneading techniques do not have a solid color association
• Friction techniques are associated with the red-orange part of the spectrum
• Vibration techniques are associated with the green-blue color
• Shaking techniques are associated with the blue color for females and the orange color for males
• Rolling techniques are associated with the violet color of the spectrum

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Category: Stress Reduction Massage

Tags: JMS 2012 Issue #3