Massage & Fitness Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 7

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Slow, caring touch can reduce stress stemming from ostracization than fast, “neutral” touch. Researchers from the University College London had 84 female subjects play a ball toss game in which some of them get “rejected” during the game. Then these “rejects” receive either slow touch or fast touch. While they found the former is more effectiveness in alleviating negative moods from social rejection, how it works remains unclear.

Not Enough Sleep Increases Risk of Injury Among Teen Athletes

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found an inverse relationship between the amount of sleep and the risk of injury among young athletes. Pooling data from 10 observational studies (n=73,418), the researchers from China found sleep problems can increase the risk of injury by more than 1.5 times than those who get regular quality sleep.

However, because of the mixed methodologies and small sample sizes in some of the studies, as well as the lack of cohort studies or contradictory reportings, the researchers stated,

Affective Touch Soothes and

Reduces Fear of Ostracization

“Nevertheless, the association between sleep problems and injury frequency and severity in juveniles remains unclear because of the lack of studies examining such relationship. Hence, our understanding of gender differences, age, or types of sleep problems is insufficient....”