The Effect of Massage on Stress and Rehabilitation in The Military System

Year 2025, Volume: 20 Issue: 2, 451 - 468, 31.07.2025

Ejder Güneş , Ruhi Erol , Kasım Furkan Ocak , Sezer Yiğit

Abstract

In today’s fast-paced world, leading military personnel are faced with inevitable health problems that can affect their physical, mental and psychological conditions. This study systematically evaluates the existing literature examining the effects of massage therapies on stress levels and physical rehabilitation of military personnel in the modern military system. It is emphasized that massage has evolved in different ways in both Eastern and Western cultures and has made significant contributions to modern medicine. Studies on modern massage therapies reveal positive effects such as lowering cortisol levels, reducing anxiety and increasing the overall quality of life of military personnel. The findings in the literature reinforce the stress-reducing and rehabilitation-supporting effects of massage. Physiologically, massage accelerates the circulatory system, facilitates the elimination of toxins, supports muscle recovery and reduces edema by regulating lymph circulation. Massage is of great importance for military personnel in reducing physical and psychological burdens resulting from intense physical activities and stressful tasks. It has been stated that massage is effective as a short-term treatment option, especially for posture disorders and back pain; it can also be considered as a low-cost health strategy. In addition, massage has been shown to support immune function and increase operational stress coping capacity in soldiers who must cope with traumatic injuries and psychological difficulties. The effects of massage, such as reducing muscle spasms, improving blood circulation and providing psychological relaxation, increase both task performance and individual endurance. In conclusion, massage therapy is an effective method in reducing soldiers’ stress levels and supporting physical rehabilitation processes.

Keywords

Military system , Massage , Stress , Rehabilitation

Masajın Askeri Sistemde Stres ve Rehabilitasyon Üzerindeki Etkisi

Abstract

Günümüzün hızlı tempolu dünyasında, önde gelen askeri personel, fiziksel, ruhsal ve psikolojik durumlarını etkileyebilecek kaçınılmaz sağlık sorunlarıyla karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Bu çalışma, modern askeri sistemde masaj terapilerinin askeri personelin stres seviyeleri ve fiziksel rehabilitasyonu üzerindeki etkilerini inceleyen mevcut literatürü sistematik olarak değerlendirmektedir. Masajın hem Doğu hem de Batı kültürlerinde farklı şekillerde geliştiği ve modern tıbba önemli katkılarda bulunduğu vurgulanmaktadır. Modern masaj terapileri üzerine yapılan çalışmalar, kortizol seviyelerini düşürme, kaygıyı azaltma ve askeri personelin genel yaşam kalitesini artırma gibi olumlu etkiler ortaya koymaktadır. Literatürdeki bulgular, masajın stres azaltıcı ve rehabilitasyonu destekleyici etkilerini pekiştirmektedir. Fizyolojik olarak masaj, dolaşım sistemini hızlandırır, toksinlerin atılmasını kolaylaştırır, kas iyileşmesini destekler ve lenf dolaşımını düzenleyerek ödemi azaltır. Masaj, askeri personel için yoğun fiziksel aktiviteler ve stresli görevlerden kaynaklanan fiziksel ve psikolojik yükleri azaltmada büyük önem taşımaktadır. Masajın, özellikle duruş bozuklukları ve sırt ağrısı için kısa süreli bir tedavi seçeneği olarak etkili olduğu; aynı zamanda düşük maliyetli bir sağlık stratejisi olarak da değerlendirilebileceği belirtilmiştir. Ek olarak, masajın travmatik yaralanmalar ve psikolojik zorluklarla başa çıkması gereken askerlerde bağışıklık fonksiyonunu desteklediği ve operasyonel stresle başa çıkma kapasitesini artırdığı gösterilmiştir. Kas spazmlarını azaltma, kan dolaşımını iyileştirme ve psikolojik rahatlama sağlama gibi masajın etkileri hem görev performansını hem de bireysel dayanıklılığı artırır. Sonuç olarak, masaj terapisi askerlerin stres seviyelerini azaltmada ve fiziksel rehabilitasyon süreçlerini desteklemede etkili bir yöntemdir.

Keywords

Askeri sistem , Masaj , Stres , Rehabilitasyon

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