Sitting in front of a computer for hours at a time, cramming for exams and not eating healthy food around mid-terms could be a leading cause of stress among Penn State students, but with the right massage this stress could be easily relieved

At least according to Suzanne Irwin, nationally certified massage therapist and co-owner of Synergy Massage Therapy, located at 925 West College Ave.

Students usually unconsciously accumulate stress during exam time. If students are studying or are stressed about schoolwork they tend to unconsciously tighten muscles, such as those in the shoulders and lower jaw, without even realizing it, Irwin said.

This week is National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, which is sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association. The theme for this year is "Massage Relieves Stress," and according to AMTA this will help promote the fact that massage is a great way to relieve stress, promote relaxation and can act as a compliment to medical care.

"There is clinical research that shows that massages can help to relieve stress," Irwin said. Massage therapy is proven to reduce the heart rate, lower blood pressure, increase the circulation of blood and lymph flow and increase endorphins, which are simply the body's natural pain killers, Irwin said.

"Massage loosens tight muscles and helps people to feel less anxious and stressed," Irwin said. Stress can compromise the immune system and massages can help to enhance the productivity of the immune system by releasing different chemicals in the body, such as endorphins. Massages also promote healthier tissue by increasing the circulation of blood, which carries oxygen and nutrients to tissue, Irwin said.

"We find that a lot of students come into the office for massages in order to relieve stress during mid-terms, finals and exams in general," Irwin said.

The techniques that Irwin and her colleagues use vary from patient to patient. Irwin begins her sessions by talking with the patient about his or her medical history, where he or she feels pain and also what might be bothering the patient at the time. "We communicate during the whole massage. For example, talking about which areas are sensitive and where the pain and muscle tension might be," Irwin said.

Studies have been done at the University of Miami about how getting a full body massage can help with stress reduction. The study revealed that massages can help to relieve not only physical muscle tension but also help to relieve mental tension caused by stress, said David Wolin, owner of Central Pennsylvania School of Massage, 336 S. Fraser St.

Similar to Irwin, Wolin begins his massage by asking his patients where they hold their stress. Some people hold their stress in the muscles in the neck and shoulder area and others in their lower back area. Wolin then applies varying pressures on these problem areas and relieves tension there, he said.

"Massages can also help to enhance health and nourishment of the body by blood circulation," Wolin said. Jennifer Battistoni (senior-elementary education) feels that massages definitely help to relieve her stress and also to promote her mental well-being.

"I had a hot stone massage over the summer and it really relaxed me and balanced me out physically and mentally," Battistoni said.