Chevalier and colleagues (2019) conducted a study that aimed to determine the effects of Grounding on massage therapists’ quality of life and pain. Sixteen massage therapists participated in the study. The intervention consisted of a Grounding mat placed directly under a massage table sheet and a larger separate Grounding mat placed on the floor around the massage table. Grounding was also performed at the therapist's home during sleep, by a Grounding tummy band or a Grounding sleeping mat. The trial lasted for 6 weeks, but Grounding was performed for 4 weeks.
The participants were blinded to the study. On weeks 1 and 6, they received “inactive” Grounding cords to act as a control evaluation, while during weeks 2 to 5 they received “active” Grounding cords. Outcomes were evaluated through the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), which is a classic test for pain measurement, the PROMIS-29 questionnaire (evaluates depression, anxiety, physical function, pain, fatigue, sleep, and social roles and activities), and a daily wellbeing log form, which was answered after each day of work.
It was observed that Sleep disturbance decreased significantly at week 5 among participants. Furthermore, grounded therapists, as a group, experienced significant increases in physical function and energy and significant decreases in fatigue, depressed mood, tiredness, and pain as compared to the control group. At a follow-up evaluation one-month after the study, physical function was still increased and depressed mood and fatigue were decreased. The authors concluded that Grounding helped therapists who were experiencing higher stress and higher levels of pain by providing them with extra energy, increasing relaxation, improving sleep, less anxiety and depression.
