Research Studies

Since The Shakti Mat's invention in 2009 three research papers have been written on the effectiveness of acupressure mats. You can access all three papers in the links below and we have highlighted the most exciting findings.

Study 1 - Reflexo-Therapy with Mechanical Cutaneous Stimulation 

The benefits reported by 200 participants after 2 weeks of regular use:

•  Pain Relief                             98%

• Improved Sleep                     94%

• Relaxation                             96%

• Improved Energy Levels       81%

Full Study Here

Study 2 - Does Relaxation on an Acupressure Mat Induce Beneficial Effects? A randomized controlled pilot study

This study involved 36 participants with long term neck and back tension

This study found significant improvement in peak pain intensity with regular use of acupressure mats. There was also a significant decrease in the number of painful areas the patients had over the 3 weeks they used the mat. Indications were also made that there were improvements in stress, anxiety and depression diminished, and that small increases in optimism and energy were observed. 

Full Study Here

Study 3 - Relaxing on a bed of nails: an exploratory study of the effects on the autonomic, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, and saliva cortisol.

Swedish clinical trial involving 32 participants

This study measured physiological effects and found increased back temperature (indicating increased circulation), lowered heart rate (indicating relaxation) and reduced subjective discomfort ratings. Sympathetic, then parasympathetic nervous system activity were observed.

Full Study Here

The Wall Street Journal published an article about acupressure mats also:

"...Research on nail mats so far is preliminary, scientists say. A Shakti-funded study, published earlier this year in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, tested heart rate, body temperature and other physical reactions to the "nail" mat compared with a soft bed in 32 healthy volunteers during three 20-minute sessions.

Back temperature was higher on the nail mat than on the soft bed—indicating increasing circulation, says study co-author Erik Olsson, who worked on the study at a Swedish rehabilitation clinic and is now a researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden. Heart rate slowed and was more variable on the Shakti mat—signs the body's parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation, was activated, he adds. Since the participants were all healthy, the study didn't measure if there were any health benefits. Dr. Olsson says further study would be needed to determine if endorphins are produced.

London neurophysiologist Nerina Ramlakhan says she recommends the Shakti mat to patients suffering from insomnia. "It very quickly helps the body to come into a state of rest," says Dr. Ramlakhan, who treats patients with sleep problems at a psychiatric clinic and has no connection with Shakti. She recommends relaxing on the mat for 10 to 20 minutes in the afternoon, or even starting off with it in bed at night..."