Link to The Touch Research Institutes The Touch Research Institutes are dedicated to studying the effects of touch therapy.  The TRIs have researched the effects of massage therapy at all stages of life, from newborns to senior citizens.  In these studies the TRIs have shown that touch therapy has many positive effects.  For example, massage therapy: facilitates weight gain in preterm infants reduces stress hormones alleviates depressive symptoms reduces pain improves immune function alters EEG in the direction of heightened awareness