This gem of work shows the scientific research that has been carried out into massage therapy and the benefits it can have for a range of issues.
For a summary of the research, I'd highly recommend Tiffany Field's book - Touch, which should be on everyone's list who cares about their health and wellbeing. As one of the leading touch researchers in the world, Dr Tiffany Field again shows why touch is so crucial for our species and how we can all benefit by having more touch in our lives.