11 Reasons Touch Therapy Is Making a Comeback in Health

9. Workplace and community uses of touch in wellness programs

Employers and community groups are experimenting with touch-based offerings—like chair massage days, guided relaxation that includes safe hand placements, and peer-support touch practices—to combat burnout and loneliness. Simple, optional programs can boost morale and lower stress if they include clear consent policies and allow opt-outs. Chair massage, for example, is a short, seated option that's often covered by employee wellness budgets and can lower tension during busy seasons. Community centers sometimes pair touch-informed activities—like partner stretches or caregiver-support groups—with education about boundaries and consent. Any program must be inclusive and respectful, with clear training for providers and transparent communication so participants know exactly what to expect. Thoughtful implementation balances the benefits of shared, human-centered care with legal and ethical safeguards, making workplaces and communities kinder places without violating personal comfort.

10. Technology, robots, and the limits of nonhuman touch

Technology offers tools that simulate physical contact—robotic massage chairs, haptic suits, and AI companions that respond to touch-like cues—but research shows they don't fully replace human connection. Mechanical devices can relieve muscle tension and ease physical pain effectively, yet they lack the social bonding signals and mutual responsiveness of human interaction. AI companions and chatbots may provide a sense of presence for some users, particularly teens who increasingly use them, but they don't produce the same oxytocin-driven bonding or nuanced emotional attunement that comes from another person. That gap matters for mental health outcomes: physical comfort may improve, but the deeper social benefits tied to human empathy and reciprocity remain limited. Technology can expand access and offer useful adjuncts to care—especially where human touch is unavailable—but it shouldn’t be presented as a full substitute when emotional bonding and relational repair are the goals.