I had no idea cuddling could do this ...

Nature_Lover_

Today I came across several interesting benefits from cuddling and platonic touch on a website called newwaycenter.com.
Wanted to share two of them here and also invite anyone to share any other lesser known benefits of cuddling they may want to. I mean we all know how incredible cuddling feels, how restorative and wonderful it is but did you know:

• NBA basketball players who touch each other win the most games

• touch lowers glucose levels in children with diabetes

SuperManCuddles

@Nature_Lover_ Thank you for sharing! Very interesting! 🏀

JoyfulHeart

Hmmm... As a diabetic, I should see if my insurance will pay for cuddles! 🤓

RayOfHope

@JoyfulHeart 😂😂😂👍👍👍

Mela_B

@JoyfulHeart that's actually a good idea!

simsaddict

That’s really cool actually @Nature_Lover_ !
I asked a coworker for a hug today and it was one of the longest hugs I’ve had in a while. Guess I miss that feeling of a long hug.

nurturingman

I’ve always thought it was sweet how the basketball players hug each other and cradle each other’s heads. I don’t know whether the correlation you mentioned implies causality but it is an interesting correlation.

I tried looking for the article and couldn’t find it.

Nature_Lover_

@nurturingman The title of the article is, Embrace the power of human touch for greater health and happiness and the site in Newwaycenter.com Hope this helps

@JoyfulHeart Hey, Ive always said cuddling is good medicine ! Would absolutly love for insurnace to pay for cuddles. Makes so much sense to me!!

@simsaddict Work hugs are the best because you don'd expect them typically. They can be a rare treat.

Shake

I've had 3 cuddle sessions with a pro since I joined so far and have certainly noticed a difference in my attitude during the day. More often then not I'm usually weighed down by depression & have to force myself to be positive or distract myself to appear happy.

The last few weeks in particular though I've found myself genuinely smiling. Even more engaged with customers at work. Just feels like there's a little less darkness surrounding me iately. I don't fully understand it yet... but it feels nice. 😊

JoyfulHeart

@Shake49 It's awesome to hear about results like that! My experience has been similar.

Shake

@JoyfulHeart that's really nice to hear. I hope this new light sticks around for both of us!

Mare_Bear

Yes, yes. We are finding out about many benefits of cuddling proven by science.

Wait, this study was conducted in NBA locker rooms, training facilities, and the homes and hotels of their players?

And someone was counting the number of long embraces, of each member of the 15 player team, for each of the 30 NBA teams?

Forgive me if I am, well, dubious to put it politely.

Morpheus

@CharlesThePoet there was an actual study done at Berkely regarding NBA players hi fiving and touching each other’s. Mel Robbins talks about this on her recent guest spot on Ed Myletts podcast.

Babichev

@CharlesThePoet here’s an article on the study. I find it plausible, knowing what I know from other studies. I can probably find full text for you if you really want but this article quotes from it quite enough.

https://www.fastcompany.com/1711199/new-study-when-nba-players-touch-teammates-more-they-and-their-teams-play-better

By the way, I’m impressed with the way this author analyzed the study. They did a very nice job of it. Articles with this level and quality of analysis are rare.

Found the full text if you’re interested. The methods section will describe what they did.

https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/3459794/kraus.touch.2010.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline;+filename=Tactile_communication_cooperation_and_pe.pdf&Expires=1634886656&Signature=D9cW2tmz6kN5PDRaUYin1gr9rY4v8OF-FcgUpL8-SvtKUkEr~KXrKvVS5KKUo6mw90zyxL0FQB8YgE-FXBiZ4-aWujA6G8-1j7N1up3KO-mq7vc5UBkhJulqYe7wj5RYxpBaB~IOc4XemDylThbqQ9GShCM8sp61iB47Kncq-2hxGJk45Plr6d-VL5oSMMgRQHdVpR0VJlWxWPhTaqYx4TnzQTqPOBNDv8c7AvnoxD9ZEODwyzQF~nw0RQ4zDDi-7XHVV5W5W-QvgX6~uCeZK03LHmJ-I0kD~m4R3vaOv5IOTaWK5iDxr-0wyTGwCyjdbtvS7pTtXBBrzUEU7~MouA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA

Or just type the title of the study into a Google Scholar search window. When it comes up, it should say “something something.pdf” on the side. Click on that. If it doesn’t, where it says “All 18 versions,” click on that and look for one that has a pdf version, that is almost always full text.

Well, speaking generally about male sports teams, you aren’t high-fiving, attaboy back slapping, or hugging unless things are going well.

My personal experience has been that if things aren’t going well for a man in competition don’t even talk to him, let alone touch him.

That’s what coaches are for…

But sure, I’ll read the study.

It will be yet another reason to feel terrible about isolation and loneliness.

MonkeyNeedsAHug

offers @CharlesThePoet A high five

🐒

https://www.thecut.com/2014/06/very-best-of-world-cup-man-on-man-pda-so-far.html

Edit: Oh, no! Y’all. He’s deactivated.
Come back, @CharlesThePoet. Don’t leave me hanging, brother.