Yes, they certainly can. Anything that makes you feel good and that causes the release of “feel-good” hormones — such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin — can help with stress relief, because these hormones usually counteract cortisol (the primary stress hormone). Studies have shown that cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. That’s one of the reasons why I love massages — especially those that allow me to be passive. In other words, I prefer getting a massage instead of using a massage gun like Theragun or scalp massager myself. I’ve also noticed that using electrical muscle stimulation devices, such as the PowerDot, has stress-reducing effects that can mitigate tension headaches and similar issues.