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Therapeutic Massage to Modify Anxiety and the Perception of Pain
Study examines the effects of therapeutic massage on pain perception, anxiety
and experiencing significant cancer pain. Thirty-minutes of massage was given on
two consecutive evenings to nine hospitalized males with cancer and experiencing
pain. The subjects self-reports of pain and relaxation were recorded before and
immediately after the massage.
Physiologic measures were taken before and immediately after. Massage therapy
significantly reduced the subjects' level of pain perception and anxiety, while
enhancing their feelings of relaxation. All physiological measures tended to
decrease from baseline. The authors conclude that therapeutic massage is a
beneficial nursing intervention that promotes relaxation and alleviates the
perception of pain in hospitalized cancer patients.
All massage was delivered by the primary investigator, an RN. The massage
consisted of 30 minutes of effleurage and petrissage to the feet, back, neck,
and shoulders, and myofascial trigger point massage on six points located in the
upper, middle and lower trapezius muscle region.
Note: there was no control group.
Ferrell-Torry AT, Glick OJ. College of Nursing, University of
Iowa. Cancer Nursing, 16(2): 93-101, 1993 April
Massage Therapy Reduces Pain Perception and Anxiety Levels of Male Cancer
Patients
The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effects of
therapeutic massage on pain perception, anxiety and relaxation levels in
hospitalized patients experiencing significant cancer pain. Thirty minutes of
therapeutic massage was administered on two consecutive evenings to nine
hospitalized males diagnosed with cancer and experiencing cancer pain. The
objective physiologic measures of heart rate, respiratory rate and blood
pressure were obtained before, immediately after, and, finally, ten minutes
after the massage.
Massage therapy significantly reduced the subjects’ level of pain perception
(average of 60%) and anxiety (average 24%) while enhancing their feelings of
relaxation by an average of 58%. In addition to these subjective measures, all
physiological measures (heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure) tended
to decrease from baseline, providing further indication of relaxation.
In conclusion, although the exact mechanism is not known, therapeutic massage
is a beneficial nursing intervention that promotes relaxation
and alleviates the perception of pain and anxiety in hospitalized cancer
patients.
Ferrell-Torry A, Glick O;College of Nursing, University of
Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa ; Cancer Nursing, 16 (2): 93-101, 1993
Burn Injuries Benefit from Massage Therapy
Twenty-eight adult patients with burns were randomly assigned to either a
massage therapy group or a standard treatment control group before debridement.
The massage therapy group subjects received a 20 minute massage once a day
for one week. State anxiety and cortisol levels decreased, and behavior ratings
of state, activity, vocalizations and anxiety improved after the massage therapy
sessions on the first and last days of treatment. Longer-term effects were also
significantly better for the massage therapy group, including decreases in
depression and anger, and decreased pain on the McGill Pain Questionnaire,
Present Pain Intensity scale, and Visual Analogue Scale.
Although the underlying mechanisms are not known, these data suggest
that debridement sessions were less painful after the massage therapy sessions
due to a reduction in anxiety, and that the clinical course was probably
enhanced as a result of a reduction in pain, anger and depression.
Field T, Peck M, Krugman S, Tuchel T, Schanberg S, Kuhn C,
Burman I: Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation, 19 (3): 241-4, 1998 May/June
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