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Many qualified schools of massage where the nurse can be educated and certified to perform massage therapy are located throughout the United States and are listed in massage therapy journals. The rehabilitation nurse who provides massage therapy will gain personal satisfaction through knowing that the client will benefit from the therapy both physically and psychologically.
The prevention of pressure sores is a major concern of rehabilitation nurses. Through the years, several methods have been used to prevent pressure sores. One of the most commonly used methods is massage of bony prominences and pressure areas. However, according to most contemporary clinical guidelines, massage should be avoided. This article analyzes the extent to which these guidelines are based on research findings through a literature review on the effectiveness of massage in the prevention of pressure sores. The results of the studies that were analyzed led to the conclusion that massage as therapy for preventing pressure sores in subjects at risk for developing them is not recommended.
Asian women who work at massage parlors in San Francisco have high levels of risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and being victims of violence, which jeopardizes their health and wellbeing. On the basis of mapping, the targeted districts in San Francisco where massage parlors were located, 23 massage parlors were identified where commercial sex activity took place. Using snowball-sampling methods, 43 Asian female massage parlor workers were recruited for focus groups; 21 participants were Vietnamese and 22 were Thai. Qualitative analyses revealed frequent exposure to violence including verbal or physical abuse from customers and gang members, as well as persistent HIV risk behaviors associated with multiple daily sex partners, inconsistent condom use with customers, and forced sex. Social factors related to gender, immigration status, and socioeconomic status appeared to be closely tied to the health and wellbeing of Asian masseuses. Study findings suggest that individualized as well as community-level interventions are necessary to improve these women's health and decrease their prolonged exposure to risks for STIs and violence.
The effect of prostatic massage on the concentration of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) in blood serum as determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) was compared with that determined by a standard enzymatic assay (EA). Serum was drawn from 24 men before prostatic massage and after--at specified intervals, up to twenty-four hours. Three of these men were young, normal controls; 10 had biopsy-proved prostate cancer (CA); 11 had histologically confirmed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). After prostatic massage, 3 of the 10 CA patients (30%) had elevation of PAP as determined by EA and 4 of the 11 BPH patients (36%) as determined by RIA. None of the controls showed elevated levels of PAP by either assay. In all patients elevated levels of PAP by both assays had returned to normal twenty-four hours after massage. It was concluded that serum for PAP testing by either assay method should be drawn before or twenty-four hours after rectal examination to prevent false positive results and the need for retesting.
Massage, together with breast-feeding, are the two fundamental nurturing practices of women in south Asia. In Mithila women are expected to massage their infants daily. If they do not, they lay themselves open to censure. Implicit in massage is the idea that a child's health is preserved by fostering its strength and invulnerability. Massage 'works' by instilling fearlessness, hardening bone structure, enhancing movement and limb coordination, and increasing weight. These practices, in turn, are premised on the idea that between birth and weaning the infant is highly impressionable such that its identity can be shaped by the women who nurture it.
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and carotid blood flow (CAF) during open-chest cardiac massage with and without occlusion of the descending aorta was examined in 10 dogs to assess whether they were augmented by occlusion. In control measurements with a normally beating heart, CBF with and without occlusion of the descending aorta were 17.8 +/- 2.3 and 13.8 +/- 2.2 ml/min (+/- S.E.M.), which were not significantly different. Cerebral blood flow during open-chest cardiac massage were 6.1 +/- 1.0 with occlusion and 5.7 +/- 1.0 ml/min without occlusion of the descending aorta, which were also not significantly different. By contrast, CAF increased significantly with occlusion of the descending aorta both during control measurement, with mean increases of 61.1% and 92.2% during open-chest cardiac massage (P = 0.05). While occlusion generally failed to augment CBF; in two dogs resuscitation was successful by manual cardiac massage. With the restoration of cardiac activity it increased immediately to twice that of control blood flow, and then gradually returned to the control level. Based on these observations, it is the author's opinion that every effort should be directed toward the restoration of cardiac activity as quickly as possible during circulatory arrest, and to increase CBF which is essential for neurological recovery.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of repeated massage-like stroking on plasma levels of some gastrointestinal hormones, insulin included, glucose and weight gain. For this purpose, male rats were exposed to stroking on the ventral side of the abdomen for 3 or 14 times. The treatments were given every second day. Control rats were picked up at the same time but received no stroking. Body weight was measured regularly. Rats were decapitated 10 min after the last treatment. Hormone levels were radioimmunoassayed and glucose was measured by spectrophotometry. In rats exposed to 3 sessions of massage-like stroking plasma levels of insulin (p<0.05) and somatostatin (p<0.01) were significantly decreased 10 min after the last treatment. After 14 treatments of massage-like stroking, decreased plasma levels of insulin (p<0.01) and gastrin (p<0.01) as well as increased glucose levels (p<0.01) were observed 10 min after the last treatment. In addition, weight gain was significantly increased (ANOVA p<0.0001) in rats exposed to 14 treatments. In conclusion, repeated massage-like stroking decreased plasma levels of gastrin, insulin and somatostatin, increased plasma levels of glucose and promoted weight gain. The effects were influenced by the number of treatments.
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of baby massage for 3 months after delivery on mothers' mood status and salivary cortisol level. Study participants were a convenient sample of mothers who delivered their babies at a hospital in Japan, and were recruited at the time of the routine 5-6 weeks postnatal visit to the pediatric office. Thirty-nine mothers were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Nineteen mothers in the experimental group were examined before the first day of the baby massage, and 3 months after delivery. The psychological measurements used were profile of mood states (POMS). In the physiological measurements, the salivary cortisol level was analyzed. The result revealed that significant differences in the POMS score were seen in depression and vigor between the two groups at 3 months. There were no significant differences in the salivary cortisol levels. Baby massage was found to positively affect the mood status of the mothers. We propose that midwives and other health-care professionals should recommend mothers to do baby massage to improve their own mood status.
OBJECTIVES: The Training and Support Programme (TSP) is an 8-week programme in which carers of children with disabilities receive instruction in simple massage techniques to use with their child. The aims of the present study were firstly to compare, adherers and non-adherers on measures of psychological well-being and self-efficacy and secondly, to examine whether, for adherers, the positive benefits of attending the TSP reported immediately after the Programme were maintained at 12-month follow-up. DESIGN: Eighty-two carers took part in the study. Data were collected 12-months after completion of the TSP by self-report questionnaires mailed to carers. For comparisons between adherers and non-adherers at 12-month follow-up a between-groups design was used. For comparisons over time, a within-subjects design was used. RESULTS: Adherers had significantly higher levels of self-efficacy for managing their child's psychosocial well-being, self-efficacy for carrying out the massage, and significantly better psychological well-being at follow-up compared to non-adherers. Furthermore, there were no significant differences over time on self-efficacy for managing their child's psychosocial well-being, self-efficacy for giving massage and levels of anxiety and depression at 12-month follow-up for adherers, suggesting that their improvements noted immediately post-programme were maintained at follow-up. Significant decreases on self-efficacy and depression were noted for non-adherers and there was a trend towards deterioration in anxious mood. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present study suggests that the positive benefits the TSP has for carers of children with disabilities can be maintained if carers continue to practise the massage at home with their child.
BACKGROUND: Opioid analgesia alone may not fully relieve all aspects of acute postoperative pain. Complementary medicine techniques used as adjuvant therapies have the potential to improve pain management and palliate postoperative distress. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective randomized clinical trial compared pain relief after major operations in 202 patients who received one of three nursing interventions: massage, focused attention, or routine care. Interventions were performed twice daily starting 24 hours after the operation through postoperative day 7. Perceived pain was measured each morning. RESULTS: The rate of decline in the unpleasantness of postoperative pain was accelerated by massage (p = 0.05). Massage also accelerated the rate of decline in the intensity of postoperative pain but this effect was not statistically significant. Use of opioid analgesics was not altered significantly by the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Massage may be a useful adjuvant therapy for the management of acute postoperative pain. Its greatest effect appears to be on the affective component (ie, unpleasantness) of the pain.
To investigate changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) under the prone condition with and without light massage on the back, we measured rCBF quantitatively in healthy human subjects using positron emission tomography with H(2)15O. Biochemical tests showed that the light massage (palm-pressure) reduced levels of stress-related serum cortisol and salivary stress protein chromogranin-A measured after the PET examination. Absolute rCBF significantly increased in the parietal cortex (precuneus) under the prone condition compared with the supine condition, and this rCBF increase was in parallel with comfortable sensation and slowing heart rate during the massage. Correlation analysis in statistical parametric mapping showed that the amygdalar and basal forebrain rCBF correlated with parasympathetic function (heart rate reduction), indicating involvement of the forebrain-amygdala system in mediating activities in the autonomic nervous system in the presence of comfortable sensation. To conclude, prone posture itself can stimulate the precuneus region to raise awareness, and the light massage on the back may help accommodate the brain to comfortable stimulation.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of transvaginal manual therapy of the pelvic floor musculature (Thiele massage) in symptomatic female patients with interstitial cystitis and high-tone dysfunction of the pelvic floor. METHODS: A total of 21 women with documented interstitial cystitis and high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction underwent transvaginal massage using the Thiele technique twice a week for 5 weeks. Symptoms were evaluated before massage, at protocol conclusion, and at a mean of 4.5 months after therapy completion (long-term follow-up). The response to treatment was evaluated through the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Indexes, Likert Visual Analogue Scales for urgency and pain, and Short-Form 12-item (SF-12) Quality-of-Life Scale, and through changes in the physical examination findings using a 5-point modified Oxford Scale to document pelvic floor tenderness. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement was seen in the Symptom and Problem Indexes of the O'Leary-Sant Questionnaire (P = 0.015 and P = 0.039, respectively), Likert Visual Analogue Scales for urgency and pain (P = 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively), the Physical and Mental Component Summary from the SF-12 Quality-of-Life Scale (P = 0.049 and P = 0.044, respectively), and the modified Oxford Scale (P <0.05) after protocol completion. At long-term follow-up, the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Indexes (P = 0.049 and P = 0.02, respectively), Likert Visual Analogue Scales for urgency and pain (P = 0.004 and P = 0.005, respectively), and modified Oxford Scale for three of four muscles in the pelvic floor (P <0.05) remained significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: Thiele massage appears to be very helpful in improving irritative bladder symptoms in patients with interstitial cystitis and high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction in addition to decreasing pelvic floor muscle tone.
The purpose of this single blinded randomised controlled trial was to investigate the effects of soft tissue massage on range of motion, reported pain and reported function in patients with shoulder pain. Twenty-nine patients referred to physiotherapy for shoulder pain were randomly assigned to a treatment group that received six treatments of soft tissue massage around the shoulder (n = 15) or to a control group that received no treatment while on the waiting list for two weeks (n = 14). Measurements were taken both before and after the experimental period by a blinded assessor. Active range of motion was measured for flexion, abduction and hand-behind-back movements. Pain was assessed with the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMPQ) and functional ability was assessed with the Patient Specific Functional Disability Measure (PSFDM). The treatment group showed significant improvements in range of motion compared with the control group for abduction (mean 42.2 degrees, 95% CI 24.1 to 60.4 degrees), flexion (mean 22.6 degrees, 95% CI 12.4 to 32.8 degrees) and hand-behind-back (mean 11.0 cm improvement, 95% CI 6.3 to 15.6 cm). Massage reduced pain as reported on the descriptive section of the SFMPQ by a mean of 4.9 points (95% CI 2.5 to 7.2 points) and on the visual analogue scale by an average of 26.5 mm (95% CI 5.3 to 47.6 mm), and it improved reported function on the PSFDM by a mean of 8.6 points (95% CI 4.9 to 12.3 points). We conclude that soft tissue massage around the shoulder is effective in improving range of motion, pain and function in patients with shoulder pain. The mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear.
A case of ventricular tachycardia (VT) was aggravated by carotid sinus massage in a woman with an old myocardial infarction. The patient presented with a wide QRS complex tachycardia with a rate of 143 beats/min, which fulfilled the classic and newer electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of VT. Carotid sinus massage performed during the tachycardia resulted in its conversion to another, wide QRS complex tachycardia, with different morphology and a faster rate resembling ventricular flutter. This latter tachycardia was converted to sinus rhythm by a thump on the patient's chest. The initial tachycardia was proved to be of ventricular origin by electrophysiologic study at a later stage during a recurrence. Vagal stimulation probably resulted in inhomogeneous increase of the ventricular refractory period, creating conditions for a reentrant circuit other than the preexisting one and for the emergence of VT with a different QRS morphology and rate. Although termination and/or initiation of VT by carotid sinus massage has been reported in the past, modification of VT by carotid sinus massage has not been described previously.
BACKGROUND: The method of "massage therapy" has consistently shown increased weight gain in preterm infants. The weight gain was apparent during massages administered by professionals. AIMS: To replicate the results of increased weight gain in the course of "massage therapy" in preterm infants, and utilize a new, cost-effective application of this method by comparing maternal to nonmaternal administration of the therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Random cluster design. SUBJECTS: The study comprised 57 healthy, preterm infants assigned to three groups: two treatment groups--one in which the mothers performed the massage, and the other in which a professional female figure unrelated to the infant administered the treatment. Both these groups were compared to a control group. RESULTS: Over the 10-day study period, the two treatment groups gained significantly more weight compared to the control group (291.3 and 311.3 vs. 225.5 g, respectively). Calorie intake/kg did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers are able to achieve the same effect size as that of trained professionals, allowing cost-effective application of the treatment within the neonatal intensive care unit.
A case of delayed splenic rupture occurring 18 days after external cardiac massage is reported. A 30 year old woman underwent mitral valve replacement. Two cardiac arrests in the immediate postoperative period were successfully treated by external cardiac massage. Recovery was uneventful until the 18th day, when the patient began to suffer from dizziness. Haemodynamic and biological data suggested hypovolaemia by dehydration. The day after, her abdomen became painful and anaemia was discovered. Splenic rupture was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and splenectomy was carried out; no other lesion was found. In spite of the widespread practice of external cardiac massage, splenic rupture without any other lesion is unusual. It is suggested that abdominal ultrasonography should follow all cardiac massages.
Infant or baby massage has emerged in the recent decade as an activity promoted by health care professionals, popular with parents and the subject of a growing body of research evidence (Complement. Ther. Nurs. Midwifery 2 (1996) 151; 3 & 8 Tough Ther. 2000). This paper reports on the experience of establishing and facilitating baby massage training. There is a focus in the discussion on teaching fathers, as only one male parent attended the classes over a 6-month period. Recommendations are made in the conclusion, identifying possible ways of promoting fathers involvement in babies massage. The paper, with its images of a father engaged in baby massage, is intended to add to the current limited amount of literature available on this subject.
In this paper the author reviews six years of running an on-going baby massage group in a health clinic and makes observations, based on experience, on the importance of offering these classes in health centres where they are accessible to all parents with young babies. As baby massage classes are becoming increasingly popular, private individuals are offering classes and, in some cases, there is doubt as to the qualifications of the instructors, their understanding, and their ability to give sufficient support to young mothers at a vulnerable stage in their lives. The quality of training given by the International Association of Infant Massage Instructors based in the USA is appraised and some thoughts are given as to the way ahead in making more baby massage classes available to all parents within the Primary Preventive Health setting.