Massage Provides Relief
Studies showing the effectiveness of massage as a drug-free alternative to a variety of illness are becoming more and more prevalent in research journals. In one such study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers looked into the benefits of massage verses simple touch therapy in patients with advanced cancer.
The study was funded in part by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and was conducted at 15 U.S. hospices included as part of the population-based Palliative Care Research Network.
Those suffering from various types of advanced cancer can sometimes experience extreme pain, which can cause a great deal of both physical and emotional stress. This stress can lead to a decrease in functional abilities, as well as quality of life. Making these patients comfortable at the end stage of their life is always important and small studies have shown that massage therapy just might provide significant symptom relief for those suffering from advanced cancer.
This study included 380 patients with advanced cancer who were experiencing moderate to severe pain. Touch therapy was defined as placing both hands on specific body sites. Patients were randomly assigned to receive six 30-minute treatment sessions of either massage or simple touch therapy over a two-week period.
According to NCCAM, the results of the study showed that both groups experienced statistically significant improvements in pain relief, physical and emotional distress and quality of life. Immediate improvement in pain and mood was greater with massage than with simple touch therapy. However, it is important to note that sustained effects of both therapies were not observed.
According to NCCAM, researchers concluded that massage therapy may provide some immediate relief for patients with advanced cancer and they also suggest that simple touch, which can be provided by family members and volunteers, might also provide benefits to these patients.
