Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch Improve Symptoms in Cancer

Abstract

Complementary therapies are increasingly used to reduce side effects of cancer treatment, without evidence for their effectiveness. In a randomized, prospective, 2-period, crossover intervention study, the authors tested the effects of therapeutic massage (MT) and healing touch (HT), in comparison to presence alone or standard care, in inducing relaxation and reducing symptoms in 230 subjects. MT and HT lowered blood pressure, respiratory rate (RR), and heart rate (HR). MT lowered anxiety and HT lowered fatigue, and both lowered total mood disturbance. Pain ratings were lower after MT and HT, with 4-week nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use less during MT. There were no effects on nausea. Presence reduced RR and HR but did not differ from standard care on any measure of pain, nausea, mood states, anxiety, or fatigue. MT and HT are more effective than presence alone or standard care in reducing pain, mood disturbance, and fatigue in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.

Tendências da pesquisa envolvendo o uso do toque terapêutico como uma estratégia de enfermagem

“…The effectiveness of TT in changing the parameters of vital signs such as blood pressure, heart and respiratory frequency has been verified in cancer patients (8) , critical patients (9) and in healthy individuals (10) . Among the most recent studies addressing TT, a clinical trial was conducted to investigate its effectiveness in improving sleep patterns, among other variables, and the authors found statistically significant results for latency (p=0.000), duration (p=0.008), habitual efficiency (p=0.021), disorders (0.000), daily sleepiness and sleep disorders during the day (0.002) (7) .…”

“…Even though many studies evaluate the use of TT in isolation, clinical trials have investigated the effectiveness of this strategy in comparison to or in association with other interventions already used in clinical practice, such as: progressive muscle relaxation (6) , massage (8) , cognitivebehavioral therapy (14) , music and guided imagery (15) . In the comparison between TT and progressive muscle relaxation in the reduction of pain and stress in patients with neuropathic pain (6) , the authors found pain improved when TT was implemented (p=0.035), in addition to greater satisfaction with life; the latter showed no statistical significance (p=0.27).…”

“…The studies addressing the effects of TT on anxiety and mood disorders have used questionnaires such as the Profile of Mood States (8) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (10) . The results, statistically significant for both (p=0.001 and p=0.003), indicate the improvement of symptoms.…”

Effect of Massage Therapy on Physiologic Responses in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

“…The intensity and duration of massage ranged from one session of 3-45 minutes to 15 sessions over 4 weeks (Jane et al, 2009;Post-White et al, 2003). To be consistent with the research aim to improve physical indicators, the protocol of massage for each participant in the intervention group, one session of massage therapy (for about 60 minutes) was done.…”

Integrative Oncology Care & Research: Needs to be reinforced

“…In the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis (17), two hundred thirty patients were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: therapeutic massage (MT), healing touch (HT), or caring presence (P). All subjects received 4 weekly 45-minute sessions of their assigned intervention (MT, HT, or P) and 4 weekly sessions of a standard care/control.…”