Massage Studies Abstracts

Studies on the Effects of Massage Therapy on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Field, T, Sunshine, W., Hernandez-Reif, M., Quintino, O., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., & Burman, I. (1997). Chronic fatigue syndrome: Massage therapy effects on depression and somatic symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 3, 43-51.

METHODS: Twenty chronic fatigue syndrome subjects were randomly assigned to a massage therapy or a SHAM TENS (transcutaneous electrical stimulation) control group.

RESULTS: Immediately following the massage therapy versus SHAM TENS on the first and last days of the study the massage therapy group had lower depression and anxiety scores and lower cortisol levels. Longer-term effects (last day versus first day) suggested that the massage therapy versus the SHAM TENS group had lower depression, emotional distress and somatic symptom scores, more hours of sleep and lower epinephrine and cortisol levels.

Studies on the Effects of Massage Therapy on Chronic Illness or Chronic Pain

Diane Kempson, MSW, PhD, Virginia Conley, PhD, FNP, University of Wyoming–Laramie, Family Caregiver Provided Massage for Rural-Dwelling Chronically Ill Persons. Home Health Care Management Practice OnlineFirst, published on November 5, 2008 as doi:10.1177/1084822308325782; Home Health Care Management Practice February 2009 vol. 21 no. 2 117-123

Method: The interventional pilot study used a triangulated design to elicit information regarding rural caregivers’ willingness to learn and use simple Swedish massage techniques for their chronically ill loved ones as well as to determine their perceptions of resultant burdens and benefits for the caregiver. Data consisted of descriptive data of participants from a demographic questionnaire, and phenomenological data obtained through semistructured face-to-face interviews with the participants postintervention. Institutional review board approval was obtained before initiating the study. Participants were recruited from a western frontier state through newspaper advertisements, word of mouth, and through the social services director at a long-term care (LTC) facility. One of the researchers, a licensed massage therapist, met with interested persons either individually or in small groups at their home or a mutually convenient location, such as a conference room at the LTC facility. During this initial meeting, the study was described and informed consent was obtained. Participants were briefly interviewed to determine their comfort level and any former experience providing massage; and they filled out a demographic data form. The gentle massage techniques of effleurage and petrissage were then demonstrated for the participants and a return demonstration was obtained. Any questions were answered. Participants were given a gift basket containing massage oil, a CD of relaxing music, chocolates, and a phone card so they could call the researchers for any problems or questions.

Results: Results from this study indicate that rural-dwelling caregivers are willing to learn basic massage techniques as a way to care for their loved ones. Moreover, as evidenced by the statements of a majority of the participants, the ability to administer massage to a loved one often results in benefits for the caregiver in terms of being able to offer something special to the loved one, thereby strengthening perceived self-efficacy; and of promoting a time for relaxation for the caregiver.