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The Massage Therapy Foundation Research Grants are awarded to individuals or teams conducting studies which promise to advance our understanding of specific therapeutic applications of massage, public perceptions of and attitudes toward massage therapy, and the role of massage therapy in health care delivery. Listed below are brief summaries of research projects the Foundation has funded.
“Evaluation of the Effects of Five Minute Foot Massages on Physiological Measures and Subjective Ratings in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients,” David M. Steinhorn, MD, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL; $19,997, 2006
Sponsored in part by a grant to the Foundation from BIOTONE
The objective of this study is to determine whether five-minute foot massages can reduce heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate while increasing heart rate variability (HRV) and peripheral oxygen saturation in pediatric intensive care patients. Sixty participants between the ages of 3-17 who do not have any presenting heart conditions will be recruited for this study. Participants will be recruited as they enter the intensive care unit during which time the patient and family experience a great deal of stress. While measuring the effectiveness of a five-minute foot massage on physiological signs of tension and stress, the researchers hope the findings will have a profound impact on how massage therapy is both viewed and implemented in a pediatric hospital setting. The long-term objective is that massage therapy be introduced and utilized in a safe, practical and non-invasive approach in decreasing anxiety and length of hospital stays while increasing the patient’s overall well-being and family’s satisfaction with the services offered.
“Tissue-level efficacy of cross-fiber massage following ligament injury,” Stuart J. Warden, PhD, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN; $19,253, 2006
This study will measure the effects of cross-fiber massage, a specific form of connective tissue massage widely used in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, on a bilateral knee ligament injury in rodents. The participant pool will consist of 25 female rodents who will receive cross-fiber massage for one minute, three times per week for ten weeks for a total of 30 treatment sessions. Injuries to the musculoskeletal system are frequent and costly and can result in chronic problems in joint laxity and the development of degenerative joint disease. By issuing a cross-fiber massage intervention, the researchers hope that tissue-level healing will be augmented and a reduction of recurrent ligament injuries will occur.
“A Pilot Study of Massage and Self-Care Education for Tension-Type Headache,” Michele Maiers, DC, Northwestern Health Sciences University, Bloomington, MN, $19,935, 2005
This pilot study will attempt to determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized clinical trial to assess the relative efficacy of massage and self-care education for tension-type headaches. In order to measure the efficacy of massage, assessments will be made of individuals with tension-type headaches to determine whether or not they experience clinically important changes after a 10-week therapeutic massage regimen. This will be done by measuring pre- and post-treatment outcomes in a clinical case series within the randomized pilot study being conducted. Descriptive qualitative data will be collected on participant’s experiences with massage as a treatment for tension-type headaches and the massage therapist’s experiences providing treatment for tension-type headaches. The treatment period is 10 weeks, during which time 38 participants with chronic or chronic episodic tension-type headaches according to International Headache Society criteria will be treated.
“Effects of Massage on Brain Function using SPECT Imaging,” Jane Buckle, PhD, RN, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, $20,000, 2005
This study aims to determine which regions of the brain are activated by massage. The effects of “light massage” versus “moderate/deep massage” will be compared and brain activity will be measured using SPECT brain analysis imaging. To measure brain activity, the differences of cerebral blood flow after “light massage” and “moderate/deep massage” will be measured. It is hypothesized that lighter touch will affect a different region of the brain than a deeper massage. Each participant will receive one “light massage” session and one “moderate/deep massage” session in order to perform the comparison. The study design will be a randomized, controlled clinical trial on healthy human subjects with blinded analysis. Participants will include 10 healthy volunteers through the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing.
“Massage Intervention for Hospice Families,” Diane Kempson, MSW, PhD, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, $20,000, 2005
The aim of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a massage intervention aimed at enhancing the well-being of family caregivers and their loved ones receiving hospice care and at positively impacting the caregivers’ grief response. The results of the study will serve as the basis for the potential development of a larger study using an experimental design to fully evaluate the effects of the intervention on caregiver and care recipient outcomes. Caregivers in the study will be trained to administer a gentle massage each day to their loved one at the end of life during a two-week intervention period. The study will evaluate the potential effects of the massage intervention on caregivers’ stress, mood, qualify of life, and burden during the intervention period and six month’s after the hospice patients’ death. The investigators hypothesize that the intervention will positively impact the caregivers’ grief resolution and may also provide immediate benefits to both the caregivers and the massage recipients.
“Massage Therapy: Examination of the Contextual Model,” James B. Rounds, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, $20,000, 2004
Massage Therapy (MT) is an ancient form of treatment that is now gaining popularity as part of the complementary and alternative medical therapy movement. A meta-analysis was conducted of studies that used random assignment to test the effectiveness of MT. Mean effect sizes were calculated from 37 studies for 9 dependent variables. Single applications of MT reduced state anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate but not negative mood, immediate assessment of pain, and cortisol level. Multiple applications reduced delayed assessment of pain. Reductions of trait anxiety and depression were MT's largest effects, with a course of treatment providing benefits similar in magnitude to those of psychotherapy. No moderators were statistically significant, though continued testing is needed. The limitations of a medical model of MT are discussed and it is proposed that new MT theories and research use a psychotherapy perspective.
As printed in:
Psychological Bulletin
2004, Vol. 130, No.1
Copyright 2004 by the American Psychological Association, Inc.
“Effects of Massage Pressure Patterns on Muscle Tension,” Langdon S. Roberts, Muscular Therapy Institute, Brighton, MA, $20,000, 2003
The objective of this study is threefold: (a) to evaluate the method of continuous surface electromyography SEMB as a measure of the efficacy of specific massage techniques for reducing muscular tension, (b) to examine the effects of patterns of pressure application during massage on muscle tension, and (c) to explore the relationships between perceived pressures, measured force, and changes in muscle tension. The research design to be employed is a clinical crossover study. Participants include 30 adult females recruited from a local community. Two experimental groups will be assigned and each group will receive the same treatments, including incremental and decremental pressure applied to each rectus femoris muscle, but in different orders. A rest period of listening to a relaxation tape will serve as a control. Each subject will also receive both treatments on each leg in order to provide within-subject comparisons. Changes in muscular tension will be assessed throughout the duration of each experimental session using SEMG. Overall treatment effects will be analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Multiple regression analyses will be used to determine the contributions of subjective and objective pressure to changes in muscle tension.
“Massage Therapy As a Technique for coping with Migraines,” Sheleigh Patricia Lawler, Aukland University, Aukland, New Zealand, $19,999, 2003
The objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effects and cost-effectiveness of massage therapy for migraine by comparing three different groups: (a) a standardized massage protocol, (b) a standardized massage protocol plus trigger point work, and (3) a control group. The proposed study continues work in strengthening methodological assessment of massage therapy by replication and extension of previous studies, by inclusion of a control group, use of a larger sample, and use of a standard massage protocol. The research design is a randomized control trial using a mixed design with intervention condition (a standardized massage protocol, a standardized massage protocol plus trigger point work, and a control group) as the between-subjects variable and the multiple pretest-posttest assessments (headache frequency and intensity, medication use, workdays lost, quality of life, stress, coping, anxiety, and depression) as within-subjects variables. Participants will be recruited from the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Migraine Support network. Inclusion in the study will require that the participant be classified as having migraine headaches according to the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria. Repeated measures analysis of variance will be used to assess between and within subjects effects. Economic information collected from the respondents will assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention in preventing migraines in comparison with standard care.
“The Effects of Massage on Relaxation, Flexibility, and the Severity of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness,” Pornratshanee Weerapong, School of Community Health and Sports Studies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, $19,994, 2002
The objective of this study is twofold: (a) to examine the possible mechanism for manual massage in terms of biomechanical (evaluated by muscle stiffness & range of motion), physiological (determined by heart rate variability), and anxiety considerations (measured by the State-Trait anxiety Inventory); and (b) to determine the effects of manual massage on the severity of delayed onset muscle soreness (investigated by visual analogue scale and punctuate methods, muscle stiffness, range of motion, and muscle strength). The research design to be employed in a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial, longitudinal study. The participants will involve 40 healthy males who have been on a regular weight training program (2-3 days/week) for the elbow flexor muscles during the six months prior to the study and who have not had an orthopedic injury in the last two years. 20 subjects will be randomly assigned to a control group not receiving massage and 20 randomly assigned to an experimental group receiving a massage protocol. The principal outcome measures to be assessed via analysis of variance over time include the following: active muscle stiffness, passive muscle stiffness, muscle strength, range of motion, VAS, muscle soreness, anxiety, and heart rate variability.
“Massage Therapy Management of Chronic & Upper Extremity Pain Syndromes,” Boulder College of Massage Therapy, Boulder, CO, $20,000, 2002
The objective of this study is to investigate the use of general and specific massage therapy protocols to treat symptomatology associated with clinical diagnoses of upper extremity pain syndromes, including carpal tunnel (CTS) and thoracic outlet syndromes (TOS). The research design to be used is a 6X2 factorial design crossing six levels of time-points for assessment and two levels of massage therapy intervention. 20 subjects will be randomly assigned to a general upper body massage protocol and 20 to a specific upper body massage protocol, with two massage sessions per week for each subject for a duration of six weeks. Upper body disability in terms of strength, function, sensation, and pain will be assessed at baseline as well as 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 14-week time points via a two-way analysis of variance.
“The Effect of Chair Massage on Stress Perception of Hospital Bedside Nurses,” M.K. Brennan, College of Nursing & Health Professions, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, $3,900, 2002
Context: Studies have shown that hospital bedside nursing is a stress-loaded occupation. Massage therapy has been shown to be an effective intervention in stress management.
Objective: The goal of this study was to determine if a 10-minute onsite chair massage was more effective at reducing stress perception of hospital bedside nurses than a 10-minute break.
Design: Randomized trial with a control group, who took a 10-minute break, and a study group, who received a 10-minute chair massage.
Setting: A small suburban hospital on the maternity, medical-surgical, telemetry, and critical care nursing units.
Participants: 82 bedside nurses.
Main Outcome Measure: Stress perception was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) in an experimental pretest/posttest design and analyzed using t-tests for independent samples.
Results: Stress perception was significantly lower in the study group after the chair massage (P<.05) and not significantly changed in the control group.
Conclusion: The results of this study support the effectiveness of chair massage in the reduction of stress perception for this population. Further research is warranted to study the feasibility of providing chair massage on a regularly scheduled basis on a nursing unit, as well as its impact on other aspects of a nursing position, such as job satisfaction, retention, absenteeism, injury and workers' compensation claims.
Additionally, it would be beneficial to study the effects of chair massage with individuals in other occupations that are identified as being high stress and burnout occupations.
Results from this study were published in the Massage Therapy Journal in the Spring of 2004. View the article. A study was also published in the October 2006 issue of Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages 335-342.
"Infant Massage in Ecuadorian Orphanages," Vonda K. Jump, PhD, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, $20,000, 2001
This study compares the effectiveness of massage and rocking at improving the physiological and behavioral development of infants who reside at the Hogar San Vicente de Paul orphanage in Cuenca, Ecuador. As is often the case in underfunded orphanages, these infants are touch-deprived. The hypothesis is that massage will be more effective than rocking at improving the infants’ physiological functioning. Researchers also believe that massage will be more effective at stimulating positive behaviors among the infants, such as smiling and eye contact. The final hypothesis is that massage will better stimulate growth, which is important in a population that suffers from under-development. In total, 40 infants will be assigned to either the massage or the rocking group.
In order to assess physiological functioning, researchers will compare levels of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine found in urine samples obtained from both the massage and rocking groups. To determine the incidence of positive behaviors, researchers will analyze videotaped interactions along with employing various coding schemes designed to measure infant responsiveness. Infant growth will be measured at various times throughout the course of the study.
The results of this study were published in Family and Community Health in fall of 2006 - View the article.
This study was also featured in the January/February 2007 issue of Massage and Bodywork - View the article.
"Massage Therapy in Childhood Cancer," Janice Post-White, PhD, M.S.N., University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, $19,799, 2000
This study evaluates whether massage therapy is effective in reducing anxiety and fatigue in children with cancer and their parents. Over a period of four weeks, the children receive 4 full body massages, and the parents receive 4 seated massages. During another four week period, the children and parents participate in quiet time sessions but do not receive massages. This approach allows investigators to determine whether massages are more effective than quiet time at reducing anxiety and fatigue. The investigators will employ a variety of measurements to determine anxiety and fatigue levels, some quantitative and some qualitative. Quantitative measurements are numeric indicators that can be ranked on a scale; wherever people fall on the scale determines the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of an intervention, such as massage. Qualitative measurements are more open-ended, because they seek to determine a person’s emotional response—rather than their physical or chemical response—to an intervention.
"Effects of Massage on Range of Motion and Flexibility," Patricia Sharpe, PhD, M.P.H., University of South Carolina School of Public Health, Columbia, South Carolina, $19,991, 2000
This study examines whether massage therapy improves general well-being; perceptions of stress; range of motion; balance; and flexibility among older adults. Dr. Sharpe is specifically concerned about reducing falls among the elderly. An increased risk for falling stems from a decrease in balance and mobility. If massage therapy increases an individual’s mobility, it should decrease their susceptibility to falling. In turn, this would decrease long term hospitalization, as well as admission to nursing homes.
Participants in the study must live independently and be at least 60 years old. Dr. Sharpe’s hypothesis, based upon numerous previous studies, is that massage will be beneficial for these individuals. She also hopes that her work will help in developing a research protocol for massage with older adults.
The results from this study were published in 2007 in Complementary Therapies in Medicine in an article titled “A randomized study of the Effects of Massage Therapy compared to Guided Relaxation on Well-being and Stress Perception among Older Adults”.
An earlier article, "Methods for Improving Range of Motion of Older Adults" as published in the Fall 2002 issue of MTJ.
"A Comparison of Massage Therapy Interventions in Bone Marrow Transplant," Sean Phipps, PhD, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, $15,200, 1999
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is an excellent weapon against pediatric cancer, but it is also an extremely demanding process for children. For this reason, interventions to reduce the stress of BMT are important. Tentative results of a pilot study conducted by Dr. Phipps showed that massage therapy is among the most helpful of these interventions.
The current study evaluates the efficacy of different forms of massage therapy in pediatric cancer care. 20 children (ages 1-18) will receive massages from licensed massage therapists. 20 other children will receive massages from their parents, after receiving training from massage therapists. Finally, 10 children will receive standard care, which does not include massage. By utilizing these methods, investigators will begin to determine the benefits of massage in pediatric cancer care, and whether professional massage or parental massage is more effective. Upon completion of this phase, conducting a larger clinical study will be necessary to refine the results.
"Sports Massage: The Science of Complete Motion," Jo Ann Wilson, R.N., M.Ed., Jack Meagher Institute of Sports Therapy, Concord, Massachusetts, $17,500, 1999
This study is a first for the Massage Therapy Foundation, because it involves non-human subjects. The researchers hypothesize that massage techniques will increase the range of motion of horses, particularly those that participate in horse races. Because the principles of motion governing equine athletes and human athletes are similar, we believe that the results of this study will be applicable to humans.
There are several reasons for conducting this study with horses. One is tradition: many medical advances have commenced with research on animals, such as infant monkeys and rat pups. Research about massage therapy acquires greater legitimacy as it enters this tradition.
Another reason for using horses is that the results of the study will be more legitimate than they would be with humans. According to the theory of the "placebo effect," humans have the capacity to alter the results of an experiment simply by expecting that events will unfold in a certain way. Usually these results are more positive than they would have been naturally, but they can be more negative too. Because horses do not have the capacity to alter results in this way, the data obtained from studies in which they participate is usually reliable. Obviously, reliability is important in the development of new massage techniques that will benefit humans.
Although this study is still in process, it has already generated attention in the media. On September 15, 2000, the website Vicus.com posted an article about Ms. Wilson’s reserach titled, "Sports massage technique used in humans, horses." NBC News has also expressed an interest in the study. Additionally, an article entitled "The Effects of Sports Massage on Athletic Performance and General Function" with results from this study was published in the Summer 2002 issue of MTJ.
"Employee Outcomes Following Worksite Acupressure/Massage", Margaret L. Hodge, R.N., Ed.D., University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, $9,020, 1999
This study examined the effectiveness of worksite acupressure/massage (WSAM) in relieving stress among healthcare workers. The experimental group received 20 minute acupressure/massages twice a week during breaks. The control group also received a break, but did not receive special treatments during that time.
Several results of the study reveal promising benefits of WSAM. People in the experimental group demonstrated less anxiety and depression than those in the control group. Some people in the experimental group—those who worked the longest shifts—also had improved sleeping patterns. Furthermore, those in the experimental group enjoyed decreased blood pressure and muscle tightness, as well as better cognitive practices than people in the control group.
These results are promising, but not definite. Additional research should further explore the benefits of massage for health care practitioners. It should also examine whether these benefits ultimately improve quality of care for the patient.
Dr. Hodge has written a two-part article about this study, for Massage Therapy Journal. The first piece, "Effects of Work-Site Acupressure and Massage (Part I)," appeared in the Fall 2000 issue. Part II, "Effects of Work-Site Acupressure and Massage (Part II)" appears the in Winter 2001 issue of MTJ.
"Massage Therapy for Chronic Pain in Low Income Patients", Lucy Candib, M.D., The Family Health and Social Service Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, $20,000, 1998
This ongoing study examines the effects of whole body massage therapy in reducing pain and improving health among low income Hispanic and Caucasian women who suffer from chronic pain. In many cases, chronic pain is part of more complex mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Whole body massage therapy, which is not readily available in poorer communities, offers a complementary approach to standard treatments for chronic pain. Each patient in this study receives eight hour long massage treatments from experienced massage therapists.
The working hypothesis is that massage therapy will be useful in reducing pain, improving functional health, and curbing excess medical utilization in these patients, for at least eight weeks after the program. To test this hypothesis, researchers will compare health care utilization (office visits, urgent care, and emergency care) from three periods: the year before the study; during the six months of the study; and at one year after the study.
Dr. Candib has begun massage treatments on 54 patients, and has collected detailed information about them. This information is awaiting analysis by a statistician. Dr. Candib has also secured funding from the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in order to hire a translator to conduct interviews with Spanish-speaking participants in the program.
The primary challenge so far has been frequent cancellation of appointments, often due to problems with transportation and childcare responsibilities. Another difficulty has been a low rate of participation in follow-up testing. Although these obstacles have slowed down the study, it is still in motion.
"Impact of Intentional Therapeutic Touch on Grief", Diane Kempson, The Compassionate Friends, Columbia, South Carolina, $10,000, 1996
This study examined the possible benefits of therapeutic touch during the bereavement process of mothers whose children have died. Specifically, this study investigated how therapeutic touch affected important psychological constructs in these mothers. Researchers used a therapeutic touch modality, Trager Psychophysical Integration, to investigate these issues.
Eligible subjects were mothers whose children had died in the last six to sixty months. A treatment group of thirty-one women received eight sessions of Trager bodywork over fourteen weeks. A comparison group of thirty-four women participated in a self-help support group for the same period. This group was highly biased in favor of the Caucasian middle class, which means that research with other populations is needed to compare results.
Researchers hypothesized that bereaved mothers who receive therapeutic touch will demonstrate less severe grief symptomatology than mothers who do not receive such touch. Signs of severe grief symptomatology are high levels of anger, hostility, guilt, social isolation, and loss of control.
The Trager touch modality did not have a significant impact on the overall cluster of attitudes within the bereaved women. However, it did positively impact feelings of despair and depersonalization. This finding suggests that different aspects of grief respond differently to therapeutic touch; teasing out these aspects and responses is an area for further research.
"Sickle Cell Pain: Alternative Approaches to Pain Control", Cynthia Myers, PhD and Michael Robinson, PhD, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, $10,000, 1996
This study examined the effectiveness of alternative approaches to the management of chronic pain in patients with sickle cell anemia. Researchers hypothesized that massage would relieve pain, by increasing blood flow. One group participated in six massage therapy sessions. A comparison group of subjects received training in a relaxation procedure that did not include massage. This arrangement helped researchers ascertain whether massage therapy is particularly effective in pain reduction.
The relaxation patients received progressive muscle relaxation training—in which they relaxed different muscles in their body in a sequential order—during six weekly, one hour sessions. The massage therapy patients received one massage therapy session ("hands-on" time for thirty minutes) each week for six consecutive weeks. All subjects completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study, and researchers evaluated their pain levels using several scales. The researchers used these methods to assess differences in levels of pain between the two groups.
A total of 16 people began the study, and 12 people completed it. Both in the short term and the long term, massage and progressive relaxation techniques were equally effective in reducing pain. In order to verify these results, this study needs to be replicated with a larger pool of patients. During that research, one complication will be important to keep in mind: pain levels naturally fluctuate in sickle cell patients. Therefore, it is difficult to say for sure that a particular intervention decreased the pain. A related complication is that sharply increased pain makes it difficult for people to keep appointments. For this reason, future research could be more effective if it occurs in patients’ homes.
An article was published on results from this study in the 1999 Winter issue of Alternative Health Practitioner. The article is entitled, "Adjunctive Approaches for Sickle Cell Chronic Pain." The website ScienceDaily posted an article about the study on September 27, 2000 entitled, "UF Pilot Study Shows Massage, Relaxation Reduce Sickle Cell Anemia Pain." Additionally, results were published in the Spring 2001 issue of MTJ entitled "Chronic Pain and Sickle Cell Disease."
"Effects of Connective Tissue Massage on Migraine", Diane Pelletier, Brenneke School of Massage, Seattle, Washington, $9,250, 1995
This study examined the effects of Connective Tissue Massage (CTM) on the incidence of migraine and pain in chronic migraine sufferers. One group received CTM, and a comparison group received superficial Swedish massage. Licensed massage therapists administered both techniques.
Researchers determined whether there were statistically significant differences in the incidence of migraine and pain between the two groups, and within each group. They also analyzed how these effects changed over time.
Both CTM and Swedish massage decreased the effects of migraine during the massage sessions, but only Swedish massage was effective after the sessions were over. (This was a slight effect, not a significant one.) This finding refuted the researchers’ hypothesis that CTM would be a more effective intervention than Swedish massage. There are several possible reasons for this: the short length of the study; the small sample sizes (10 people receiving CTM and 13 receiving Swedish massage); and the effect of pharmaceuticals on the well-being of participants in the study. All of these mitigating factors point to the need for further research.
"Immunological Effects of Massage Therapy During Academic Stress", Diane Zeitlin, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, $10,000, 1995
This study investigated the effects of massage therapy on the immune system during a stressful period of time, in order to assess the immunological consequences of massage. Because research has demonstrated that immune function is temporarily suppressed during stressful events such as examinations, this study examined whether massage can increase immune function during these times.
Nine healthy medical students received a one-hour full body Swedish massage one day prior to an examination. Researchers gathered blood samples before and after the massage to assess any immune changes. Additionally, the investigators administered questionnaires focusing on life stress and anxiety when they drew the blood sample. They did so in order to document any change in subjective stress levels resulting from the massage treatment.
The results of this study indicate that the massages were relaxing, as evidenced by the decreases in respiratory rate and self-reported anxiety levels. Furthermore, the massages led to an increase in the total number of white blood cells and natural killer (NK) cells, along with a decrease in the percentage of T cells. Because all of these developments lead to improved immune function, this study points to the use of massage therapy in reaching this goal. Further research, with a larger subject pool, is necessary to confirm these results. Because the findings in this study were short-term, it is also important to determine the long-term immunological effects of massage.
Ms. Zeitlin recently published her findings in a Letter to the Editor of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. The Letter appeared in the January/February 2000 issue. Additionally, results from this study, "Immunological Effects of Massage Therapy During Academic Stress" was published in the Summer 2001 Issue of MTJ.
"Use of Massage on Cancer Pain and Anxiety", Pauline King, James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio, $9,468, 1994
Despite the relatively common use of massage techniques, only a few studies have assessed the efficacy of massage in alleviating pain and anxiety in cancer patients. If massage is effective in moderating anxiety, it could be an effective way to augment pain medication.
This study had two main components. The first was an analysis of the effects of a 15 minute massage protocol on anxiety reported by adult patients receiving treatment for cancer. The second was a determination of the efficacy of this massage protocol, as an adjunctive intervention to pain medication, with adult patients experiencing cancer pain. A control group received standard care for cancer, along with a visit from a volunteer.
The sample size for this study was 52 patients, 29 in the experimental group and 23 in the control group. Results suggest that massage was helpful in reducing anxiety and pain among the experimental group. Furthermore, by the end of the study doctors and nurses were requesting that their patients receive massages. This was a major change in the culture of the hospital, which has typically relied upon injections and medications to relieve cancer pain. More studies are needed to clarify these results.
Note: A supplemental grant was awarded to Pauline King to present this study at the World Congress of Psycho-Oncology’s Symposium, "Global Psycho-Oncology in the Next Millennium" in October 1996 in New York City. More than one thousand people, from forty-eight different countries, attended this symposium.
"The Effects of Massage on Spinal Motoneuron Reflex Excitability in Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries", Kathleen Kolb, University of Rhode Island, Wakefield, Rhode Island, $5,000, 1993
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of petrissage—a massage stroke which utilizes the thumb and forefinger to apply pressure and stretch to the muscle—on spinal motoneuron reflex excitability in persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Massage holds promise as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for spasticity. Spasticity creates involuntary, hyperactive movements of the stretch muscles. These movements interfere with a person’s ability to change their position, and can even result in paralyzed muscles.
There are various methods for controlling and reducing spasticity. Drugs are commonly prescribed; they may relieve specific spasms, but they can also weaken muscles without reducing spasticity. Surgical treatment is another option. This can be effective, but it can also cause dangerous side effects.
The research hypothesis was that petrissage would inhibit spinal motoneuron activity in a population of neurologically impaired subjects. This process would inhibit spasticity itself, and not just control its symptoms.
Eighteen people with SCI began the study, but only 14 participants completed it. Results with this population demonstrated that petrissage can selectively inhibit spasticity. Because petrissage is relatively easy to learn, patients and family members can use this technique to inhibit involuntary spasms. This is not true for all spasms, such as those from traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis. Because of the small sample size and the current limitations, further research about this topic is needed.
“The Use of Restorative Massage to Enhance Recovery Following Repetitive Swimming Events,” Jack E. Taunton, Family Practice – Division of Sports Medicine, Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, $3,285, 1993
Physiological recovery following competitive swimming events is a very important determinant of performance during championship meets because of the necessity to repeat high intensity efforts in a short period of time. Elevated levels of lactic acid during and after exercise is associated with an inhibition of glycolysis as well as impairment of the contractile proteins of the working skeletal muscles. Depending on the individual’s lactate tolerance, this may result in elevation of resting lactic acid levels, and levels of lactic acid that may impair performance might be reached prematurely. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of three different forms of recovery: (1) active recovery (a warm-down swim for 15 minutes at 65% of the velocity of a challenge swim); (2) passive recovery (sitting or lying for 15 minutes); and (3) restorative massage (a 15 minutes massage treatment) to enhance blood lactate clearance following repeat 200 metre swimming races.
*No part of this research summary document may be reproduced without the written consent of the Massage Therapy Foundation.
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