Results of traditional massage therapy for various spine curvations

The causes of spinal curvature can be excessive and uneven carrying of weight on the back, spinal injuries, as well as being immobile for a long time can lead to atrophy of the back muscles. Modern diagnostic methods are very important, but not informative enough. To relieve pain syndrome, muscle spasm, therapeutic massage, acupressure, rubbing, acupuncture, compresses, mineral water, clay therapy, cupping massage are used. All this is widely used, however, unfortunately, there are no studies that explain at what stages of the pathology, which therapy should be preferred. Therefore, in the course of treatment of spinal deformities with traditional massage, research on the quality of life of patients before and after treatment is also needed.

Therapeutic massage in women with stress urinary incontinence: a pilot study.

Background: Stress incontinence affects 25–60% of women of all ages and causes constant discomfort, significantly lowering quality of life. The most common causes of urinary incontinence are weakened sphincter muscles or bladder failure. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic massage therapy for stress urinary incontinence and to determine whether therapeutic massage can restore the normal function of the bladder sphincters. Material and methods: The study involved eleven women with a diagnosis of primary stress urinary incontinence, aged 50–79 years. The women attended therapeutic massage sessions twice a week for four weeks. A sanitary pad test was performed before starting and immediately after ending the therapy to verify its effectiveness. Results: In eight women, the amount of urine that leaked decreased after therapy. This result was statistically significant (p = 0.02). In three cases, urine leakage was reduced to zero. Conclusions: Therapeutic massage, acting locally, improves the function of the bladder sphincters, their flexibility and the ability to contract and relax. Massage eliminates or significantly reduces the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence.

The Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for Improving Sequelae in Post-Stroke Survivors. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To assess the effect of therapeutic massage for improving sequelae in stroke survivors. Methods: A systematic review of the nine medical databases from January 1961 to December 2020 was carried out. The bibliography was screened to identify randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Two reviewers independently screened references, selected relevant studies, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using the PEDro scale. The primary outcome was upper and lower limb motor function and spasticity. Results: A total of 3196 studies were identified and 18 RCT were finally included (1989 individuals). A meta-analysis of RCTs in the comparison of Chinese massage (Tuina) plus conventional physiotherapy versus conventional physiotherapy was performed. The mean difference (MD) in the subacute stage on upper limb motor-function using the Fugl Meyer Assessment was 2.75; (95% confidence interval (CI) from 0.97 to 4.53, p = 0.002, I2 = 36%). The MD on upper limb spasticity using modified Ashworth scale was −0.15; (95% CI from −0.24 to −0.06, p < 0.02, I2 = 0%).The MD on lower limb spasticity was −0.59; (95% CI from −0.78 to −0.40, p < 0.001, I2 = 0%) in the endpoint. Conclusions: Therapeutic massage, especially Tuina, in addition to conventional therapy is effective for improving motor function and for reducing spasticity in stroke survivors.

Contraindications and Cautions of Foam Rolling – A Delphi Process to Reach Consensus: Study Protocol

Background: Foam rolling is a type of self massage using tools such as foam rollers or roller massagers. As no consensus on contraindications and cautions of foam rolling exists to date, current suggestions in the literature are drawn from the field of therapeutic massage. A methodological approach to help closing the gap in the current research landscape is to obtain a reliable opinion consensus of expert groups. The goal of the study is to elaborate experts’ recommendations on the contraindications and cautions for foam rolling techniques by the means of a Delphi process.Methods: The present study includes a preparatory phase as well as three rounds of the actual Delphi process. Academic experts, defined as having (co-)authored at least one scientific paper on foam rolling, are identified via literature search and invited to participate. Consensus on contraindications and cautions of foam rolling will be targeted with a 70 percent agreement after the third round of the Delphi process. Anonymity between participants as well as an iterative approach with controlled feedback constitute key features of the method. Exemplary cases may be reported after round three of the Delphi process in an anonymous manner to supplement the aggregated data.Discussion: Measures to improve panelist recruitment and retention, such as person-to-person cascade approaches and the use of publicly-available information to identify experts are considered to be crucial for the success of the study. Benefits and risks of carrying out the study via online questionnaires need to be considered when interpreting the results. Findings from this Delphi process will provide an overview of the risks related to foam rolling and assist in selecting the scope for future studies.

Interest and Willingness to Pay for Integrative Therapies of Patients With Cancer and Caregivers

PURPOSE: Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) services are more prevalent in cancer centers but continue to be underutilized by patients. This study examines perspectives from patients and caregivers about these services being offered at a comprehensive cancer center. METHODS: Patients and caregivers were surveyed about their familiarity, interest, and experience with five CIM therapies: acupuncture, massage, meditation, music therapy, and yoga. Respondents were also asked about their interest when recommended by their medical team and when offered in a clinical trial as well as their willingness to pay for these services. Respondents were also asked about perceived barriers to accessing these services. Chi-squared tests were performed to explore associations between past experience, interest levels, and willingness to pay. RESULTS: A total of 576 surveys were obtained (464 patients and 112 caregivers). Most respondents identified as White or Caucasian (65.6%), female (57.2%), had been a patient for < 3 years (74.2%), had some college education (73.8%), and made > $40,000 in US dollars as their annual household income (69.1%). Respondents were most familiar with therapeutic massage (34.2%) and least familiar with acupuncture (20.0%). The average interest in these services increased from 53.3% to 64.1% when recommended by a medical professional. Respondents were most willing to pay $1-60 for therapeutic massage (62.3%) and least willing to pay for meditation (43.7%). The main barriers to accessing CIM services were cost (56.0%) and lack of knowledge (52.1%). CONCLUSION: Overall, a significant proportion of patients and caregivers were unfamiliar with these five integrative therapies. Increasing education, decreasing cost, and a recommendation by medical professionals would improve CIM usage.

Massage for neonatal pain relief in intensive care units: a scoping review

Objective: to map the use of massage to relieve neonatal pain during procedures performed in Intensive Care Units. Methods: a scoping review conducted in 11 data sources, following the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. The question was: what is the knowledge about the use of massage to relieve pain in newborns during painful procedures in a neonatal intensive care unit? 12 studies were selected for the results. Results: therapeutic massage in newborns is positive in reducing the score on pain scales, decreasing heart and respiratory rates, increasing oxygen saturation, improvements in behavioral status, weight gain, neurological development, shorter crying time and performing the painful procedure. Conclusion: massage/reflexotherapy is effective in reducing neonatal pain in intensive care units, being performed on lower limbs, heel, back or at the procedure site, with light to moderate pressure and an average duration of five minutes.

Effectiveness of complementary therapies for the management of symptom clusters in palliative care in pediatric oncology: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of complementary therapies in the management of symptom clusters in children and adolescents with cancer undergoing palliative care. Method: Systematic review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, resorting to the databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, Central Cochrane, and PsycINFO. The identification, selection, inclusion, extraction, and methodological assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. Results: Five quasi-experiments met the eligibility criteria. The heterogeneous characteristics of the studies made meta-analysis impossible. Two studies used therapeutic massage, one used Reiki, one used boswellic acid, and one used Cannabis sativa; three of them (therapeutic massage and Reiki) presented statistically significant results for the management of the cluster pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea. Most studies presented a moderate risk of bias as per ROBINS-I tool. Conclusion: Therapeutic massage and Reiki may be effective for the symptom clusters management, especially the pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea cluster in children and adolescents undergoing palliative care.

Immediate Effects of Prophylactic Therapeutic Massage on Pain Tolerance and Threshold

Introduction: This study is meant to determine the immediate effects of therapeutic massage on pain tolerance and threshold. Methods: Fourteen subjects were recruited from a sample of convenience. Subjects were randomized to have either the massage or no-massage protocol on their initial visit with the remaining protocol on their following visit. All subjects completed two sessions with the pain-eliciting test, one with the massage protocol and one with the no-massage protocol. Results: All 14 subjects achieved a higher pain tolerance during the massage protocol compared to their own no-massage protocol. The pain tolerance difference between protocols was calculated by a paired T-Test (p value 0.0003) to be a significant difference. No significant difference was found for pain threshold between protocols. Discussion: It appears that therapeutic massage does have a likelihood of increasing pain tolerance when subjects are submitted to a painful stimulus immediately post-massage. This study validates the use of therapeutic massage as an adjunct treatment to improve pain tolerance before a potentially painful procedure. Conclusion: Prophylactic massage was shown to allow healthy participants to achieve a higher pain tolerance when subjected to a pain-eliciting test immediately after the massage was received.