Hospital and End-of-Life Care
Hospitalized Patients
Massage has an increasing presence in the hospital setting as studies evaluate the roll of massage in acute disease states. Randomized control trial level evidence shows improved outcomes in cardiac surgery patients with respect to fatigue, pain, anxiety and tension. Length of stay has not been affected.(1)
They specific type of massage may play a role in success of treatment. One large RCT of post-operative massage found no effect on similar outcomes; however, in this trial only light relaxation massage (as opposed to therapeutic massage) in a prescribed pattern was performed.(2) This compares to techniques targeted toward specific patient concerns in the positive trials.
End of Life Care
In hospice patients, massage therapy has been shown to decrease depression scores and improve sleep quality.(3) However, other studies have been mixed. Experts recommend including it as an option for interested patients.(4)
In severe dementia, massage in combination with aromatherapy has been shown to decrease excessive motor behaviors.(5) In another study massage was associated with a reduction in aggression and stress in those with severe dementia.(6)
1. Wang AT, Sundt TM 3rd, Cutshall SM, Bauer BA. Massage therapy after cardiac surgery. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010 Autumn;22(3):225-9.
2. Albert NM, Gillinov AM, Lytle BW, Feng J, Cwynar R, Blackstone EH. A randomized trial of massage therapy after heart surgery. Heart Lung. 2009 Nov-Dec;38(6):480-90.
3. Soden K, Vincent K, Craske S, Lucas C, Ashley S. A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliat Med. 2004 Mar;18(2):87-92.
4. Downey L, Engelberg RA, Standish LJ, Kozak L, Lafferty WE. Three lessons from a randomized trial of massage and meditation at end of life: patient benefit, outcome measure selection, and design of trials with terminally ill patients. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2009 Aug-Sep;26(4):246-53.
5. Smallwood J, Brown R, Coulter F, Irvine E, Copland C. Aromatherapy and behavior disturbances in dementia: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2001 Oct;16(10):1010-3.
6. Suzuki M, Tatsumi A, Otsuka T, Kikuchi K, Mizuta A, Makino K, Kimoto A, Fujiwara K, Abe T, Nakagomi T, Hayashi T, Saruhara T. Physical and psychological effects of six-week tactile massage on elderly patients with severe dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2010 Dec;25(8):680-6.