ScienceDaily (Sep. 16, 2008) — A
new study from the National Institutes of Health finds that massage
therapy may have immediate benefits on pain and mood among patients with
advanced cancer. The study appears in the September 16, 2008 issue of
Annals of Internal Medicine.
In a randomized trial of 380 advanced cancer patients at 15 U.S.
hospices, improvement in pain and mood immediately following treatment
was greater with massage than with simple touch.
"When patients near the end of life, the goals of medical care change
from trying to cure disease to making the patient as comfortable as
possible," said Jean S. Kutner, MD, MSPH, Associate Professor of
Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of
Colorado Denver School of Medicine. "This study is important because it
shows massage is a safe and effective way to provide immediate relief to
patients with advanced cancer."
Pain and depressed mood are common problems for patients with
advanced cancer. While drug therapies can reduce symptoms, they don't
always work and often have troublesome side effects. Researchers think
that massage may interrupt the cycle of distress, offering brief
physical and psychological benefits. Physically, massage may decrease
inflammation and edema, increase blood and lymphatic circulation, and
relax muscle spasms. Psychologically, massage may promote relaxation,
release endorphins, and create a positive experience that distracts
temporarily from pain and depression.
Researchers caution that while massage may offer some immediate
relief for patients with advanced cancer, the effects do not last over
time, demonstrating the need for more effective strategies to manage
pain at the end of life.
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