| Body massage therapy has been proven to have | | | | perceived distress. They were asked to use a |
| countless health benefits. It is said to help prevent | | | | scale again, this time with 0 representing no pain |
| and treat a host of illnesses and ease a variety of | | | | and no distress, to 10 representing pain and |
| pains. A study has also proven the effectiveness | | | | distress that is as bad as they could imagine. Their |
| of body massage therapy in easing post | | | | blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart rate |
| operative pain. This can be tested by post | | | | were also measured. |
| operative patients with the help of professional | | | | The same therapist administered a total of 20 |
| massage therapists from reputable massage spas | | | | minutes of hand massage and foot massage to |
| in Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Trinity and Clearwater | | | | each of the 18 participants. Each hand and each |
| FL. | | | | foot was given five minutes of kneading, friction |
| A study conducted in Indiana has shown that 20 | | | | and petrissage. |
| minutes of hand massage and foot massage | | | | Immediately after the massage session, each |
| given one day after surgery has significantly | | | | participant was again asked to measure his or her |
| lowered the patients’ perception of their own | | | | own perceived pain intensity and perceived |
| pain intensity and distress. The same massage | | | | distress using the same scale as before. His or |
| also lowered the patients’ respiratory rates | | | | her blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart |
| and heart rates. | | | | rate were again measured. Furthermore, each |
| The study entitled “Foot and Hand Massage | | | | participant was asked to again rate the |
| as an Intervention for Postoperative Pain” | | | | percentage of pain relief, this time from the |
| was conducted by Hsiao-Lan Wang, R.N., and | | | | massage session. The same pain relief scale was |
| Juanita F. Keck, R.N.. They were both members of | | | | used, with 0 percent meaning having no relief to |
| the staff of the Clarion Health Partners Methodist | | | | 100 percent meaning complete relief. |
| Hospital and Indiana University School of Nursing in | | | | Findings showed that after the 20 minute |
| Indianapolis, Indiana. The paper documenting the | | | | massage, the patients’ perceived pain |
| study was first published on pages 59-65 of the | | | | intensity and perceived distress were reduced, |
| June 2004 issue of Pain Management Nursing, Vol. | | | | and their percentage of pain relief were increased. |
| 5, No. 2. | | | | There was also a significant decrease in the |
| The study covered 18 participants, all of whom | | | | respiratory rate and heart rate, although there |
| were aged 20 or older. They had all undergone | | | | was no decrease in blood pressure. |
| head surgery, neck surgery, gastrointestinal | | | | According to the researchers, “The findings |
| surgery, urological surgery, gynecological surgery | | | | from the study indicated that a 20-minute foot |
| or plastic surgery. They agreed to participate in | | | | and hand massage significantly reduced both pain |
| the study which was done the day after their | | | | intensity and distress resulting from incisional pain |
| surgery. | | | | on the first postoperative day. Foot and hand |
| The participants all reported pain, especially from | | | | massage appears to be an effective, inexpensive, |
| their surgical wound, a day after their surgery and | | | | low-risk, flexible, easily applied strategy for |
| had asked for medication to relieve the pain. | | | | postoperative pain management.” |
| After the medicine was given, the participants | | | | Long after they have recovered from post |
| were asked to rate the percentage of pain relief | | | | operative pain, patients can still avail of various |
| from the medication. They were asked to | | | | modalities of body massage therapy for |
| measure it on a scale, with 0 percent meaning | | | | continuous health conditioning. Some of these |
| having no relief to 100 percent meaning complete | | | | modalities are deep tissue massage therapy, |
| relief. | | | | Swedish massage therapy and sports massage |
| One to four hours after the pain medication was | | | | therapy. Highly trained massage therapists from |
| given, the same patients were given body | | | | the best massage spas in Oldsmar, Safety |
| massage therapy. Before the massage session | | | | Harbor, Trinity and Clearwater FL can continue to |
| started, though, they were again asked to | | | | assist the patients with their long term health |
| measure their own perceived pain intensity and | | | | concerns. |