Massage

Injection-induced necrosis is a rare but dreaded consequence of soft tissue augmentation with filler agents. It usually occurs as a result of injection of filler directly into an artery, but can also result from compression or injury. We provide recommendations on the use of hyaluronidase when vascular compromise is suspected. Consensus recommendations were developed by thorough discussion and debate amongst the authors at a roundtable meeting on Wednesday June 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV as well as significant ongoing written and verbal communications amongst the authors in the months prior to journal submission. All authors are experienced tertiary care providers. A prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment with high doses of hyaluronidase (at least 200 U) are critically important. It is not felt necessary to do a skin test in cases of impending necrosis. Some experts recommend dilution with saline to increase dispersion or lidocaine to aid vasodilation. Additional hyaluronidase shou...

Genital tract trauma following spontaneous vaginal childbirth is common, and evidence-based prevention measures have not been identified, beyond minimizing the use of episiotomy. This study randomized 1211 healthy women in midwifery care at the University of New Mexico teaching hospital to one of three care measures late in the second stage of labor:1) warm compresses to the perineal area, 2) massage with lubricant, or 3) no touching of the perineum until crowning of the infant's head. The purpose was to assess whether any of these measures was associated with lower levels of obstetric trauma. After each birth, the clinical midwife recorded demographic, clinical care, and outcome data, including the location and extent of any genital tract trauma. The frequency distribution of genital tract trauma was equal in all three groups. Individual women and their clinicians should decide whether to use these techniques based on maternal comfort and other considerations. . precis: Selected midwifery strategies for management of the perineum in childbirth (warm compresses, massage with lubricant, or hands off until crowning) were not associated with more or fewer spontaneous lacerations.

Title. 'Being a Chameleon': labour processes of male nurses performing bodywork. Aim. This paper is a report of a study examining the labour processes of male nurses in the conduct of bodywork, and is part of a broader study of social practices that configure masculinity through the lives of male nurses. Background. Bodywork is defined as the direct work on others' bodies, and involves interactions of bodies and the control of emotions. As the body is an arena in which social practice occurs then bodywork is a form of social engagement. Bodywork is inextricably intertwined with gender where bodywork is socially structured and culturally accepted as women's work. Method. Life history method was used in this study. Twenty-one life stories from male registered nurses were gathered in 2003-2004 using semi-structured interviews. Each life story underwent structural analysis, using a four-dimension structural model of gender relations. Findings. The ability of male nurses to do bodywork and provide care is dependent on the way they 'do' gender, that is, they have to be perceived to be performing the masculine identity that best represents the individual patient's ideology of what it is to be a man, which is set in a particular location and time. In addition, they have to counter the representations of the male nurse, whether it is homosexual, paedophile or heterosexual deviant. Respondents develop labour processes and workplace strategies to overcome the effects of gender stereotypes that may hinder their nursing work. Conclusion. Nursing procedures, policies and texts should reflect the complexity and multiplicity in the conduct of bodywork in nursing and refrain from representing essentialist ways (reinforcing nursing as feminine) of doing nursing.

To investigate the efficacy of classical massage on stress perception and mood disturbances, 34 women diagnosed with primary breast cancer were randomized into an intervention or control group. For a period of 5 weeks, the intervention group (n = 17) received biweekly 30-min classical massages. The control group (n = 17) received no additional treatment to their routine health care. The Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Berlin Mood Questionnaire (BSF) were used and the patients’ blood was collected at baseline (T1), at the end of the intervention period (T2), and 6 weeks after T2 (T3). Compared with control group, women in the intervention group reported significantly lower mood disturbances, especially for anger (p = 0.048), anxious depression (p = 0.03) at T2, and tiredness at T3 (p = 0.01). No group differences were found in PSQ scales, cortisol and serotonin concentrations at T2 and T3. However, perceived stress and cortisol serum levels (p = 0.03) were significantly reduced after massage therapy (T2) compared with baseline in the intervention group. Further research is needed to validate our findings.

La physiothérapie est l'utilisation, dans un but thérapeutique, des agents physiques naturels ou artificiels (en particulier la chaleur, le froid, le mouvement, les ultrasons, l'électricité, l'eau). Ses principaux effets sont de soulager la douleur, de limiter les conséquences sur les tissus de l'inflammation (aiguë et chronique) et de l'immobilisation, et de restaurer une activité locomotrice. Ainsi ces techniques occupent une place primordiale lors de la rééducation fonctionnelle de patients souffrant d'affections à répercussion locomotrice. Elles peuvent également être employées à but préventif, en médecine sportive en particulier. Complément essentiel des traitements orthopédiques et neurologiques en médecine humaine, la physiothérapie fait partie depuis quelques années de l'arsenal thérapeutique des Carnivores Domestiques. Une bonne connaissance des techniques, de leurs indications et utilisations pratiques permet une mise en oeuvre de la rééducation fonctionnelle en pratique quotidienne.

Background: Poly-L-lactic acid gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use in human immunodeficiency virus-related facial lipoatrophy in August of 2004. Since that time, it has become available for use in the United States for human immunodeficiency virus facial lipoatrophy patients and for off-label uses in other areas for soft-tissue contouring. This article is intended to enumerate reconstitution, injection techniques, management, and avoidance of complications. Methods: The authors have pooled their experiences to arrive at a consensus opinion for recommendations on treatment protocols for injectable poly-L-lactic acid use. Results: This article prescribes techniques to achieve safer, consistent results while minimizing risks of complications with injectable poly-L-lactic acid. Although the product has been used widely in Europe since 1999, physicians in the United States have only recently begun to explore the uses of Sculptra as a volumizing agent in the face and the body. U.S. physicians have benefited from the European experience with this product, including early problems secondary to overaggressive use, low-volume reconstitution, higher volume injection of product at one session, and inadequate time between injection sessions. Conclusions: The authors therefore have opted for a more conservative approach in their treatment recommendations. Higher volume dilution (8 to 12 cc), fewer vials used at each session, injections placed in the subcutaneous plane without any product being placed in the dermis, adequate time between injection sessions (at least 6 weeks), and postinjection patient massage should decrease the risks and avoid the potential complications associated with poly-L-lactic acid soft-tissue augmentation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature for, and critically appraise, randomized controlled trials of any type of complementary and alternative therapies for labor pain. Study design: Six electronic databases were searched from their inception until July 2003. The inclusion criteria were that they were prospective, randomized controlled trials, involved healthy pregnant women at term, and contained outcome measures of labor pain. Results: Our search strategy found 18 trials. Six of these did not meet our inclusion criteria. The remaining 12 trials involved acupuncture (2), biofeedback (1), hypnosis (2), intracutaneous sterile water injections (4), massage (2), and respiratory autogenic training (1). Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of any of the complementary and alternative therapies for labor pain, with the exception of intracutaneous sterile water injections. For all the other treatments described it is impossible to make any definitive conclusions regarding effectiveness in labor pain control. Ó 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Objectives: To explore the efficacy of reflexology on acute pain induced in healthy human subjects using a sham TENS control. Design: An ice-pain experiment was undertaken in which the volunteers (n ¼ 15; 11 female and 4 male with a mean AE SEM age of 37.7 AE 2.6 years) were required to immerse their non-dominant hand in a container of ice-slurry whilst two indices of pain, i.e. threshold, (the time taken for subjects to experience the first pain sensation) and tolerance, (the time when the subject is unable to tolerate any further pain), were measured. Results: Compared to control data, reflexology increased acute pain threshold (F (1,14) ¼ 4.5958, p < 0.05) and tolerance (F (1,14) ¼ 5.1095, p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that reflexology produces antinociceptive effects in a controlled experiment and suggest the possibility that reflexology may be useful on its own or as an adjunct to medication in the treatment of pain conditions in man.

Health, leisure and beauty activities are increasing in popularity in the United Kingdom, with a particular emphasis on self-help and alternative health practices. One product type that has increased sales with this expansion is the hand held electric massager. These are products that use vibration as a means of alleviating muscular strains and pains, as well as promoting relaxation. Paradoxically these products are extremely popular as gifts, but are discarded after an initial period of use. This article is a version after peer-review, with revisions having been made. In terms of appearance only this might not be the same as the published article. the hands of untrained users they might actually aggravate the conditions they were meant to alleviate. This stage exposed some fundamental differences of opinion between the professional therapists and manufacturers of existing products about the appropriateness of various operating principles. Most therapists employ manual massage as a reliable and effective technique for rehabilitation and relaxation. They were unconvinced that electrical vibration produced comparable results and were concerned about the harmful effects of vibration on muscle and nerve tissue. Although the manufacturer involved was keen to secure product endorsements from key professionals, this proved impossible to achieve with existing products. This stage did result in the identification of promising directions for future product development in collaboration with users resulting in a range of conceptual designs, which may form the basis for future products. This paper provides an interesting account of the differing perceptions that various constituencies bring to bear on the product design and evaluation process. Identifying these differences provides the basis of an effective integration of user needs, manufacturer requirements, designers' skills and sound therapeutic practice. It provides valuable insight to support the development of more effective hand-held massagers for the future, but also acts as a model of product development practice in the wider context.

Objective: The usefulness of massage as a recovery method after high-intensity exercise has yet to be established. We aimed to investigate the effects of whole-body massage on heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) after repeated high-intensity cycling exercise under controlled and standardized pretest conditions. Methods: The study included 62 healthy active individuals. After baseline measurements, the subjects performed standardized warm-up exercises followed by three 30-second Wingate tests. After completing the exercise protocol, the subjects were randomly assigned to a massage (myofascial release) or placebo (sham treatment with disconnected ultrasound and magnetotherapy equipment) group for a 40-minute recovery period. Holter recording and BP measurements were taken after exercise protocol and after the intervention. Results: After the exercise protocol, both groups showed a significant decrease in normal-to-normal interval, HRV index, diastolic BP (P N .001), and low-frequency domain values (P = .006). After the recovery period, HRV index (P = .42) and high-frequency (HF) (P = .94) values were similar to baseline levels in the massage group, whereas the HRV index tended (P = .05) to be lower and the HF was significantly (P b .01) lower vs baseline values in the placebo group, which also showed a tendency (P = .06) for HF to be lower than after the exercise. Likewise, diastolic BP returned to baseline levels in the massage group (P = .45) but remained lower in the placebo group (P = .02). Conclusion: Myofascial release massage favors the recovery of HRV and diastolic BP after high-intensity exercise (3 Wingate tests) to preexercise levels.

Tension and pain are common occupational hazards of modern-day nursing, especially given recent changes to the health care system. The aims of the pilot study were (1) to evaluate the feasibility of carrying out a series of eight 15-minute workplace-based massage treatments, and (2) to determine whether massage therapy reduced pain and stress experienced by nursing staff at a large teachhag hospital. Twelve hospital staff (10 registered nurses and 2 nonmedical ward staff) working in a large tertiary care center volunteered to participate. Participants received up to eight, workplace-based, 15-minute Swedish massage treatments provided by registered massage therapists. Pain, tension, relaxation, and the Profile of Mood States were measured before and after each massage session. Pain intensity and tension levels were significantly lower after massage (P < .01). In addition, relaxation levels and overall mood state improved significantly after treatments (P < .01). The results of this pilot study support the feasibility of an eight-session, workplacebased, massage therapy program for pain and tension experienced by nurses working ha a large teaching hospital. Further research is warranted to study the efficacy of workplace massage in reducing stress and improving overall mood.

S.A., (800) 222-3911). Devised in France during the 1970s, L.P.G.'s original purpose was to soften scars and standardize physical therapy; however, patients treated with the L.P.G. machine also showed an improvement in body contour and skin texture. Since then, several thousand machines have been in use in France as an alternative method for altering fat distribution in the subcutaneous plane. The authors began a study to determine the safety and efficacy of this machine. This study is composed of 22 women between the ages of 24 and 48. All 22 women completed at least seven sessions of treatments. Six of these 22 women completed all 14 sessions of the prescribed treatments. The study group exhibited a wide range of body habitus, initial weights, and final results. Of the 22 women who completed seven sessions of treatment, three had an increase in body weight and a mean index (see Materials and Methods) reduction in body diameter of 1.38 cm (0.5 in). Three of the six patients who completed all 14 treatment sessions had an increase in body weight and a mean index reduction in body diameter of 2.85 cm (1.12 in). All but one of the patients had a decrease in their mean body diameter index, regardless of their loss or gain in weight.

Postpartum depression affects an estimated 13% of women who have recently given birth. This article discusses several alternative or complementary therapies that may serve as adjuncts in the treatment of postpartum depression. The intent is to help practitioners better understand the treatments that are available that their clients may be using. Complementary modalities discussed include herbal medicine, dietary supplements, massage, aromatherapy, and acupuncture. Evidence supporting the use of these modalities is reviewed where available, and a list of resources is given in the appendix.

There is now a general trend towards a more baby friendly, family centred approach in the Neonatal Unit. Aspects of that approach -including positive touch and massage -are gaining in popularity. This has caused much debate due to the ambiguity surrounding the implementation and validity of the interventions, Here the impact of these complementary practices (not to be confused with complementary therapies) is discussed A review of the author's approach and potential guidelines for implementation is provided.

Studies suggest that between 30% and 50% of the adult population in industrialized nations use some form of complementary and/or alternative medicine (CAM) to prevent or treat a variety of health-related problems. A comprehensive literature search identified 25 surveys conducted between 1982 and 1995 that examined the practices and beliefs of conventional physicians with regard to 5 of the more prominent CAM therapies: acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, herbal medicine, and massage. Six studies were excluded owing to their methodological limitations. Across surveys, acupuncture had the highest rate of physician referral (43%) among the 5 CAM therapies, followed by chiropractic (40%) and massage (21%). Rates of CAM practice by conventional physicians varied from a low of 9% for homeopathy to a high of 19% for chiropractic and massage therapy. Approximately half of the surveyed physicians believed in the efficacy of acupuncture (51%), chiropractic (53%), and massage (48%), while f...

Migraine is a distressing disorder that is often triggered by stress and poor sleep. Only one randomized controlled trial (RCT) has assessed the effects of massage therapy on migraine experiences, which yielded some promising findings. Purpose: An RCT was designed to replicate and extend the earlier findings using a larger sample, additional stress-related indicators, and assessments past the final session to identify longer-term effects of massage therapy on stress and migraine experiences. Methods: Migraine sufferers (N = 47) who were randomly assigned to massage or control conditions completed daily assessments of migraine experiences and sleep patterns for 13 weeks. Massage participants attended weekly massage sessions during Weeks 5 to 10. State anxiety, heart rates, and salivary cortisol were assessed before and after the sessions. Perceived stress and coping efficacy were assessed at Weeks 4, 10, and 13. Results: Compared to control participants, massage participants exhibited greater improvements in migraine frequency and sleep quality during the intervention weeks and the 3 follow-up weeks. Trends for beneficial effects of massage therapy on perceived stress and coping efficacy were observed. During sessions, massage induced decreases in state anxiety, heart rate, and cortisol. Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary support for the utility of massage therapy as a nonpharmacologic treatment for individuals suffering from migraines.

The effects of three different regimes of chest physiotherapy were compared in this cross-over study. Mucus clearance was monitored in nine clinically stable cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The patients performed: 1) postural drainage with thoracic expansion exercises + forced expiration technique (FET) in the left decubitus position; 2) positive expiratory pressure (PEP)-mask breathing + FET; and 3) physical exercise on a bicycle ergometer + FET. All treatments had the same duration and FET was standardized. Mucus clearance was assessed using a technique based on measurement of the elimination of inhaled radiolabelled particles. Mean clearance of tracer from the right lung by postural drainage, PEP and physical exercise was 18% (range 10-29%), 20% (12-43%), 16% (8-25%), respectively, and from the left lung 20% (8-42%), 15% (5-23%) and 13% (5-17%), respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. Surprisingly, postural drainage (PD) was the most effective technique i...

This article consists of a case report with a follow-up and a review of the literature. Approximately 30 million people worldwide suffer from Dupuytren's disease. In plain terms, part of the connective tissue of the palm of the hand scars, forms a thick cord, and starts contracting, usually creating a permanent flexion of the small finger and/or the ring finger. As it progresses, the normal function of the hand diminishes and simple daily tasks, such as dressing or face washing, become more difficult. This physical impairment can have a significant impact on everyday life. In severe cases, it can even lead to finger amputation. The G.Vrousgos Technique (GVT or GV Technique) is a non-invasive, non-surgical therapeutic protocol for the treatment of Dupuytren's contraction; it was developed by the author of this paper, George Vrousgos, in August 2018, in Greece. The technique was applied to the author's father, who had a flexion contracture of 90-degree angle, and successfully restored the full functionality of his left little finger within 30 days. No re-occurrence or adverse effects were observed or reported during the 2-year follow-up period. The GV Nonsurgical Technique challenges all the current treatment approaches, especially the invasive ones, which are costly, have side effects, complications, and a high rate of relapse and recurrence. The primary purpose of this publication is to 'flip the mental switch' of Dupuytren sufferers and to motivate them to start stretching their affected fingers, gently. Additionally, a rationale is provided as to why males, rock climbers, and people of Northern European origin are more frequently afflicted. This perspective aims at shifting the main focus from the genetic and other biological influences involved by placing particular emphasis on the contributing lifestyle factors that are also implicated. This article can be a cornerstone and a turning point regarding the prevention and treatment of Dupuytren's contraction.

Keywords: Dupuytren Contracture, Viking Lifestyle, Northern Europeans, Surgery, Radiotherapy, Passive Stretching, Friction Massage, TEC Device, Causation, Prevention.

This study evaluated changes in shoulder function in patients with frozen shoulder after 4-week rehabilitation combining exercise with electrical therapy and massage. Ten patients with frozen shoulder (mean +/- standard error (SE) age 50.2+/-4.6 years) and 10 control subjects (49.8+/-4.6 years) participated in the study. Standard goniometric measurements were used to assess shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation active range of motion. Isometric maximal force of the shoulder flexors, abductors, adductors, internal and external rotators was measured by hand-held dynamometer. Shoulder muscle isometric endurance was characterized by net impulse assessed during weight (30% of maximal force) holding in hand till exhaustion. Shoulder pain was assessed by visual analogue scale. Before rehabilitation, patients with frozen shoulder had less (p&lt;0.05) active range of motion and shoulder muscle maximal force for all measured directions, and less (p&...

Objective To determine the effectiveness of exercise and soft tissue massage either in isolation or in combination for the treatment of non-specific shoulder problems. Methods Database searches for articles from 1966 to December 2011 were performed. Studies were eligible if they investigated 'hands on' soft tissue massage performed locally to the shoulder or exercises aimed at improving strength, range of motion or coordination; nonsurgical painful shoulder disorders; included participants aged 18-80 years and outcomes measured included pain, disability, range of motion, quality of life, work status, global perceived effect, adverse events or recurrence.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe the musculoskeletal conditions and associated pain and limitation and the effects of massage treatment in a Filipino squatter community. Methods: The study was conducted at the Hands On Philippines Education (HOPE) clinic in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan, Philippines. Baseline data were collected before the first treatment, and follow-up data were collected immediately after the second treatment. Treatment was delivered by massage students who were trained in massage by a chiropractic program faculty member through the Project HOPE charitable community-based initiative. A prospective pretest-posttest observational research design was used. The sample consisted of 290 subjects aged 16 years and older visiting the Project HOPE clinic. One hundred ninety-two subjects completed the follow-up surveys. The outcome measures were sites of pain, self-reported levels of pain, and limitation to activities of daily living at baseline and after the second massage therapy treatment. Results: Three self-reported anatomical locations were identified by each subject. The most frequently reported painful sites over the last 7 days among the 166 respondents were the upper back (36.7%), lower back (18.7%), and shoulders (16.3%). The pre-post treatment analyses of pain and disability was restricted to 66 participants who provided completed outcome measures. After 2 massage therapy treatments, all pain and limitation scores decreased. A comparison of mean self-reported levels of pain and disability at baseline and immediately after the second consultation showed statistically significant decreases of pain (t 65 = 16.97, P b .001) and disability (t 65 = 12.4, P b .001). Conclusion: This study suggests that participants who visited the Filipino squatter community clinic experience a high prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions located primarily within the axial skeleton, and that, in the short term, massage therapy delivered on-site by trained therapists was helpful in reducing self-reported levels of pain and limitation to activities of daily living.

Eighty-four prenatally depressed women were randomly assigned to yoga, massage therapy or standard prenatal care control groups to determine the relative effects of yoga and massage therapy on prenatal depression and neonatal outcomes. Following 12 weeks of twice weekly yoga or massage therapy sessions (20 min each) both therapy groups versus the control group had a greater decrease on depression, anxiety and back and leg pain scales and a greater increase on a relationship scale. In addition, the yoga and massage therapy groups did not differ on neonatal outcomes including gestational age and birthweight, and those groups, in turn, had greater gestational age and birthweight than the control group. ª

Chinese parent's use of nonpharmacological methods in children's postoperative pain relief Parental participation in paediatric postoperative care is common in China. However, the knowledge is limited on what methods parents use to relieve their children's postoperative pain in hospital. The purpose of this study was to describe what nonpharmacological methods parents use to relieve their children's postoperative pain and factors related to this. A previously validated Scandinavian questionnaire survey was conducted in five provincial hospitals in Fujian, China, in 2004. Parents (n ¼ 206) whose children had undergone operation were asked to complete questionnaires concerning nonpharmacological methods for children's pain relief. The response rate was 88%. Results show that the most commonly used methods by parents were emotional support strategies, helping with daily activities, distraction and imagery. Breathing technique was the method used least frequently. Fathers and parents who were older, more educated, employed and with earlier hospitalization experience with their children used pain alleviation methods more frequently than mothers and parents without these characteristics. Moreover, parents used some methods more frequently with boys, younger children, as well as children admitted for selective operations, with longer duration of hospitalization and with moderate or severe pain. Parents utilized various nonpharmacological methods for children's pain relief, especially those easy to use. This study may serve to focus healthcare providers' efforts on educating parents with respect to various nonpharmacological pain alleviation methods available for postoperative pain. Furthermore, this study provides parents an opportunity to be aware of their role in their children's pain management.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multisensory intervention on the physical growth and health of Korean orphaned infants. Fifty-eight full-term infants were randomly assigned to a control (n ¼ 28) or an experimental (n ¼ 30) group within 14 days postbirth. In addition to receiving the routine orphanage care, infants in the experimental group received 15 min of auditory (female voice), tactile (massage), and visual (eye-to-eye contact) stimulation twice a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Compared to the control group, the experimental group had gained significantly more weight and had larger increases in length and head circumference after the 4-week intervention period and at 6 months of age. In addition, the experimental group had significantly fewer illnesses and clinic visits. These data demonstrate that multisensory intervention in conjunction with human/social contact may be effective in facilitating growth for newborn infants placed in orphanages. ß

There has been little research on body therapy for women in sexual abuse recovery. This study examines body-oriented therapy--an approach focused on body awareness and involving the combination of bodywork and the emotional processing of psychotherapy. To examine the efficacy and the perceived influence on abuse recovery of body-oriented therapy. Massage therapy served as a relative control condition to address the lack of touch-based comparisons in bodywork research. A 2-group, repeated measures design was employed, involving randomization to either body-oriented therapy or massage group, conducted in 8, hour-long sessions by 1 of 4 research clinicians. Statistical and qualitative analysis was employed to provide both empirical and experiential perspectives on the study process. Participants were seen in treatment rooms of a university in the northwestern United States and in clinician&#39;s private offices. Twenty-four adult females in psychotherapy for child sexual abuse. Body-or...

Many patients suffering from cancer make use of complementary therapies, with aromatherapy being a popular choice. Quantitative studies, using questionnaire data, have shown that aromatherapy may reduce psychological distress and enhance symptom control in cancer patients. However, little is known about the personal meanings patients associate with the therapy. This study explored the patients&#39; experiences of aromatherapy using of a focus group interview. Eight themes emerged from the analysis, six of which have been acknowledged to some extent by previous authors: de-stressing effects of aromatherapy, the counselling role of the aromatherapist, aromatherapy as a reward, patient empowerment, communication through touch, and negative aspects of the service. Two apparently new themes emerged concerned with security of context (where the aromatherapy took place) and preconceived perceptions of the value of aromatherapy as a treatment of cancer patients. The implications of the find...

Systematic literature review. To assess the efficacy of deep friction massage (DFM) in the treatment of tendinopathy. Anecdotal evidence supports the efficacy of DFM for the treatment of tendinopathy. An advanced understanding of the etiopathogenesis of tendinopathy and the resultant paradigm shift away from an active inflammatory model has taken place since the popularization of the DFM technique by Cyriax for the treatment of &quot;tendinitis.&quot; However, increasing mechanical load to the tendinopathic tissue, as well as reducing molecular cross-linking during the healing process via transverse massage, offers a plausible explanation for observed responses in light of the contemporary understanding of tendinopathy. The authors surveyed research articles in all languages by searching PubMed, Scopus, Pedro, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library using the terms deep friction massage, deep tissue massage, deep transverse massage, Cyriax, soft tissue mobilization, soft tissue m...

This study was conducted in one multicultural dementia day-care centre over a period of 18 months. It introduced a gentle hand treatment for clients using three essential oils. The study evolved out of the process of action research where the family carers and day-care staff participated with the researchers to choose, design, develop and evaluate a hand treatment programme. Data was collected through in-depth interviews pre-and post-treatment, focus group discussions, client observation logbooks and a disability scale. The findings indicate a positive strengthening of the relationship between the person with dementia and their family carer, and an improvement in feelings of health and well-being for both. The specific improvements for clients include increased alertness, self-hygiene, contentment, initiation of toileting, sleeping at night and reduced levels of agitation, withdrawal and wandering. Family carers have reported less distress, improved sleeping patterns and feelings of calm. They also found the treatment useful in helping them manage the difficult behaviours exhibited by their relative with dementia. The benefits of this treatment for nursing practice are that it is safe, effective and easily administered by staff in any setting. a multicultural dementia day-care service in the south-Technology,

Background: Aromatherapy and hand massage therapies have been reported to have some benefit for people with dementia who display behavioural symptoms; however there are a number of limitations of reported studies. The aim is to investigate the effect of aromatherapy (3% lavender oil spray) with and without hand massage on disruptive behaviour in people with dementia living in long-term care.

Background: Childbirth is arguably one of the most painful experiences women undergo during their lives. This study aimed to compare the effects of ice massage, acupressure and placebo in reducing the intensity of labor pain in pregnant women from selected hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 90 pregnant women referred from selected hospitals in Tehran. Mean age of the participants was 27.82 AE 6.20 years. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (n ¼ 30) to receive ice massage, acupressure or placebo. The intervention was applied at the Hegu point and pain intensity assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) before the intervention, immediately 30 min and 1 h after the intervention. Results: Comparing pain intensity immediately, 30 min and 1 h post-intervention across the three groups showed a significant difference between the groups. At 30 min post-intervention (p < 0.05). A Tukey test showed this difference was related to ice massage. Conclusion: Ice massage and acupressure techniques reduced pain during labor. However, ice massage provided more persistent pain relief. Due to high levels of pain intensity and increased pain experienced by the women during the active phase of labor, it is suggested that repeating these techniques during the first stage of labor could be an effective, accessible, cost-effective and non-invasive technique to help reduce the intensity of labor pain.

Significant progress in understanding the physiology, clinical correlates, and consequences of neonatal pain have resulted in greater attention to pain management during neonatal intensive care. A number of nonpharmacological therapies have been investigated, including nonnutritive sucking, with and without sucrose use, swaddling or facilitated tucking, kangaroo care, music therapy, and multi-sensorial stimulation. Although the efficacy of these approaches is clearly evident, they cannot provide analgesia for moderate or severe pain in the neonate. Further, some of these therapies cannot be effectively applied to all populations of critically ill neonates. Acupuncture, an ancient practice in Chinese medicine, has gained increasing popularity for symptom control among adults and older children. Acupuncture may provide an effective nonpharmacological approach for the treatment of pain in neonates, even moderate or severe pain, and should be considered for inclusion in a graduated multidisciplinary algorithm for neonatal pain management. Semin Perinatol 31:318-322

OBJECTIVE: To review recent findings on the utilization of massage by cancer patients, including evidence of effects in supportive and palliative cancer care, current understanding of safety considerations and adaptations needed, education of professional and family caregivers to provide this form of support, and guidelines for oncology nurses in referring patients.

Many coaches, athletes and sports medicine personnel hold the belief, based on observations and experiences, that massage can provide several benefits to the body such as increased blood flow, reduced muscle tension and neurological excitability, and an increased sense of well-being. Massage can produce mechanical pressure, which is expected to increase muscle compliance resulting in increased range of joint motion, decreased passive stiffness and decreased active stiffness (biomechanical mechanisms). Mechanical pressure might help to increase blood flow by increasing the arteriolar pressure, as well as increasing muscle temperature from rubbing. Depending on the massage technique, mechanical pressure on the muscle is expected to increase or decrease neural excitability as measured by the Hoffman reflex (neurological mechanisms). Changes in parasympathetic activity (as measured by heart rate, blood pressure and heart rate variability) and hormonal levels (as measured by cortisol levels) following massage result in a relaxation response (physiological mechanisms). A reduction in anxiety and an improvement in mood state also cause relaxation (psychological mechanisms) after massage. Therefore, these benefits of massage are expected to help athletes by enhancing performance and reducing injury risk. However, limited research has investigated the effects of pre-exercise massage on performance and injury prevention. Massage between events is widely investigated because it is believed that massage might help to enhance recovery and prepare athletes for the next event. Unfortunately, very little scientific data has supported this claim. The majority of research on psychological effects of massage has concluded that massage produces positive effects on recovery (psychological mechanisms). Post-exercise massage has been shown to reduce the severity of muscle soreness but massage has no effects on muscle functional loss. Notwithstanding the belief that massage has benefits for athletes, the effects of different types of massage (e.g. petrissage, effleurage, friction) or the appropriate timing of massage (pre-exercise vs post-exercise) on performance, recovery from injury, or as an injury prevention method are not clear. Explanations are lacking, as the mechanisms of each massage technique have not been widely investigated. Therefore, this article discusses the possible mechanisms of massage and provides a discussion of the limited evidence of massage on performance, recovery and muscle injury prevention. The limitations of previous research are described and further research is recommended.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for applying calibrated manual massage pressures by using commonly available, inexpensive sphygmomanometer parts and validate the use of this approach as a quantitative method of applying massage therapy to rodents. Methods: Massage pressures were monitored by using a modified neonatal blood pressure (BP) cuff attached to an aneroid gauge. Lightly anesthetized rats were stroked on the ventral abdomen for 5 minutes at pressures of 20 mm Hg and 40 mm Hg. Blood pressure was monitored noninvasively for 20 minutes following massage therapy at 5-minute intervals. Interexaminer reliability was assessed by applying 20 mm Hg and 40 mm Hg pressures to a digital scale in the presence or absence of the pressure gauge. Results: With the use of this method, we observed good interexaminer reliability, with intraclass coefficients of 0.989 versus 0.624 in blinded controls. In Long-Evans rats, systolic BP dropped by an average of 9.86% ± 0.27% following application of 40 mm Hg massage pressure. Similar effects were seen following 20 mm Hg pressure (6.52% ± 1.7%), although latency to effect was greater than at 40 mm Hg. Sprague-Dawley rats behaved similarly to Long-Evans rats. Low-frequency/high-frequency ratio, a widely-used index of autonomic tone in cardiovascular regulation, showed a significant increase within 5 minutes after 40 mm Hg massage pressure was applied. Conclusions: The calibrated massage method was shown to be a reproducible method for applying massage pressures in rodents and lowering BP.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a set of somatic and psychological symptoms that occur cyclically in the luteal phase of a menstrual cycle. There is no report of final result of reflexology on PMS. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of reflexology on PMS through a systematic review and meta-analysis study.

The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of traditional Thai massage (TTM) among patients with back pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Swedish massage (SM) was selected as the treatment for the comparison group. One hundred and eighty patients were randomly allocated to receive either TTM or SM for 6 sessions during a 3-4 week period, with follow-up 1 month later. Results indicated that pain intensity, assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), among patients in both groups was reduced by more than half after 3 weeks of treatment and for up to one month afterwards (Po0:05) with no significant difference in VAS between the groups. Similar improvements were found for most other outcome measures. We conclude that TTM and SM are effective in reducing back pain among patients with MTrPs. We therefore suggest that massage therapy, and in particular Thai massage, be considered as an alternative primary health care treatment for this disorder.