PurposeTo study the efficacy of traditional Thai massage (TTM) versus conventional physical therapy (PT) programs in treating muscle spasticity, functional ability, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in Thai stroke patients.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor was carried out at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand). The study included 50 stroke (onset ≥3 months) outpatients experiencing spasticity at the elbow or knee muscles at a grade of ≥1+ on the modified Ashworth Scale who were ≥50 years old and able to communicate. The subjects were randomly allocated to the treatment group receiving TTM (24 subjects) or the control group receiving the PT program (26 subjects). Both groups received treatment (either TTM or PT) twice a week for 6 weeks. Spasticity grade, functional ability, anxiety, depression, and QoL were measured at Week 0 and Week 6.ResultsAt Week 6, the percentage of patients whose modified Ashworth Scale score had decreased by at least one grade was not statistically significant between the two groups. Both TTM and PT groups experienced a significant increase in functional ability and QoL, but no difference was found between the groups. Anxiety and depression scores showed a decreasing trend in the TTM group.ConclusionThis preliminary report showed no evidence that TTM differed from the PT program in decreasing spasticity. However, both interventions may relieve spasticity, increase functional ability, and improve QoL after 6 weeks. Only TTM can decrease anxiety and depression scores. Further studies with adequate sample size are necessary.
Objective: This prospective study examined the defecation enhancement effects in post-lumbar laminectomy patients who received Thai traditional medicine of abdominal massage (TTMAM) in combination with standard nursing care, compared with patients receiving only standard nursing care. Methods: This prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted at Siriraj Hospital between 2011 and 2015. Eighty-eight patients with spinal stenosis scheduled for lumbar laminectomy with or without fusion were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the first group underwent standard nursing care combined with TTMAM (the TTMAM group), and the second group underwent standard nursing care (the non-TTMAM group). The clinical outcomes regarding the first defecation within 3 days after surgery, abdominal distension, and patient satisfaction with defecation care were evaluated. Results: When comparing the first defecation within 3 days after surgery, no significant differences were found in the number of patients between the two groups. The number of the patients who had their first defecation within 3 days after surgery was higher in the TTMAM group (46.5%) than the non-TTMAM group (27.3%). There was significantly less abdominal distension on the third day after surgery in the TTMAM group than in the non-TTMAM group. Moreover, the mean score of patient satisfaction of the TTMAM group was higher than that of the non-TTMAM group. Conclusion: Thai traditional medicine of abdominal massage tends to help defecation in post-lumbar laminectomy patients as it relieves abdominal distension and increases satisfaction with defecation care. Therefore, the use of TTMAM with other bowel care methods could provide additional benefit for lumbar laminectomy patients.
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