Massage therapy in outpatient pediatric chronic pain patients: do they facilitate significant reductions in levels of distress, pain, tension, discomfort, and mood alterations?

Abstract

After massage therapy, patients reported highly significant improvement in their levels of distress, pain, tension, discomfort, and mood compared with their premassage ratings (all t-values >6.1, ****P < 1 x 10(-8). To control for the possible effects of patients reporting improvements simply as a result of rating their symptoms, we collected control ratings before and after a comparable 'no intervention' time period in a subset of 25 patients. The 'no intervention' time period typically took place in the treatment room with the therapist present. Approximately 60% of the control ratings were obtained before the intervention and 40% were obtained after the massage therapy. None of the differences between the pre- and postratings associated with the 'no intervention' control time period were significant. In these same patients, the difference between the pre- and postmassage ratings were significant, all t-values >3.8, **P < 0.001.

Changes in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Symptoms Following Massage Therapy: A Case Report

“…Throughout the course of the treatment series it was noted that emotional and mental stress correlated with the amount of pain the client was experiencing. A study regarding the effects of massage therapy on chronic pain (23) found the same result and, in addition, stated that the authors were unable to discriminate whether massage techniques affected the perception of pain, thereby reducing stress, or vice versa. Referring to Figure 1, one can observe the parallel relationship between stress levels and pain intensity.…”

“…One of the unique abilities of massage therapy is the potential to concurrently address the mechanical, the neurological, and the emotional symptoms in a personalized, holistic manner. Many stress-related conditions such as depression, chronic pain, posttraumatic stress disorder, and job anxiety have been positively affected by massage therapy, with changes in mood noted immediately after treatment (20-23) . Effects on cortisol, serotonin, and dopamine have been proposed as mechanisms for these changes, but are currently being debated in the literature (20,21,24,25) .…”

Massage therapy research review

“…19 Massage has also been effective for children and adolescents attending a chronic pediatric pain clinic. 20 After the therapy sessions, the children and adolescents reported significantly lower levels of pain, discomfort and depressed mood. In a study on postoperative pain management in adults, back massages resulted in decreased pain intensity as well as lower anxiety levels.…”

Interpersonal Touch Buffers Pain Sensitivity in Romantic Relationships but Heightens Sensitivity between Strangers and Friends

“…During subsequent wrist extension exercises, participants in the massage group and in the touch group both experienced decreased delayed-onset muscle soreness relative to control participants. Massage therapy has also proven effective at reducing pain for postoperative patients [35], advanced cancer patients with moderate-to-severe pain [36], cardiac surgery patients [37], and for children and adolescents with chronic pain [38].…”