Randomized control trial evidence for the benefits of massage and relaxation therapy on sleep in cancer survivors—a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose Cancer survivors may experience sleep disturbances during and after their cancer treatments. While pharmacological approaches are commonly used to address sleep disturbances, they may have a number of adverse effects. This review studied the effect of two non-pharmacological interventions (massage and relaxation therapy) on sleep disturbances in cancer survivors. Methods A search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro, and CINAHL using relevant keywords. Results The search yielded 371 articles, with 4 RCTs studying massage therapy and 3 RCTs studying relaxation therapy included for qualitative analysis. Massage therapy studies showed statistically significant improvement in self-reported sleep questionnaires and objectively recorded long sleep episodes, as assessed via an accelerometer. No significant improvements in sleep outcomes were observed in the relaxation therapy studies, although there were trends for improved self-reported sleep quality. Conclusion While massage therapy provided by massage therapists may have some potential for improving sleep outcomes for cancer survivors, there is no such current evidence regarding relaxation therapy. Implications for Cancer Survivors Cancer survivors who experience sleep disturbances may benefit from regular sessions with a massage therapist. However, future studies should examine the long-term feasibility of massage therapist–delivered services, particularly for cancer survivors with limited finances, and determine if benefits can be obtained if massage is provided by non-certified individuals. Relaxation therapy appears to be safe for cancer survivors, but future RCTs involving larger sample sizes need to be conducted to better determine its feasibility and efficacy.

Participatory action research intervention for improving sleep in inpatients with cancer

“…Recent systematic reviews have supported the effectiveness of these drugs compared with other types of therapies for managing insomnia in cancer patients (Cheng et al, 2021; Yang et al, 2021), which is consistent with our findings. This result may be related to the scarcity of existing evidence on non‐pharmacological measures, such as relaxation techniques, music therapy and exercise for improving sleep quality (Liu et al, 2019; Natale et al, 2019; Samuel et al, 2021). Studies have actually been conducted on the non‐pharmacological treatment of sleep disorders in cancer patients (although few), which have shown how cognitive‐behavioural therapy of sleep disorders (CBT) can improve the therapeutic response anti‐cancer, reduce comorbidities and improve the quality of life of patients and caregivers (Melton, 2018).…”

Associations between tactile intimacy and sleep quality in healthy adults: A systematic review

“…We were also surprised not to retrieve articles on massage and sleep that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The lack of eligible articles on this topic was because research on massage and sleep has focussed primarily on patient populations or infants (Field et al, 2005; Hu et al, 2015; Li et al, 2014; Samuel et al, 2020). Exploring the links between massage and sleep in a non‐clinical, adult population remains an important area of further research.…”

The skin‐brain connection and pleasant touch as supportive care for psychocutaneous disorders

“…73,74 However, while surveys indicate that the demand from cancer patients for massage as a nonpharmacologic supportive care during treatment is increasing, massage is not always incorporated into care at many cancer centres. 108,109 Several systematic reviews have been performed on the effectiveness of massage therapy on cancer symptoms and for supportive palliative care in adults [110][111][112][113][114][115] and children. 116 Recent reviews on the effect of massage on cancer pain recognise massage therapy as an effective intervention for immediate effect on cancer pain and may improve physical function and global well-being, although long-term sustained benefits are less clear.…”