Massage Therapy for cancer

“…Several trials suggest that massage can reduce pain in cancer patients at varying stages of disease. 10,11 In the largest study to date, 87 hospitalized cancer patients were randomized to massage therapy or to control on a crossover basis. Pain and anxiety scores fell by approximately 40% during massage compared with little or no change during control sessions.…”

Barrie R. Cassileth, Andrew J. Vickers 2004

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

“…Background: To critically evaluate the effects of massage therapy on cancer pain. Methods: Nine Chinese and English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, SCOPUS, Web of Science core, China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP) were systematically searched from the inception of databases to November 2022 for randomized controlled trials. According to Cochrane Collaboration, 2 reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data from the included studies. All analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.4. Results: Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis, containing 1000 patients (498 in the massage therapy group and 502 in the control group). Massage therapy could significantly relieve cancer pain in patients (standardized mean difference = −1.16, 95% confidence interval [−1.39, −0.93], P < .00001), especially those in the perioperative period and those with hematological malignancies. Foot reflexology and hand acupressure had a moderate effect on cancer pain relief, with hand acupressure being more effective. Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes and a program length of ≥1 week had a better effect and could significantly relieve pain. The occurrence of adverse events was reported in 4 of the 13 studies, all of which were no adverse events. Conclusions: Massage therapy can be used as a complementary alternative therapy to relieve cancer pain in patients with hematological malignancies, breast cancer, and cancers of the digestive system. It is suggested that chemotherapy patients use foot reflexology, and perioperative period patients use hand acupressure. A massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes and a program length of ≥1 week is recommended to achieve better effects.…”

Yueyue Zhang1, Shaotong Wang2, Xinlong Ma3 et al. 2023 

Medicine 

 “…[ 20 ] According to a report, in North American medical centers, massage treatment as a supportive treatment is gradually available for cancer survivors to improve comfort level, lessen symptoms and related side effects. [ 21 ] Many studies have found that massage can reduce muscle fatigue, improve blood flow, relax mood as well as relieve cancer symptoms such as anxiety, depression, pain, and nausea. [ 20 , 22 – 24 ] Moreover, the result which was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) also demonstrated that massage could relieve anxiety and depression of cancer survivors. …”

Siyu Qin, Yuanyi Xiao, Zhenhai Chi et al. 2020

Medicine

  “…Abstract: Cancer pain is the most common complaint among patients with cancer. Conventional treatment does not always relieve cancer pain satisfactorily. Therefore, many patients with cancer have turned to complementary therapies to help them with their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Massage therapy is increasingly used for symptom relief in patients with cancer. The current study aimed to investigate by meta-analysis the effects of massage therapy for cancer patients experiencing pain. Nine electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published through August 2013 in English, Chinese, and Korean. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Cochrane risk-of-bias scales. Twelve studies, including 559 participants, were used in the meta-analysis. In 9 highquality studies based on the PEDro scale (standardized mean difference, −1.24; 95% confidence interval, −1.72 to −0.75), we observed reduction in cancer pain after massage. Massage therapy significantly reduced cancer pain compared with no massage treatment or conventional care (standardized mean difference, −1.25; 95% confidence interval, −1.63 to −0.87). Our results indicate that massage is effective for the relief of cancer pain, especially for surgery-related pain. Among the various types of massage, foot reflexology appeared to be more effective than body or aroma massage. Our meta-analysis indicated a beneficial effect of massage for relief of cancer pain. Further well-designed, large studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to be able to draw firmer conclusions regarding the effectiveness.…”

Sook-Hyun Lee, Jong-Yeop Kim, Seung Geun Yeo et al. 2015 

Integr Cancer Ther 

“…Abstract: Introduction: Cancer-related pain (CRP) and its treatments are common and the scariest problems that patients with cancer fear and negatively affect their quality of life. Despite medical intervention, the pain of cancer still remains a clinical problem. Thus, the use of complementary medicine methods such as massage therapy is essential to control pain in the patients. Methodology:It was a review type study limited to national and international studies from 1995 to 2015. Searching processes were completed by electronic databases and search engines. Finally, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as the elimination of duplicate studies, nine articles were selected for final review among which five were clinical trials and four were review or metaanalysis articles. Results:In all five clinical trials, massage therapy reduced pain of patients with cancer, which reflects the positive effects of massage therapy in adult patients with cancer. In addition, although various methods of massage therapy were employed, with short-term and long-term periods, it still had a positive impact. Meanwhile, four review or meta-analysis studies while different in the year of study, inclusion and exclusion criteria, manifested that the results of massage therapy was an effective non-pharmacological pain control in patients with cancer. Conclusions:Finally, it can be concluded that massage therapy is an effective non-pharmacological way to control pain in adult patients with cancer. Furthermore, studies in Iran on the effects of massage therapy on pain in patients with cancer are limited and much more research is needed in this area.…”

 Mojtaba Miladinia1, Shahram Baraz, Kourosh Zarea et al. 2016 

 Jundishapur J Chronic Dis 

 “…Studies have shown that there is a measurable stress reduction under massage therapy in cancer patients; however, some studies found no significant massage effect concerning perceived stress. Studies which analyzed depression and mood under massage therapy in cancer patients found inconclusive results. Furthermore, a few studies indicate that there are measurable immunological changes following massage therapy.…”

Michaela Krohn, Miriam Listing, Gracia Tjahjono et al. 2010 

Support Care Cancer 

“…In one study with patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplant, significantly larger reductions in anxiety, distress, fatigue, and nausea were found in those receiving a 20-minute shoulder, neck, head, and facial massage compared to patients receiving usual care after 7 days of treatment (Tope et al, 1999). Field (1998) reported in a review of massage therapy research that women with breast cancer who received three 45-minute massages per week over a 5-week period had improved mood and less anxiety and anger after the first and last massage. …”

Marlaine C. Smith, Janet Kemp, Linnea Hemphill et al. 2002 

J of Nursing Scholarship 

 “…Background: Massage therapy can be helpful in alleviating cancer-related symptoms and cancer treatment-related symptoms. While surveys have noted that cancer patients seek out massage as a nonpharmacologic approach during cancer treatment, little is known about the integration of massage in outpatient cancer care.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which massage is being integrated into outpatient cancer care at NCI-designated Cancer Centers.Setting: This study used descriptive methods to analyze the integration of massage in NCI-designated Cancer Centers providing clinical services to patients (n = 62).Design: Data were collected from 91.1% of the centers (n = 59) using content analysis and a telephone survey. A dataset was developed and coded for analysis.Main Outcome Measure: The integration of massage was assessed by an algorithm that was developed from a set of five variables: 1) acceptance of treatment as therapeutic, 2) institution offers treatment to patients, 3) clinical practice guidelines in place, 4) use of evidence-based resources to inform treatment, and 5) shared knowledge about treatment among health care team. All centers were scored against all five variables using a six-point scale, with all variables rated equally.Results: The integration of massage ranged from not at all (0) to very high (5) with all five levels of integration evident. Only 11 centers (17.7% of total) rated a very high level of integration; nearly one-third of the centers (n = 22) were found to have no integration of massage at all—not even provision of information about massage to patients through the center website.Conclusions: The findings of this analysis suggest that research on massage is not being leveraged to integrate massage into outpatient cancer care. …”

Virginia S. Cowen1, Barbara Tafuto 2018

IJTMB

"This study highlighted the gap between research and practice. Although research supports massage’s effectiveness for cancer-related symptoms/cancer-treatment–related symptoms, translation of best practice into health care delivery is needed. The lack of robust availability of massage performed by licensed massage therapists in clinical cancer care suggests dissemination of information about the research evidence base is needed to improve access to care. Because there is a relatively large body of research on massage for cancer patients, and massage therapists are licensed health care professionals in most US states, exploration of the limited use of insurance reimbursement for massage warrants specific attention."

Virginia S. Cowen, Robin Streit Miccio, Bijal A. Parikh 2017 

Altern Med 

“…Abstract: Cancer pain is the most common complaint among patients with cancer. Conventional treatment does not always relieve cancer pain satisfactorily. Therefore, many patients with cancer have turned to complementary therapies to help them with their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Massage therapy is increasingly used for symptom relief in patients with cancer. The current study aimed to investigate by meta-analysis the effects of massage therapy for cancer patients experiencing pain. Nine electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published through August 2013 in English, Chinese, and Korean. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Cochrane risk-of-bias scales. Twelve studies, including 559 participants, were used in the meta-analysis. In 9 highquality studies based on the PEDro scale (standardized mean difference, −1.24; 95% confidence interval, −1.72 to −0.75), we observed reduction in cancer pain after massage. Massage therapy significantly reduced cancer pain compared with no massage treatment or conventional care (standardized mean difference, −1.25; 95% confidence interval, −1.63 to −0.87). Our results indicate that massage is effective for the relief of cancer pain, especially for surgery-related pain. Among the various types of massage, foot reflexology appeared to be more effective than body or aroma massage. Our meta-analysis indicated a beneficial effect of massage for relief of cancer pain..."

Sook-Hyun Lee1, Jong-Yeop Kim, Seung Geun Yeo et al. 2015  

Integr Cancer Ther 

“…ABSTRACT: Ankle dorsifl exion range of motion (ROM) typically decreases aft er prolonged immobilization. Anterior-to-posterior talocrural joint mobilizations are purported to increase dorsifl exion ROM and decrease joint stiff ness aft er immobilization. Th e purpose of this study was to determine if a single bout of Grade III anterior-to-posterior talocrural joint mobilizations immediately aff ected measures of dorsifl exion ROM, posterior ankle joint stiff ness, and posterior talar translation in ankles of patients who had been immobilized at least 14 days. Ten physically active patients (5 males, 5 females; age=21.4+3.3 years) participated. Each had the ankle immobilized following a lower extremity injury for at least 14 days and presented with at least a 5° dorsifl exion ROM defi cit compared to the contralateral ankle. A crossover design was employed so that half of the subjects received joint mobilizations fi rst and half of the subjects received the control intervention (no treatment) fi rst. All subjects ultimately received both treatments. Active dorsifl exion ROM was assessed with a bubble inclinometer, and posterior ankle stiff ness and talar translation were assessed with an instrumented ankle arthrometer. Aft er a single application of grade III anterior-to-posterior talocrural joint mobilization, dorsifl exion ROM and posterior ankle joint stiff ness were signifi cantly increased. Th ere was also a trend toward less posterior talar translation immediately aft er mobilization. Th e trend toward decreased posterior talar translation and increased posterior ankle joint stiff ness supports the positional fault theory. Correction of an anterior talar positional fault offers a possible explanation for these results.…”

Elizabeth L Landrum, Cdr Brent M Kelln, William R. Parente et al. 2008 

Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy

 “…Even after receiving analgesia, patients with gastric and liver cancer still report moderate levels of postoperative pain. The purpose of the study was to investigate the efficacy of foot reflexotherapy as adjuvant therapy in relieving pain and anxiety in postoperative patients with gastric cancer and hepatocellular cancer. The study design was a randomized controlled trial. Data were collected from 4 surgical wards of a medical center in 2005 in Taipei, Taiwan. Sixty-one patients who had received surgery for gastric cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma were randomly allocated to an intervention (n = 30) or control (n = 31) group. Patients in the intervention group received the usual pain management plus 20 minutes of foot reflexotherapy during postoperative days 2, 3, and 4. Patients in the control group received usual pain management. Outcome measures included the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, visual analog scale for pain, summary of the pain medications consumed, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results demonstrated that studied patients reported moderately high levels of pain and anxiety postoperatively while patients were managed with patient-controlled analgesia. Using generalized estimation equations and controlling for confounding variables, less pain (P < .05) and anxiety (P < .05) over time were reported by the intervention group compared with the control group. In addition, patients in the intervention group received significantly less opioid analgesics than the control group (P < .05). Findings from this study provide nurses with an additional treatment to offer postoperative digestive cancer patients. …” 

Shiow‐Luan Tsay, Hsiao Ling Chen, Su Chiu Chen et al. 2008  

Cancer Nursing