International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Research, Education, and Practice最新文献

Professionals in the massage therapy field strive to help clients gain pain relief. Military veterans are a small group that experiences significant pain due to service-related physical and mental disabilities. The struggle of these veterans in the United States and Canada has been a concern after decades of combat overseas and rigorous training stateside. Nearly a quarter century after the September 11 attacks, government organizations such as the medical branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the United States have recognized the benefits of massage therapy for veterans. The VA has gone as far as paying for massage therapy treatments at no cost to the veteran. This commentary provides a brief overview of the physical and mental disabilities faced by U.S. and Canadian military veterans, an example of the VA in the U.S. supporting veterans with massage therapy, and considerations for the future.

Background: Sinus headaches often cause severe discomfort and significantly reduce quality of life (QOL). Sinus headache is associated with posterior chain tightness. Myofascial release (MFR) is primarily said to provide benefits like reduced pain, enhanced range of motion and flexibility, and improved QOL. Along with medical management, physiotherapy management acts as a promising complementary therapy. Previous studies, including manual therapy and electrotherapeutic modalities, have been successful in treating sinusitis.

Purpose: To determine the effect of MFR on treating sinus headaches, particularly its novel application with the manual drainage technique for posterior chain muscles in sinus headache, has not been explored. Methods: The present case report explores the effect of the release of posterior chain muscles with the manual drainage technique in a 40-year-old female with chronic sinus headache.

Results: The patient showed major improvements in headache intensity, frequency, and enhanced QOL.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that posterior chain MFR with the manual drainage technique can effectively manage sinus headaches. Further research is needed to validate the findings of this case study, including clinical and controlled trials.

Background: Research indicates that chronic inflammation of the fascia and an impaired healing response contribute to central pain sensitization in fibromyalgia. The International School of Bowen Therapy (ISBT)-Bowen Therapy is a manual therapy that may stimulate the flow of blood and lymph, thus activating the body's healing mechanisms.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Bowen therapy in alleviating pain, enhancing functional capability, reducing sleep and mood disturbances, and improving quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients were randomly assigned to either the ISBT-Bowen Therapy (BT) (n = 40) or Control (CT) (n = 38) group in this randomized controlled trial. The BT group received eight sessions of Bowen therapy over 12 weeks, in addition to their conventional pain treatment, while the CT group did not receive Bowen therapy but continued their conventional treatment. Both groups were followed for 12 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was pain intensity, measured by the Numeric Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes included limb endurance, activity interference, sleep disturbance, psychological distress, and quality of life.

Results: The median age of the patients was 58 (interquartile range (IQR): 50-62) years, and 68 of them (87%) were female. While there was no significant difference in pain intensity over time between the two groups, patients experienced improved endurance in the lower extremities (p < 0.001) and dominant arm (p = 0.020), reduced activity interference by pain (p = 0.005), and improved mental health-related quality of life (p = 0.002) after BT.

Conclusion: ISBT-Bowen Therapy may be effective for fibromyalgia patients in improving limb endurance, reducing activity interference, and enhancing quality of life.

Background: Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is a common musculoskeletal non-inflammatory disorder affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) characterized by localized pain and restricted mouth opening. Patients with MPDS typically consult a dentist and are prescribed pharmacotherapy, which has associated side effects. Soft tissue manipulation is a safer and effective alternative to pharmacotherapy for MPDS. However, comparative studies are lacking between pharmacotherapy and manual therapy approaches.

Purpose: To determine and compare the effectiveness of soft tissue manipulation versus pharmacotherapy in the management of MPDS affecting TMJ.

Setting: Dental and physiotherapy outpatient department settings of a tertiary care hospital.

Participants: Individuals between 18 and 55 years of age presenting with pain on palpation of TMJ, restricted mouth opening, and intermittent clicking of joints.

Research design: Single blinded randomized controlled trial.

Intervention: Thirty-four individuals were included and randomized into two groups. Seventeen individuals in the experimental group received soft tissue manipulation techniques such as massage and myofascial release (MFR) for facial muscles. The intervention was given by a qualified and trained physiotherapist who executed five hands-on sessions every other day over 10 days. Seventeen individuals in the control group were prescribed muscle relaxants with analgesics. The referring/consulting dentist prescribed medication for 7 days.

Main outcome measures: In both groups, the patients were analyzed pre-and post-intervention using the following outcome measures: Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Chronic Graded Pain Version (CGPV) 2.0, maximum mouth opening (MMO), and TMJ Disability Index (TMI).

Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in both groups for pain, CGPV2.0, MMO, and TMI with p = 0.001. An intergroup comparison showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of pain (p = 0.066); however, a significant difference was noted in CGPV2.0, MMO, and TMI with p = 0.001, with the soft tissue manipulation group being superior to the pharmacotherapy group.

Conclusions: Soft tissue manipulation was more effective in alleviating pain, improving mouth opening, and reducing disability in patients with MPDS of TMJ. Further, pharmacotherapy only showed an effect on pain reduction with no increase in mouth opening.

Constipation is globally a predominant problem leading to physical, mental, and emotional disturbances. Recently, many non-pharmacological therapies have been reviewed for the management of constipation. In this review, we intended to understand the effect of abdominal massage in alleviating and improving various symptoms of constipation among different populations with regard to simplicity, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. We performed a PubMed and PubMed Central search to review relevant articles; 246 were screened, and 33 potentially eligible articles were recognized and incorporated in this review. Available literature suggests that abdominal massage effectively reduces the severity of constipation in the adult and elderly population and disorders of the gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and palliative care. Based on the available literature, this review suggests that the abdominal massage has a scientific evidence-based effect in reducing constipation.

Leadership in therapeutic massage and bodywork is often associated with formal roles or titles. However, the profession benefits when leadership is recognized as action rooted in values, not status. This editorial explores how informal leadership-expressed through innovation, policy engagement, mentorship, and lifelong learning-can strengthen the profession and expand its influence. Drawing from current scholarship and professional practice, it calls on practitioners, educators, and researchers to embrace their capacity to lead in ways that are collaborative, inclusive, and transformative.

Background: Massage and acupressure are highly popular among cancer patients as non-invasive methods with different mechanisms that can target multiple coexisting symptoms. However, the comparative effectiveness between these two techniques is still unclear, particularly among patients with advanced cancer. Furthermore, it is unclear whether both approaches would have a synergistic effect if applied simultaneously. The main objective is to compare the efficacy of massage alone versus acupressure alone versus combined therapy (massage plus acupressure) for managing cancer-related symptom cluster of fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance.

Methods: The 2-FAM-2 study is a four-arm, longitudinal, randomized trial comparing the efficacy of two complementary medicine techniques (massage alone vs. acupressure alone vs. combined therapy vs. control) for managing a fatigue-pain-sleep symptom cluster in patients with advanced cancer that will use a 2 × 2 factorial design with an equal allocation ratio. One hundred adult patients with advanced cancer who have all three symptoms of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance will be recruited. Four weeks of intervention and 4 weeks of follow-up with repeated measures will be part of the 8-week study period. The main outcome is the longitudinal trajectory (trend) in the intensity of the pain-sleep-fatigue symptom cluster over time, assessed via generalized estimating equations (GEE) at baseline, weekly during intervention (weeks 1-4), and at weeks 6 and 8 as follow-up. Self-reported fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain items (0-10 scale) will be averaged to compute the symptom cluster intensity (SCI). Furthermore, a machine learning technique based on decision tree algorithms will be carried out to conduct a subgroup analysis aimed at predicting clinical outcomes for different interventions in homogeneous subgroups.

Discussion: The trial's findings could be helpful in the development of clinical guidelines, individualization of intervention, as well as guiding clinical decisions and improving the quality of life of patients.

Background and objective: Menstrual cramps are a common gynecological symptom affecting up to 90% of women worldwide. They constitute one of the most prevalent causes of absenteeism from school, work, and social activities. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of traction massage combined with herbal compress on menstrual cramps.

Method: This research used an experimental design using a two-group pretest and posttest approach. A sample of 30 female students with menstrual cramps was randomly assigned to either the massage or control group. The experimental group (n = 15) received traction massage for 10 min, herbal compresses to the lower back, stomach, and anterior muscles of the legs for 15 min, and health-care advice in the week leading up to menstruation. The control group (n = 15) received healthcare advice only.

Results: The intensity of menstrual cramps significantly decreased in the experimental group (p = 0.001). Additionally, the intervention led to a reduction in associated menstrual symptoms such as fatigue, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, irritability, nausea, vomiting, lower back pain, and general fatigue.

Discussion: This study demonstrated that traction massage and herbal compresses significantly reduced the intensity of menstrual cramps in the experimental group. Although we did not measure muscle relaxation or blood flow, the results align with existing literature suggesting that massage therapy can alleviate menstrual discomfort. Additionally, the intervention led to a decrease in associated side effects, enhancing overall well-being during menstruation. Future studies should include physiological measurements to further explore these interventions' effects. Overall, incorporating traction massage and herbal compresses may improve the management of menstrual cramps effectively.

Conclusion: The combination of traction massage and herbal compresses can serve as an effective option for relieving menstrual cramps and associated side effects when compared to receiving counseling alone.

Background: Sports massage is considered to improve muscle tone and flexibility and thus, overall, contribute to the improvement of athletes' performance. It is not yet clear whether pre- or post-warm-up sports massage can enhance athletes' performance. Additionally, while essential oils are believed to enhance the effects of massage, empirical evidence remains limited.

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the timing effect of pre-competition sports massage, using two different massage oils, on sprint performance.

Methods: A total of 40 competitive male young sprint and multiple-sprint sport athletes were randomly divided into two groups-group 1: sports massage applied after the warm-up followed by a max 60-m sprint trial, group 2: sports massage before the warm-up followed by a max 60-m sprint trial. All participants were assessed in three different massage conditions: (i) control: usual warm-up, no massage; (ii) AEO: sports massage using activation essential oil; (iii) BO: sports massage using baby oil.

Results: The results demonstrated a statistically significant main effect of massage on sprint performance, by reducing 60-m sprint time (F(2,78) = 5.304, p ≤ 0.005). Specifically, sprint performance improved (3.91%, p = 0.008) when the sport massage session took place after the athletes' warm-up (group 1) and when the AEO was applied (p = 0.004).

Conclusion: A brief pre-competition sports massage, especially after the warm-up session and when AEO is applied, could be used as a complementary approach to help improve sprint performance.

Objective: To observe the effects of massage on generalized anxiety stemming from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The patient was seeking massage for relief from the symptoms of PTSD with the primary symptom to be addressed in treatment being anxiety.

Methods: The client was a 25-year-old female who experienced PTSD from domestic abuse. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item assessment was used to measure anxiety throughout the study at the beginning of each session. The patient received six sessions of massage using several different massage modalities based on education requirements and to explore the most efficacious treatment techniques for the client. The different massage modalities that were used were neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, cupping, craniosacral, and hot rocks.

Results: The client's presenting concerns included anxiety, pounding heart, shortness of breath, nausea and abdominal discomfort, and sweating. The client experienced a decrease in anxiety which meet the criteria for a minimal clinically important difference. The client experienced a small reduction in PTSD symptoms over the course of the six sessions. The client's preferred massage modalities were craniosacral and hot rocks as she perceived the most benefit from these massage modalities.

Conclusion: Massage is a treatment option for individuals with anxiety and symptoms related to PTSD and different massage techniques, while all appearing to be helpful, should be utilized as per the client's preference.