Massage Treatment Research Articles

Penerapan Aroma Therapy Bunga (rose centifolia) dan Pijat Bayi Terhadap Durasi Tidur Bayi Usia 3-12 Bulan di RSUD Poso

Introduction: The impact of sleep disturbances in infants is that the baby becomes often awake and fussy. The importance of sleep time in infants, then the duration of sleep in infants must be completely fulfilled so as not to adversely affect their development. One of the nursing interventions to treat sleep disorders in infants is massage and rose aroma therapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the application of nursing care with massage interventions and rose aroma therapy to increase infant sleep duration. Method : Descriptive research methods with a case study approach. Results : the patient's mother said her child had a cough with phlegm, fever for 3 days, the patient was fussy and restless, the patient slept only ± 8 hours a day, the patient often woke up at night due to coughing, the patient was difficult to sleep well, the patient's face looked pale, often seen yawning, temperature: 38.9 ° C RR 46x / min, pulse 120x / min, there are additional ronchi breath sounds, nursing diagnosis of airway clearance, hyperthermia, sleep pattern disorders. Nursing interventions for airway management, warm compresses, massage therapy and aromatherapy. Implementation of chest physiotherapy measures as well as giving 1ml combiven nebulizer + 2ml Nacl and suctioning. Giving tepid water sponge, doing baby massage and giving rose aroma therapy. The results of the evaluation of the patient's sleep increased from 8 hours to 12 hours a day, the patient was calm, the patient woke up at night only asking for milk and after waking up the patient could fall asleep again, coughing with phlegm was reduced, vesicular breath sounds, temperature: 37°C, RR: 38x/min. Conclusion: giving baby massage and rose aroma therapy can increase the duration of infant sleep. nurses can provide baby massage combined with rose aroma therapy to increase the duration of infant sleep.

Acupuncture versus massage for pain in patients living with advanced cancer: The IMPACT randomized clinical trial.

12101 Background: Pain represents a challenging symptom for patients living with advanced cancer and is often associated with fatigue and insomnia. While American Society for Clinical Oncology clinical guidelines recommend acupuncture and massage for oncological pain management, the long-term comparative effectiveness between these two therapies is unknown, particularly among those living with advanced cancer. Methods: We conducted a pragmatic randomized clinical trial to compare acupuncture and massage for musculoskeletal pain among patients living with advanced cancer who experienced at least moderate pain and had a life expectancy of at least six months. Patients received weekly acupuncture or massage treatments for ten weeks, followed by monthly booster sessions up to 26 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in worst pain intensity score measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) from baseline to 26 weeks. The secondary outcomes included pain-related interference (BPI), pain medication usage, patient-reported fatigue, insomnia, and quality of life. Analyses were performed using linear mixed models adhering to intent to treat. Results: Among 298 participants (mean age [SD] 58.7 [14.1] years, baseline worst pain 6.6 [1.5], 67.1% women, 25.9% non-white, 15.4% Hispanic, cancer types [21.5% hematologic, 19.8% breast, 14.4% gynecological, and 11.7% gastrointestinal, 9.7% lung, and 9.7% prostate]), 242 (81.2%) completed the primary endpoint. From baseline to week 26, acupuncture reduced worst pain by 2.53 points (95% CI 2.15-2.92) while massage reduced worst pain by 3.01 points (95% CI 2.63-3.38); the between-group difference was not significant (0.48, 95% CI -0.03-0.98, p = 0.066). Both treatments reduced pain-related interference and pain medication usage and improved comorbid fatigue, insomnia, and quality of life to a similar degree without between-group differences. Adverse events were mild: bruising was reported by 9 (6.5%) acupuncture patients, and transient soreness was reported by 21(15.1%) massage patients and 8 (5.8%) acupuncture patients. Despite receiving close in-person treatment, no known COVID-19 transmission was reported between patients and providers. Conclusions: Among patients living with advanced cancer, acupuncture and massage produced similar clinically meaningful improvements in pain and comorbid fatigue and insomnia, decreased use of pain medications, and improved quality of life. Integrating these non-pharmacological therapies into comprehensive cancer care can improve symptom management and quality of life for the ever-growing number of patients living with advanced cancer as a chronic illness. Clinical trial information: NCT04095234 .

Effect of Endorphin Massage on The Level of Anxiety among >36 Weeks Pregnant Women

The weeks leading up to delivery are always anxiety-provoking for pregnant women. Pregnant women may have negative effects from anxiety such as prenatal attachment, the term used to describe the bonding between both mother and baby. Such condition can lead to poor uterine contraction, prolonged labor, uterine atony, bleeding wounds, infections, maternal exhaustion and shock, while also increasing the likelihood of premature birth and low birth weight. A non-pharmacological therapy named endorphin massage may stimulate the body to release endorphins. Such hormone may minimize anxiety and promote maternal and fetal well-being. This study aims to determine the effect of endorphin massage on the level of anxiety among more than 36 weeks pregnant women at Private Practice Midwife Listiorini in 2022. This was a pre-experimental study with a one group, pre-test post-test design. The current study was conducted on March 20-April 20 at Private Practice Midwife Listiorini. The accident sampling approach was applied to select the study samples, which consisted of 30 more than 36 weeks pregnant women who performed ANC visits at Private Practice Midwife Listiorini and met the inclusion criteria. The instruments used were the HARS Scale and the Endorphin Massage SOP. In accordance with the results, there was a decrease in the median anxiety levels of pregnant women after receiving the endorphin massage intervention by 8.17. The Wilcoxon statistical test result showed a p-value of 0.000 (less than 0.05), which indicated that endorphin massage intervention had an effect on the level of anxiety among pregnant women in the third trimester. The study finding is expected to help pregnant women lowering their anxiety levels before delivery.

Intervensi Kombinasi Back Massage Dan Acupressure Terhadap Penurunan Nyeri Punggung Pada Ibu Hamil Trimester III

Back pain is one of the most common complaints experienced by pregnant women in the third trimester. One of the treatments to deal with complaints of back pain is a combination of back massage and acupressure. The combination of back massage and acupressure is a therapy used to reduce back pain in pregnant women. The goal of back massage intervention is to reduce muscle tension, and acupressure can increase endorphins to reduce pain by massaging at certain points. The method used is a case study by intervening a combination of back massage and acupressure to reduce back pain in third trimester pregnant women. The measurement instrument uses a numerical scale with an intervention pretest and posttest for 3 days with a duration of 10-15 minutes. The results of the intervention showed that there was a change in the scale of back pain after being given a combination of back massage and acupressure, from a scale of 4 to a scale of 1, so that back massage and acupressure were effective in reducing the scale of back pain in third trimester pregnant women.

Inhibiting Back Pain and Enhancing Comfort During Pregnancy with The Power of Endorphin Massage

Back pain and anxiety during pregnancy can cause discomfort and interfere with activities in meeting daily needs. Endorphin massage is known to reduce back pain and make a person calmer so that it can reduce anxiety, but research on the effect of endorphin massage in dealing with back pain and anxiety is still minimally reviewed. The study aims to should be to find out the effect of endorphin massage for back pain and anxiety in third trimester pregnant women. The one-group pretest-posttest research method used a quasi-experimental design involving 42 respondents from 2 selected villages using a purposive sampling technique. The endorphin massage intervention was carried out 18 times with 2 observations, during the pretest and after the end of the intervention 18 times. After the analysis using the t-test, it is known that endorphin massage affects reducing back pain and anxiety in pregnant women. The analysis's findings demonstrated that there was an intervention effect on anxiety and back pain, with a p-value of 0.000, compared to a p-value of 0,042 for the control group. It was concluded that there is influence of endorphins to inhibiting back pain, enhancing comfort during pregnancy and it is very important to educate pregnant women about physical and psychological discomfort so that they can be anticipated in carrying out their daily activities. It is also recommended to consider the presence of the husband when implementing this activity.

The Effects of Massage Therapy on Sport and Exercise Performance: A Systematic Review.

A massage is a tool that is frequently used in sports and exercise in general for recovery and increased performance. In this review paper, we aimed to search and systemize current literature findings relating to massages' effects on sports and exercise performance concerning its effects on motor abilities and neurophysiological and psychological mechanisms. The review has been written following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis) guidelines. One hundred and fourteen articles were included in this review. The data revealed that massages, in general, do not affect motor abilities, except flexibility. However, several studies demonstrated that positive muscle force and strength changed 48 h after the massage was given. Concerning neurophysiological parameters, the massage did not change blood lactate clearance, muscle blood flow, muscle temperature, or activation. However, many studies indicate pain reduction and delayed onset muscle soreness, which are probably correlated with the reduction of the level of creatine kinase enzyme and psychological mechanisms. In addition, the massage treatment led to a decrease in depression, stress, anxiety, and the perception of fatigue and an increase in mood, relaxation, and the perception of recovery. The direct usage of massages just for gaining results in sport and exercise performance seems questionable. However, it is indirectly connected to performance as an important tool when an athlete should stay focused and relaxed during competition or training and recover after them.

PELATIHAN AKUPRESURE UNTUK KESEHATAN IBU DAN ANAK SEBAGAI UPAYA PENCEGAHAN STUNTING DI DESA KREMBUNG KECAMATAN KREMBUNG

Growth is a quantitative change, namely by increasing the number, size, dimensions ofcells, organs and individuals. Currently, Indonesia still has nutritional problems, one ofwhich is stunting or short stature. Conditions in Indonesia based on data from the Studyon the Nutritional Status of Toddlers in Indonesia (SSGBI) 2019 are still relatively high,where the prevalence of stunting is 27.67%. In June 2022, a survey and data collection ofchildren under five in Krembung Village, Krembung District, Sidoarjo Regency wasconducted to obtain data on 20 toddlers experiencing stunting. This Community Serviceaims to improve the knowledge and skills of posyandu mothers in Krembung Village,Krembung District, Sidoarjo Regency regarding Optimizing Toddlers with Baby Massage.Initial Community Service activities carried out field surveys, licensing, implementationand evaluation. One form of community service is the efforts of the midwifery studyprogram, architecture, science and health, by carrying out activities in the communitythat are beneficial, one of which is massage as a form of community service. Activitiesare carried out once a week. presenting baby massage treatment is the best and cheapest form of alternative treatment in an effort to increase baby's weight optimally.So it is necessary to use the utilization carried out by the baby's mother.

스포츠마사지 전공수업이 VDT 증후군 주요 통증 부위 중 상부 근육의 주관적 통증 척도와 객관적 통증 척도와의 비교 분석

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the subjective pain scale and objective pain scale felt by individuals on the effect of sports massage major classes on muscle tension and muscle stiffness of upper muscles, which are major pain areas of VDT syndrome. To this end, 13 students who participated in the sports massage class majoring in sports rehabilitation at G University with no physical diseases and no musculoskeletal abnormalities were selected as subjects. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, the difference between the scales of muscle tension variables was identified through comparative analysis after measuring two subjective pain evaluation scales and objective pain evaluation scales in the 15th week. Based on the above research method and research model verification, the results derived in this study are as follows. First, there was a statistical significant difference in the muscle tension and muscle stiffness of the upper muscles that sports massage treatment had pain improvement effects on both the NRS and VAS pain scales. Second, in the case of the objective pain scale of sports massage treatment in the muscular tension and muscle stiffness of the upper muscle, there was a statistical significance difference in the left mitral muscle. The above results showed that sports massage treatment was sufficient through a subjective pain scale in muscle tension and muscle stiffness of the upper muscle through a 12-week sports massage major class, but there was no statistical significance difference in the objective pain scale except for the left mitral muscle, but there was no positive effect.

Pengaruh Terapi Pijat Oksitosin Terhadap Kelancaran ASI pada Ibu Nifas di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas M.Taha Bengkulu Selatan

Baground: The coverage of infants who received exclusive breastfeeding at the M. Taha Health Center was 59.26%, the last of the 14 health centers in Bengkulu Selatan Regency, due to one of the reasons for the lack of milk production. Oxytocin massage is one solution to overcome the non-smooth milk production. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to study the effect of oxytocin massage therapy on the smoothness of breast milk in post partum’s women in the M. Taha Health Center, Bengkulu Selatan Regency. Method: This is research uses a pre-experimental with the One Group Pre-Test and Post Test Design Method. The population is all post partum’s women <24 hours in the working area of ??the M. Taha Health Center, Bengkulu Selatan Regency. Sampling used the Accidental Sampling technique, with a sample of 16 respondents. Data collection using interview techniques and oxytocin massage therapy treatment. Results: The results showed that from 16 respondents, the average value of the smoothness breast milk before the oxytocin massage treatment was 4.19 and the average value of the smoothness breast milk after the oxytocin massage treatment was 8.38. Conclusion: There is an effect of oxytocin massage therapy on the smoothness breast milk in post partum’s women in the Working Area of ??the M. Taha Health Center Bengkulu Selatan Regency. It is recommended to the Puskesmas that oxytocin massage therapy can be used as a permanent procedure as a post partum’s service at the Puskesmas and teach/socialize to mothers about oxytocin massage and its benefits for breast milk mothers.

Effects of Acupressure and Lymphatic Massage on Chronic Neck Pain, Stress and Sleep Quality in Middle-aged Women

This study investigated the effects of acupressure and lymphatic massage on pain, stress, and sleep quality in middle-aged women with chronic neck pain. Forty-five women were randomly assigned into acupressure group (n=15), lymphatic massage group (n=15), and untreated control group (n=15). Acupressure and lymphatic massage treatments were performed twice a week for 4 weeks. Neck pain intensity was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) and difficulties of daily life due to neck pain was assessed by neck disability index (NDI). Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Stress was evaluated by perceived stress scale (PSS) and symptoms of stress Inventory (SOSI). The significance of interaction between group and time was analyzed using a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The results of ANOVA showed that time main effects and interaction effects of VAS and NDI were significant (all <i>p</i><.001) indicating that acupressure and lymphatic massage are effective in reducing pain. Time main effect (<i>p</i><.01) and interaction effect (<i>p</i><.01) of PSQI total score were significant showing that acupressure and lymphatic massage affect the quality of sleep. Time (<i>p</i><.05) and interaction effects (<i>p</i><.05) of PSS were significant. Additionally, time (<i>p</i><.01) and interaction effects (<i>p</i><.01) of the total score of SOSI were significant. These results indicated that acupressure and lymphatic massage affect the stress response pattern. In conclusion, both acupressure and lymphatic massage are effective for reducing chronic neck pain, improving the quality of sleep, and relieving stress.

Olive Oil as Lubricant in Massage for Overcoming Decubitus in Patients with Intra Cerebral Hemorrhage

Intra Cerebral hemorrhage is a complication of stroke disease. The typical symptoms in ICH patients are a loss of consciousness and getting long treatment at home. As a result, the patient will lack mobilization and experience muscle stiffness which can aggravate the patient's condition; it will also slow down the patient's healing process and increase the risk of decubitus. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of giving a massage with olive oil to overcome. This study used a case report that described the case of ICH patients with skin and tissue integrity disorders problems given the intervention of massage with olive oil carried out for five days of treatment and carried out one time a day with a duration of 10-20 minutes. The Braden scale was used to measure the level of decubitus consisting of 6 question indicator items. This study found an increase in score on the first day with a score of 11 and on the fifth-day score of 14 with an increase from a severe risk of decubitus to a moderate risk of decubitus in patients. This procedure has proven useful for reducing decubitus in hospital patients with prolonged bed rest.

Physiotherapy Modalities and Physiotherapy Modalities and its Effect on The Development of Functional Ability in Children with Cerebral Palsyits Effect on The Development of Functional Ability in Children with Cerebral Palsy

In Indonesia, currently there are various physiotherapy intervention modalities for children with special needs, especially in cerebral palsy. The Bobath concept is a holistic approach to solving the problems of individuals with movement disorders and postural control as a result of lesions in the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of physiotherapy modalities on functional abilities in children with cerebral palsy. This research was an experimental type that had a control variable with a nonequivalent control group design, but in this design the experimental group and the control group were not randomly selected, functional ability measuring tool used gross motor functional movement (GMFM). All respondents received treatment 16 times (2 times per week), measured as fisrt post-test, followed by treatment 16 times (2 times per week) measured as second post-test. The first post-test (16 times) and the second post-test (32 times), these data were compared. The results of the repeated measured ANOVA test in the control group revealed that there was a significant difference in functional ability after the bobath concept treatment (p=0.060; x1=-0.714; x2=-2.714) and after the bobath concept and taping treatment (p=0.027; x1=-2.400; x2=-6.000). But, there was found not significant after the bobath concept and stretching treatment (p =0.071; x1=-0.333; x2=-3.667), and after the bobath concept and infrared treatment (p=0.126; x1=-1.000; x2=-2.500). The results of the Freadman test there was a significant difference in functional ability after the bobath concept and massage treatment (p=0.023). The conclusion, there was a significant difference in functional ability improvement after being given treatment by the bobath concept, bobath concept plus taping, and/or bobath concept plus massage.

The Effect of Hand Massage on Reducing the Anxiety Level of Pre-Surgery Clients in Tangerang City Regional Public Hospital

Surgical procedures are important events in human life which complex and stressful. When hearing the word surgery, patients face situations that can cause fear, worry, helplessness, and anxiety. Surgical procedures may cause psychological and physical problems in patients undergoing surgery. Waiting in the preparation room is the most worrying moment for a patient undergoing a surgical procedure. The patient is faced with a situation where the patient is under a high level of anxiety. This study aimed to determine the effect of hand massage on reducing anxiety levels in pre-surgery clients at Tangerang City Regional Public Hospital. This study used a quantitative design with a quasi-experimental approach; a study provides treatment (intervention) and measures the effects of treatment. The approach technique was a one-group pre-test and post-test. The total number of study participants was 18 people. The study utilized a simple random sampling. The results showed that giving hand massage interventions could reduce anxiety levels by 8.2, from 58.3 to 50.1 after a hand massage. The results of the T-test obtained a p-value of 0.001. It was concluded that there was a significant difference between the level of anxiety before and after giving the hand massage intervention. It is recommended to conduct further research with a different approach.

Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Nausea and Vomiting in Children With Cancer.

Nausea and vomiting are distressing symptoms reported by pediatric oncology patients during cancer treatment. More than 40% of them experience these symptoms even after receiving antiemetics. Given the limitations of pharmacological interventions, this systematic review synthesized the evidence for the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine in controlling nausea and vomiting among pediatric oncology patients. Ten databases were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials. The risk of bias of selected studies was graded using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. The primary outcomes were nausea and vomiting. The secondary outcomes were intervention adherence and number of adverse events. Nineteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Sixteen studies showed high risk of bias. The tested interventions were acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, hypnosis, massage, active cognitive distraction/relaxation techniques, creative arts therapy, psychoeducation, and combined massage and acupressure. Acupuncture, hypnosis, and massage interventions improved nausea and vomiting. Fifteen trials reported intervention adherence; only 7 monitored adverse events. The most common reason for dropout was refusal from patients and/or their guardians. A total of 34 adverse events were noted. There is insufficient evidence that complementary and alternative medicine is effective, feasible, or safe in controlling nausea and vomiting among pediatric oncology patients due to high risk of bias. Acupuncture, hypnosis, and massage appear to have therapeutic benefits. However, more robust studies are needed to address the identified methodological issues and determine the real value of these 3 interventions.

The step in time study: A feasibility study of a mobile app for measuring walking ability after massage treatment in patients with osteoarthritis

BackgroundMassage therapy is a popular intervention for those suffering osteoarthritis, however, there is a paucity of evidence to support its effectiveness in osteoarthritis. A simple measure that could potentially assess the benefits of massage treatment is walking speed which is a predictor of mobility and survival length, particularly in ageing populations. The primary aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of using a phone app to measure walking ability in people with osteoarthritis.MethodsThis feasibility study used a prospective, observational design to collect data from massage practitioners and their clients over a 5-week period. Feasibility outcomes included practitioner and client recruitment and protocol compliance. The app MapMyWalk was used to record average speed for each walk. Pre-study surveys and post-study focus groups were conducted. Clients received massage therapy in a massage clinic and were instructed to walk in their own local community for 10 min every other day. Focus group data were analysed thematically. Qualitative data from clients’ pain and mobility diaries were reported descriptively. Average walking speeds were graphed for each participant in relation to massage treatments.ResultsFifty-three practitioners expressed interest in the study, 13 completed the training, with 11 successfully recruiting 26 clients, 22 of whom completed the study. 90% of practitioners collected all required data. A strong motivation for participating practitioners was to contribute to evidence for massage therapy. Client compliance with using the app was high, but low for completing pain and mobility diaries. Average speed remained unchanged for 15 (68%) clients and decreased for seven (32%). Maximum speed increased for 11 (50%) clients, decreased for nine (41%) and remained unchanged for two (9%). However, data retrieved from the app were unreliable for walking speed.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that it is feasible to recruit massage practitioners and their clients for a study involving mobile/wearable technology to measure changes in walking speed following massage therapy. The results support the development of a larger randomised clinical trial using purpose-built mobile/wearable technology to measure the medium and long-term effects of massage therapy on people with osteoarthritis.

Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

In China, the majority of osteoarthritis patients have the disease in the knee. Clinically, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) often has joint swelling, pain, stiffness, dysfunction and other symptoms, which reduce the patients’ quality of life. There is a trend that osteoarthritis affects more and more young people in China, so it is much more important to treat KOA. Being a cheap and non-surgical option, the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has unique advantages in dealing with the pain caused by KOA. This article presents the pathogenesis and pain mechanism of KOA, describes the mechanism of TENS in KOA treatment, discusses the advantages and disadvantages, and proposes some combined treatment methods. Some studies have shown that the pathogenesis of KOA is related to the theory of unequal settlement of knee joints, and the pain comes from cartilage, subchondral bone and synovial membrane lesions. The gate control theory, endogenous opioid peptide release theory and diffuse noxious inhibitory controls theory are considered as the theoretical basis for TENS to inhibit pain. Its effectiveness, adaptability and incidence of adverse reactions are better than using drugs, but it cannot improve walking ability and the range of motion of the joints. Combination therapies of TENS are currently effective for treating KOA, including TENS combined with ultrasound, sodium hyaluronate, massage, functional training and other treatment options.

Pijat Bayi terhadap Kualitas Tidur pada Bayi Usia 1-12 Bulan

This study aims to determine the effect of infant massage on the sleep quality of infants aged 1-12 months in Langa Village, Syamtalira Bayu District, North Aceh District. The research method was pre-experimental with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The study found that 92% of mothers did not massage their babies, with the pre-test results for the quality of their baby's sleep in the "Enough" and "Not enough" conditions. After the baby massage treatment, 100% of the babies experienced an increase in sleep quality to a 100% "Good" state. The results of the bivariate test obtained a p-value = 0.000. In conclusion, infant massage affects the sleep quality of infants aged 1-12 months in Langa Village, Syamtalira Bayu District, and North Aceh District.
 
 Keywords: Babies, Sleep Quality, Baby Massage

Intervensi Massage Aromaterapi (Lavender) terhadap Penurunan Intensitas Nyeri Penderita Neuropathy Diabetic

This study aims to analyze lavender aromatherapy massage intervention to reduce pain intensity in DN patients. The method used is quantitative research with a Quasy Experimental Non-Equivalent Control Group Pretest-Postest Design. The results of this study indicate a difference between the mean value of pain intensity in the intervention group and the control group after being given treatment with the obtained value (t = -5.155, p-value = 0.000). This study concludes that lavender aromatherapy massage has a significant effect on reducing pain intensity in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Effects of Therapeutic Calf Massage on Cardiac Autonomic Function in Healthy Volunteers-a Pilot Study.

Calf massage is a therapeutic intervention that improves circulation and relieves us from pain & tightness. The calf massage also improves autonomic performance by modulating the vagal tone of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, the current study was intended to determine therapeutic calf massage on cardio autonomic activity in healthy subjects. To assess the immediate effect of a single 20-min session of calf massage on cardiac autonomic modulation through heart rate variability (HRV) measurement. In this study, 26 apparent healthy female participants aged between 18 and 25 years participated. Massage over the calf muscles on both legs for 20 min was performed, and resting cardiovascular parameters and HRV parameters were measured at baseline, immediately after the massage, and during the recovery periods (10 and 30 min after the massage). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed with post hoc analysis. Immediately after the massage intervention, heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were decreased (p < .01), and the reduction was persisted at 10 min and 30 min of the recovery period (p < .01). In HRV parameters, the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and high-frequency normalized unit (HF n.u.) increased, and low frequency (LF n.u.) decreased after the massage, and at the 10 and 30 min of the recovery period. The present study reports suggest a significant reduction in heart rate and blood pressure after the massage therapy. A drop in sympathetic tone and raise in parasympathetic tone can also attribute to the therapeutic effect.

Applying Scientific Rationale to the Current Perceptions and Explanations of Massage and Miscarriage in the First Trimester.

Miscarriage is a relatively common occurrence, impacting 8-15% of clinically recognised pregnancies, and up to 30% of all conceptions. The public perception of the risk factors associated with miscarriage does not match the evidence. Evidence indicates that there are very few modifiable factors to prevent miscarriage, and the majority of the time little could have been done to prevent a spontaneous miscarriage. However, the public perception is that consuming drugs, lifting a heavy object, previous use of an intrauterine device, or massage can all contribute to miscarriage. While misinformation about the causes and risk factors of miscarriage continues to circulate, pregnant women will experience confusion about what activities they can (and cannot) do in early pregnancy, including receiving a massage. Pregnancy massage is an important component of massage therapy education. The resources that underpin pregnancy massage coursework consist of educational print content that includes direction and caution that massage in the first trimester, if done 'incorrectly' or in the 'wrong' location, can contribute to adverse outcomes such as miscarriage. The most common statements, perceptions and explanations for massage and miscarriage cover three broad areas: 1) maternal changes from massage affects the embryo/fetus; 2) massage leads to damage of the fetus/placenta; and 3) aspects of the massage treatment in the first trimester initiate contractions. The goal of this paper is to use scientific rationale to critically consider the validity of the current perceptions and explanations of massage therapy and miscarriage. Whilst direct evidence from clinical trials was lacking, considerations of physiological mechanisms regulating pregnancy and known risk factors associated with miscarriage provide no evidence that massage in pregnancy would increase a patient's risk of miscarriage. This scientific rationale should be addressed when teaching pregnancy massage courses.