Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Corresponding author and author to receive reprint requests: Jean S. Small studies of variable quality suggest that massage therapy may relieve pain and other symptoms.
Evaluate efficacy of massage for decreasing pain and symptom distress and improving quality of life among persons with advanced cancer. Immediate outcomes were obtained just prior to and following each treatment session.
Sustained outcomes were obtained at baseline and weekly for 3 weeks. Both groups demonstrated immediate improvement in pain massage Massage was superior for both pain and mood mean difference 0. There were no between group mean differences over time in pain BPI Mean 0.
The immediate outcome measures were obtained by unblinded study therapists, possibly leading to reporting bias and the overestimation of beneficial effect. The generalizability to all advanced cancer patients is uncertain. Massage may have immediately beneficial effects on pain and mood among patients with advanced cancer.
Given the lack of sustained effects and the observed improvements in both study arms, the potential benefits of attention and simple touch should also be considered in this population. Symptom relief is central to end-of-life care, however many terminally-ill individuals experience serious pain and other physical and emotional symptoms. Research directed at improving care at the end of life has been recommended by the Institute of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
