International Hypnosis Research Institute - Massage Therapy

Hypnosis in paediatric respiratory medicine.

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:06:00 -0500

Hypnotherapy is an often misunderstood yet effective therapy. It has been reported to be useful within the field of paediatric respiratory medicine as both a primary and an adjunctive therapy. This article gives a brief overview of how hypnotherapy is performed followed by a review of its applications in paediatric patients with asthma, cystic fibrosis, dyspnea, habit cough, vocal cord dysfunction, and those requiring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. As the available literature is comprised mostly of case series, retrospective studies, and only a single small randomized study, the field would be strengthened by additional randomized, controlled trials in order to better establish the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment, and to identify the processes leading to hypnosis-induced physiologic changes. As examples of the utility of hypnosis and how it can be taught to children with respiratory disease, the article includes videos that demonstrate its use for patients with cystic fibrosis. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2014 Mar;15(1):82-5. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2013.09.002. McBride JJ(1), Vlieger AM(2), Anbar RD(3). Author information: (1)Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA. (2)Department of Pediatrics, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. (3)Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA. Electronic address: anbarr@upstate.edu. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Touch, Caring, and Cancer: randomized controlled trial of a multimedia caregiver education program.

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:46:00 -0500

PURPOSE: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate outcomes of a multimedia instructional program for family caregivers in simple touch-based techniques to provide comfort to cancer patients at home. METHODS: A multilingual 78-min DVD and 66-page manual were produced for homebased instruction. Content addresses attitudes and communication about touch in cancer, psychological preparation for giving and receiving touch, safety precautions, massage techniques for comfort and relaxation, acupressure for specific cancer-related symptoms, and practice in the home setting. Materials were produced in English, Spanish, and Chinese versions. A community-based multiethnic sample of 97 adult patient/caregiver dyads was randomized to experimental (massage) or attention control (reading) groups for 4 weeks. Massage dyads received the program and instructions to practice at least three times per week, while control caregivers read to their patients for the same frequency. Self-report instruments assessed change in symptom severity, quality of life, perceived stress, and caregiver attitudes. RESULTS: Significant reductions in all symptoms occurred for patients after both activities: 12-28 % reductions after reading vs. 29-44 % after massage. Massage caregivers showed significant gains in confidence, comfort, and self-efficacy using touch and massage as forms of caregiving. CONCLUSIONS: Multimedia instruction in touch and massage methods may offer family members a viable means of enhancing self-efficacy and satisfaction in caregiving while decreasing patient pain, depression, and other symptoms. Family members may be able to learn and apply safe and simple methods that increase patient comfort and reduce distress. Support Care Cancer. 2012 Dec 21. Collinge W, Kahn J, Walton T, Kozak L, Bauer-Wu S, Fletcher K, Yarnold P, Soltysik R. Collinge and Associates, 3986 N Shasta Loop, Eugene, 79405, OR, USA, william@collinge.org.

Massage application for occupational low back pain in nursing staff.

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:16:00 -0500

This is a clinical trial which aims to evaluate the efficiency of massage in the reduction of occupational low back pain, and its influence on the performance of work and life activities for the nursing team. The sample consisted of 18 employees who received seven to eight sessions after their work period. From the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, significant improvements were found between the 3rd and 1st evaluations (p=0.000) and between the 3rd and 2nd (p=0.004), using the Wilcoxon test. Regarding the Oswestry Disability Index, the paired t test showed a statistical difference (p=0.02) between the baseline, with a mean of 21.33% and the second evaluation (18.78%), which was also seen between the second and third evaluation (16.67%). The score for the Handling and Transfer Risk Evaluation Scale was 18 points (medium risk). It is concluded that massage was effective in reducing occupational low back pain, and provided improvement in activities of work and life. Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT01315197. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2012 Jun;20(3):511-9.Borges TP, Greve JM, Monteiro AP, Silva RE, Giovani AM, Silva MJ. Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.

The Effects of Slow-Stroke Back Massage on Minutes of Nighttime Sleep in Persons With Dementia...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:15:00 -0500

Full title: The Effects of Slow-Stroke Back Massage on Minutes of Nighttime Sleep in Persons With Dementia and Sleep Disturbances in the Nursing Home: A Pilot Study. This pilot study tested the effects of a 3-minute slow-stroke back massage (SSBM) on total minutes of nighttime sleep on persons with dementia with sleep disturbances aged 65 years or older in the nursing home. Design: Pilot randomized controlled trial. Methods: Participants were randomized to an intervention group (n = 20) who received the 3-minute SSBM or a usual care control condition group (n = 20) who received usual bedtime care. Forty-eight hours of actigraphy data was recorded and analyzed on sleep variables at baseline and postintervention. Findings: Descriptive statistics showed a 36-minute increase on minutes of nighttime sleep in the SSBM intervention group (46.1 minutes) compared with the control group (10.32 minutes). Analysis of covariance did not reveal significant differences between the intervention and control groups on minutes of nighttime sleep, F(1, 37) = 1.90, p = .18, partial ?(2) = .05, or on other sleep variables. Conclusions: Dose-finding studies are needed to determine the duration of SSBM for sleep promotion. Findings from this pilot study suggest that SSBM may be an effective nursing intervention for sleep in persons with dementia in the nursing home, but further testing is needed to provide definitive results. J Holist Nurs. 2012 Sep 24. Harris ML, Richards KC, Grando VT.

Development of a manualized protocol of massage therapy for clinical trials in osteoarthritis.

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:14:00 -0500

Clinical trial design of manual therapies may be especially challenging as techniques are often individualized and practitioner-dependent. This paper describes our methods in creating a standardized Swedish massage protocol tailored to subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee while respectful of the individualized nature of massage therapy, as well as implementation of this protocol in two randomized clinical trials. The manualization process involved a collaborative process between methodologic and clinical experts, with the explicit goals of creating a reproducible semi-structured protocol for massage therapy, while allowing some latitude for therapists' clinical judgment and maintaining consistency with a prior pilot study. The manualized protocol addressed identical specified body regions with distinct 30- and 60-min protocols, using standard Swedish strokes. Each protocol specifies the time allocated to each body region. The manualized 30- and 60-min protocols were implemented in a dual-site 24-week randomized dose-finding trial in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, and is currently being implemented in a three-site 52-week efficacy trial of manualized Swedish massage therapy. In the dose-finding study, therapists adhered to the protocols and significant treatment effects were demonstrated. The massage protocol was manualized, using standard techniques, as well as made flexible for individual practitioner and subject needs. The protocol has been applied in two randomized clinical trials. This manualized Swedish massage protocol has real-world utility and can be readily utilized both in the research and clinical settings.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT00970008 (18 August 2009). Trials. 2012 Oct 4;13(1):185. Ali A, Kahn J, Rosenberger L, Perlman AI.

Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on therapeutic massage for low back pain.

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:13:00 -0500

Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Montfort Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: Lucie.Brosseau@uottawa.ca. To update evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (EBCPG) on massage therapy compared to control or other treatment for adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP). A literature search was performed for relevant articles between January 1, 1948 and December 31, 2010. Eligibility criteria were then applied focussing on participants, interventions, controls, and outcomes, as well as methodological quality. Recommendations based on this evidence were then assigned a grade (A, B, C, C+, D, D+, D-) based on their strength. A total of 100 recommendations were formulated from 11 eligible articles, including 37 positive recommendations (25 grade A and 12 grade C+) and 63 neutral recommendations (49 grade C, 12 grade D, and 2 grade D+). These guidelines indicate that massage therapy is effective at providing pain relief and improving functional status. The Ottawa Panel was able to demonstrate that massage interventions are effective to provide short term improvement of sub-acute and chronic LBP symptoms and decreasing disability at immediate post treatment and short term relief when massage therapy is combined with therapeutic exercise and education. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2012 Oct;16(4):424-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2012.04.002. Epub 2012 Jun 23. Brosseau L, Wells GA, Poitras S, Tugwell P, Casimiro L, Novikov M, Loew L, Sredic D, Clément S, Gravelle A, Kresic D, Hua K, Lakic A, Ménard G, Sabourin S, Bolduc MA, Ratté I, McEwan J, Furlan AD, Gross A, Dagenais S, Dryden T, Muckenheim R, Côté R, Paré V, Rouhani A, Léonard G, Finestone HM, Laferrière L, Haines-Wangda A, Russell-Doreleyers M, De Angelis G, Cohoon C.

Effects of Meridian Massage on physical growth and the infant's health as perceived by his mother.

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:46:00 -0500

Background: Meridian Massage is a traditional practice that manually stimulates the body's meridian system - the same network of vital energy channels used in acupuncture. The present study was to assess the effect of Meridian Massage on the physical growth and infant's health as perceived by mothers. Methods: A study was conducted in a community health center in Korea. 169 healthy infant-mother dyads were assigned to Meridian massage group (n=89) or a gentle touch massage group (n=80), based on mother's preference. All massage were conducted by their mothers for 15 minutes per session, one time daily over a course of 6 weeks. In each group, the infant's weights, heights, and the number of days with illness as perceived by mothers and related clinic visits were measured. Results: Significant differences were observed in weight and height after 6 weeks between the Meridian group and gentle touch massage group (p<.001). Infants in the Meridian massage group showed significantly different number of days with perceived clinic visits compared to those in the control group (p<.001). Conclusions: Meridian Massage may facilitate physical growth and improve infant's health outcome as perceived by mothers. A randomized controlled trial is required to further explore the effects of Meridian Massage in early infancy. Pediatr Int. 2011 Sep 14. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2011.03477.x. Cho KJ, Ji ES, Lee MH. Post doctoral fellow, College of nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA Professor, College of nursing science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Shinsung College, Dangjin, South Korea.

Physiological and clinical changes after therapeutic massage of the neck and shoulders.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:43:00 -0500

Little is known regarding the physiological and clinical effects of therapeutic massage (TM) even though it is often prescribed for musculoskeletal complaints such as chronic neck pain. This study investigated the influence of a standardized clinical neck/shoulder TM intervention on physiological measures assessing a-motoneurone pool excitability, muscle activity; and the clinical measure of range of motion (ROM) compared to a light touch and control intervention. Flexor carpi radialis (FCR) a-motoneurone pool excitability (Hoffmann reflex), electromyography (EMG) signal amplitude of the upper trapezius during maximal muscle activity, and cervical ROM were used to assess possible physiological changes and clinical effects of TM. Sixteen healthy adults participated in three, 20 min interventions: control (C), light touch (LT) and therapeutic massage (TM). Analysis of Covariance indicated a decrease in FCR a-motoneurone pool excitability after TM, compared to both the LT (p = 0.0003) or C (p = 0.0007) interventions. EMG signal amplitude decreased after TM by 13% (p <0.0001), when compared to the control, and 12% (p < 0.0001) as compared to LT intervention. The TM intervention produced increases in cervical ROM in all directions assessed: flexion (p < 0.0001), lateral flexion (p < 0.0001), extension (p < 0.0001), and rotation (p < 0.0001). TM of the neck/shoulders reduced the a-motoneurone pool excitability of the flexor carpi radialis after TM, but not after the LT or C interventions. Moreover, decreases in the normalized EMG amplitude during MVIC of the upper trapezius muscle; and increases in cervical ROM in all directions assessed occurred after TM, but not after the LT or C interventions. Man Ther. 2011 Oct;16(5):487-94. Sefton JM, Yarar C, Carpenter DM, Berry JW. Neuromechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5323, USA. jmsefton@auburn.edu

Psychomotor re-education--movement as therapeutic method.

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:44:00 -0500

INTRODUCTION: Psychomotor re-education represents a multidimensional therapeutic approach in dealing with children and adults with psychomotor disorders. Therapeutic programs should be based on individual differences, abilities and capabilities, relationships, feelings and individual developmental needs as well as emotional condition of a child. BODY AND MOVEMENT AS THE BASIS OF THE TREATMENT: A movement, glance, touch, voice and word, all being an integral part of a process of psychomotor re-education, are used with a purpose of helping children to discover their own body, their feelings, needs, behaviour. When moving, children discover the space of their own bodily nature, and, subsequently, gestural space and objective space. The body represents a source of pleasure and the freedom of movement, as well as one's own existence, are soon tobe discovered. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: An adequate assessment is a precondition to design a work plan, select the best exercises for each child individually and direct the course of therapy. This is the most suitable method for treating children with slow or disharmonious development, mentally challenged children, children with speech and behaviour disorders. It is also used in the treatment of children with dyspraxic difficulties, difficulties in practognostic and gnostic development, pervasive developmental disorder and children with lateral dominance problems. CONCLUSION: Therefore, a systematic observation seems to be necessary as well as an increased number of research projects aimed at assessing results obtained by exercises in order to get a more precise insight into the process of re-education, selection of exercises, duration period and possible outcomes. Med Pregl. 2011 Jan-Feb;64(1-2):61-3. Golubovic S, Tubic T, Markovic S. Katedra za specijalnu rehabilitaciju i edukaciju, Medicinski fakultet Novi Sad. gale@neobee.net

Effects of traditional Japanese massage therapy on gene expression: preliminary study.

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:45:00 -0500

Abstract Objectives: Changes in gene expression after traditional Japanese massage therapy were investigated to clarify the mechanisms of the clinical effects of traditional Japanese massage therapy. Design: This was a pilot experimental study. Settings/location: The study was conducted in a laboratory at Tsukuba University of Technology. Subjects: The subjects were 2 healthy female volunteers (58-year-old Participant A, 55-year-old Participant B). Interventions: The intervention consisted of a 40-minute full-body massage using standard traditional Japanese massage techniques through the clothing and a 40-minute rest as a control, in which participants lie on the massage table without being massaged. Outcome measures: Before and after an intervention, blood was taken and analyzed by microarray: (1) The number of genes whose expression was more than double after the intervention than before was examined; (2) For those genes, gene ontology analysis identified statistically significant gene ontology terms. Results: The gene expression count in the total of 41,000 genes was 1256 genes for Participant A and 1778 for Participant B after traditional Japanese massage, and was 157 and 82 after the control, respectively. The significant gene ontology terms selected by both Participants A and B after massage were "immune response" and "immune system," whereas no gene ontology terms were selected by them in the control. Conclusions: It is implied that traditional Japanese massage therapy may affect the immune function. Further studies with more samples are necessary. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Jun;17(6):553-5. Epub 2011 May 19. Donoyama N, Ohkoshi N. 1 Course of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Department of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba University of Technology , Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan .

A qualitative study of mindfulness-based meditation therapy in Japanese cancer patients.

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:43:00 -0500

PURPOSE: The primary objective of the study was to examine mindfulness-based meditation therapy qualitatively. A secondary goal was to examine the differences in themes selected by Japanese and Western patients receiving this therapy. METHODS: The subjects were 28 patients who were undergoing anti-cancer treatment. The subjects participated in two sessions of mindfulness-based meditation therapy, including breathing, yoga movement, and meditation. Each patient was taught the program in the first session, then exercised at home with a CD, and subsequently met the interviewer in a second session after 2 weeks. Primary physicians recruited the patients and interviews were conducted individually by nurses or psychologists with training in the program. Patients provided answers to pre- and post-intervention interviews about the meaning of their illness. RESULTS: Narrative data from the semi-structured interview were analyzed qualitatively. Pre-intervention, themes such as "Effort to cope," "Looking back," "Spirituality," "Personal growth," and "Suffering" were often chosen. Post-intervention, themes such as "Adapted coping," "Personal growth," "Positive meaning," "Spirituality," and "Negative recognition" were more commonly chosen. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness-based meditation therapy may be effective for producing adapted coping, including positive recognition and changes for an adapted lifestyle. There were some common aspects and some differences in the themes selected by patients in this study and Western patients received mindfulness therapy in other studies. Support Care Cancer. 2011 Jul;19(7):929-33. Epub 2010 May 16. Ando M, Morita T, Akechi T, Ifuku Y. Faculty of Nursing, St. Mary's College, Tsubukuhonmachi 422, Kurume City, Fukuoka, Japan, andou@st-mary.ac.jp.

Sensorimotor interventions improve growth and motor function in preterm infants.

Thu, 26 May 2011 21:16:00 -0500

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of an oral (O+O), a tactile/kinesthetic (T/K+T/K), and a combined (O+T/K) intervention on preterm infants' weight gain and motor function and to determine whether the combined O+T/K intervention has an additive/synergistic effect on outcomes. DESIGN/SAMPLE: Seventy-five preterm infants were randomized into an O+O intervention consisting of oral stimulation, a T/K+T/K intervention involving whole body stimulation, an O+T/K intervention, and a control group. Interventions were administered for 15 minutes, twice a day, for ten days. OUTCOMES: Weight gain, motor function. RESULTS: The O+O and T/K+T/K groups had greater weight gain during the intervention period than did controls (p ?.025). The T/K+T/K and O+T/K groups had better motor function than did controls (p ?.017). CONCLUSION: Single and combined interventions improved growth and motor function. The combined intervention, because of the shorter duration of each modality, did not lead to additive/synergistic effects, suggesting that the duration of the sensorimotor input is as important as its target in achieving defined outcomes. Neonatal Netw. 2010 Nov-Dec;29(6):359-66. Fucile S, Gisel EG. School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. sandra.fucile@mail.mcgill.ca

Protective essential oil attenuates influenza virus infection: an in vitro study in MDCK cells.

Thu, 26 May 2011 21:15:00 -0500

BACKGROUND: Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The recent pandemic of a novel H1N1 influenza virus has stressed the importance of the search for effective treatments for this disease. Essential oils from aromatic plants have been used for a wide variety of applications, such as personal hygiene, therapeutic massage and even medical practice. In this paper, we investigate the potential role of an essential oil in antiviral activity. METHODS: We studied a commercial essential oil blend, On Guard™, and evaluated its ability in modulating influenza virus, A/PR8/34 (PR8), infection in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Influenza virus was first incubated with the essential oil and infectivity in MDCK cells was quantified by fluorescent focus assay (FFA). In order to determine the mechanism of effects of essential oil in viral infection inhibition, we measured hemagglutination (HA) activity, binding and internalization of untreated and oil-treated virus in MDCK cells by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, the effect of oil treatment on viral transcription and translation were assayed by relative end-point RT-PCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS: Influenza virus infectivity was suppressed by essential oil treatment in a dose-dependent manner; the number of nascent viral particles released from MDCK cells was reduced by 90% and by 40% when virus was treated with 1:4,000 and 1:6,000 dilutions of the oil, respectively. Oil treatment of the virus also decreased direct infection of the cells as the number of infected MDCK cells decreased by 90% and 45% when virus was treated with 1:2,000 and 1:3,000 dilutions of the oil, respectively. This was not due to a decrease in HA activity, as HA was preserved despite oil treatment. In addition, oil treatment did not affect virus binding or internalization in MDCK cells. These effects did not appear to be due to cytotoxicity of the oil as MDCK cell viability was only seen with concentrations of oil that were 2 to 6 times greater than the doses that inhibited viral infectivity. RT-PCR and western blotting demonstrated that oil treatment of the virus inhibited viral NP and NS1 protein, but not mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: An essential oil blend significantly attenuates influenza virus PR8 infectivity in vitro without affecting viral binding or cellular internalization in MDCK cells. Oil treated virus continued to express viral mRNAs but had minimal expression of viral proteins, suggesting that the antiviral effect may be due to inhibition of viral protein translation. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2010 Nov 15;10:69. Wu S, Patel KB, Booth LJ, Metcalf JP, Lin HK, Wu W. Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, PR China.

Reflexology for the symptomatic treatment of breast cancer: a systematic review.

Thu, 19 May 2011 21:14:00 -0500

The objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness of reflexology as a symptomatic treatment for breast cancer. In all, 12 databases were searched from the time of their inception through July 2010. Prospective, controlled clinical trials of reflexology in patients with breast cancer that included an assessment of clinical outcome measures were reviewed. Study selection, data extraction, and validations were performed independently by 2 reviewers. One randomized clinical trial (RCT) and three nonrandomized controlled clinical trials (CCTs) met our inclusion criteria. One large RCT showed significant differences in quality of life and mood when reflexology was compared with self-initiated support. Three CCTs tested reflexology compared with no treatment or simple rest. All of them suggested favorable effects of reflexology on pain, nausea, and vomiting. However, they had a high risk of bias. Collectively, the existing evidence does not convincingly show that reflexology is effective for breast cancer care. Future studies seem warranted; they should be of high methodological quality, and include adequate control interventions. Integr Cancer Ther. 2010 Dec;9(4):326-30.Kim JI, Lee MS, Kang JW, Choi do Y, Ernst E. Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.

Venous thromboembolism following vigorous deep tissue massage.

Thu, 05 May 2011 21:12:00 -0500

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an increasing public health concern, in part because of lack of awareness among patients and physicians. Nonpenetrating trauma to the legs may be an under-recognized potential risk factor for VTE. We report a case of VTE following vigorous deep tissue massage in a previously healthy 67-year-old man with no other identifiable risk factors. The etiology, risk factors, and implications for the prevention and detection of VTE are reviewed. There are few other published reports of VTE associated with massage, but under-reporting seems likely. Vigorous massage or any equivalent trauma to the legs should be considered and evaluated as a possible risk factor for VTE, especially in older adults. Additional research is needed to clarify the risks associated with nonpenetrating trauma to the legs in older adults and other susceptible groups. Improved awareness of VTE, including its risk factors and symptoms, is an urgent priority for more effective prevention, detection, and treatment. Phys Sportsmed. 2010 Dec;38(4):136-9. Crump C, Paluska SA. Division of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA. kccrump@stanford.edu