Massage therapy for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

• Anxiety and its pharmacological management can complicate cardiac catheterization procedures.
• Massage therapy is recognized for its relaxation and stress-reduction benefits in various settings.
• Emerging research supports the efficacy of massage in medical environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of administering massage therapy in an interventional cardiology center.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of massage in reducing anxiety before, during, and after cardiac catheterization.
• To explore the impact of massage on patient-reported anxiety and physiological markers.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-masked pilot study was conducted.
• Seventy-eight patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization were included.
• Intervention group received a 10-minute massage; control group received quiet time with a therapist.

Main Results:

• Massage was feasible to incorporate, with 70% patient consent and staff support.
• Anxiety scores showed a trend toward reduction in the massage group (P = .081), but not statistically significant.
• No significant differences were observed in pain, vital signs, or medication use between groups.

Conclusions:

• A 10-minute massage intervention before invasive cardiac procedures appears insufficient to measurably decrease patient stress.
• Further research may explore longer massage durations or different therapeutic approaches.
• Massage integration into cardiology settings is feasible but requires further investigation for efficacy.