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Fibromyalgia pain and substance P decrease and sleep improves after massage therapy.

Tiffany Field1, Miguel Diego, Christy Cullen

  • 1Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA. tfield@med.miami.edu

Journal of Clinical Rheumatology : Practical Reports on Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases
|October 17, 2006
PubMed
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Massage therapy improved sleep and reduced pain and substance P levels in fibromyalgia patients. Relaxation therapy offered only short-term mood benefits, highlighting massage

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Pain Management
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Background:

  • Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.
  • Massage therapy is a complementary treatment explored for symptom management in fibromyalgia.
  • The specific effects of massage on sleep, substance P, and pain require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of massage therapy versus relaxation therapy on sleep, substance P levels, and pain in fibromyalgia patients.
  • To evaluate the impact of these therapies on anxiety and depressed mood.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-four adult fibromyalgia patients were randomized into two groups: massage therapy or relaxation therapy.
  • Participants received 30-minute sessions twice weekly for five weeks.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Outcomes measured included sleep quality, substance P levels, pain ratings, disease severity, tender points, anxiety, and depressed mood.

    • Main Results:

    • Both groups experienced immediate improvements in anxiety and depressed mood after initial and final sessions.
    • The massage therapy group showed significant improvements in sleep duration and reduced sleep movements.
    • Massage therapy also led to decreased substance P levels, lower physician-assigned pain and disease ratings, and fewer tender points.

    Conclusions:

    • Massage therapy offers significant benefits for fibromyalgia patients, including improved sleep and reduced pain and substance P levels.
    • While relaxation therapy provides short-term mood benefits, massage therapy demonstrates more comprehensive and sustained symptom relief.
    • Massage therapy is a valuable therapeutic option for managing fibromyalgia symptoms.