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Hand pain is reduced by massage therapy
Tiffany Field1, Miguel Diego, Jeannette Delgado
1Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101, USA. TField@med.miami.edu
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
|October 11, 2011
Summary
Massage therapy significantly reduced pain and improved grip strength in adults with hand pain. This intervention also led to decreased anxiety, depressed mood, and sleep disturbances over four weeks.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Hand pain significantly impacts daily activities and quality of life.
- Effective non-pharmacological interventions for hand pain are crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of massage therapy for adults experiencing hand pain.
- To compare massage therapy outcomes against a standard treatment control group.
Main Methods:
- Forty-six adults with hand pain were randomized into two groups: massage therapy and standard care.
- The massage therapy group received weekly professional massages and daily self-massage for four weeks.
- The control group received standard treatment for hand pain.
Main Results:
- The massage therapy group reported less pain and demonstrated greater grip strength compared to the control group.
- Significant improvements in anxiety, depressed mood, and sleep disturbance scores were observed in the massage group.
- These benefits were evident after the initial session and sustained throughout the four-week study period.
Conclusions:
- Weekly professional and daily self-massage is an effective treatment for reducing pain and improving function in adults with hand pain.
- Massage therapy offers a beneficial adjunctive treatment for managing psychological distress and sleep issues associated with chronic hand pain.
