Therapeutic back massage: A nonpharmacological approach to enhance sleep quality in orthopedic patients

Sleep disturbances significantly impair recovery in hospitalized orthopedic patients, primarily due to the discomfort associated with musculoskeletal injuries and surgeries. Poor sleep can exacerbate pain, delay healing, and prolong hospital stays. Nondrug interventions like therapeutic back massage have shown promise in enhancing sleep by reducing stress hormones and increasing relaxation neurotransmitters. However, their application, specifically in orthopedic care, remains underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of back massages on sleep quality in this patient group.

A quasiexperimental design was employed at a South Indian teaching hospital to study back massages' impact on sleep quality among orthopedic patients. The study involved 80 participants aged over 21 years, divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received back massages twice daily for 7 consecutive days, while the control group continued with routine care. Pretest and post-test assessments were conducted using the Groningen sleep quality scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, applying descriptive and inferential statistics.

Initially, 100% of patients in both groups reported poor sleep quality. Postintervention, the experimental group showed substantial improvements, with 70% reporting good sleep and 30% reporting fair sleep, with no instances of poor sleep remaining. In contrast, the control group displayed minor natural fluctuations: 5% reported good sleep, 25% fair sleep, and 70% continued to experience poor sleep. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in sleep scores (paired "t" value of 10.04; P < 0.001) postmassage.

The study confirms the effectiveness of therapeutic back massages in significantly improving sleep quality among orthopedic patients, underscoring the importance of nonpharmacological interventions in hospital settings.