The effects of massage: an holistic approach to care

In this article the authors review the benefits of massage and its relationship and relevance to more orthodox therapies. Most studies of the effects of massage on patients' wellbeing have been undertaken by non-nursing researchers and the authors suggest that more nurse-based research would make an important contribution to an holistic approach to care. Interest in, and the use of, complementary therapies has been growing over recent years. Massage seems to be of particular interest to nurses, involving as it does the close, intimate contact which nurses are often engaged in as part of their day-to-day work with patients. The benefits, and some of the problems, associated with massage are explored below.