title: Effects of adjunctive Swedish massage and vibration therapy on short-term postoperative outcomes: a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of adjunctive postoperative massage and vibration therapy on short-term postsurgical pain, negative affect, and physiologic stress reactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized controlled trial. The treatment groups were: (1) usual postoperative care (UC); (2) UC plus massage therapy; or (3) UC plus vibration therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The University of Virginia Hospital Surgical Units, Gynecology-Oncology Clinic, and General Clinical Research Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five (N = 105) women who underwent an abdominal laparotomy for removal of suspected cancerous lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients received UC with analgesic medication. Additionally, the massage group received standardized 45-minute sessions of gentle Swedish massage on the 3 consecutive evenings after surgery and the vibration group received 20-minute sessions of inaudible vibration therapy (physiotones) on the 3 consecutive evenings after surgery, as well as additional sessions as desired.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sensory pain, affective pain, anxiety, distress, analgesic use, systolic blood pressure, 24-hour urine free cortisol, number of postoperative complications, and days of hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the day of surgery, massage was more effective than UC for affective (p = 0.0244) and sensory pain (p = 0.0428), and better than vibration for affective pain (p = 0.0015). On postoperative day 2, massage was more effective than UC for distress (p = 0.0085), and better than vibration for sensory pain (p = 0.0085). Vibration was also more effective than UC for sensory pain (p = 0.0090) and distress (p = .0090). However, after controlling for multiple comparisons and multiple outcomes, no significant differences were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gentle Swedish massage applied postoperatively may have minor effects on short-term sensory pain, affective pain, and distress among women undergoing an abdominal laparotomy for removal of suspected malignant tissues.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. agt@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Ann Gill
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Daniel I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Galper
authors.forename: Peyton
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Laurel W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Willie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.forename: Xin-Qun
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Harrell
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014732:Vibration; D016387:Women's Health