Effects of adjunctive Swedish massage and vibration therapy on short-term postoperative outcomes: a randomized, controlled trial.
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.
Taylor
Ann Gill
AG
Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. agt@virginia.edu
Galper
Daniel I
DI
Taylor
Peyton
P
Rice
Laurel W
LW
Andersen
Willie
W
Irvin
William
W
Wang
Xin-Qun
XQ
Harrell
Frank E
FE
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