title: Massage therapy improves the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Massage therapy has promise as an adjunct to standard alcohol detoxification procedures but has not been investigated comprehensively.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a randomized controlled trial comparing massage therapy to a "rest" (control) condition in patients undergoing alcohol detoxification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based alcohol and drug detoxification clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty (50) patients with alcohol dependence (41 males, 9 females).
  
  
  METHODS
  The massage intervention involved a seated back, shoulder, head, and neck massage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Alcohol Withdrawal Scale, respiration, pulse rate, and subjective patient evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those receiving massage generally showed reductions in pulse rate on 3 of the 4 days of treatment compared to the control group. Massage was also more effective in reducing Alcohol Withdrawal Scale scores in the early stages of the detoxification process. Respiration in the massage group was reduced toward the end of the detoxification admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Massage shows promise as an adjunct to traditional medical detoxification for alcohol.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Alcohol and Drug Services, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reader
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020751:Alcohol-Induced Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome