title: Relationship between massage therapy usage and health outcomes in older adults.
abstract: Physical and emotional decline in older adults is a serious issue affecting not only quality of life but also susceptibility to injury. Non-pharmacological interventions addressing the needs of older adults are important for reducing medication burden and possible drug interactions. This study (N=144) examines the potential of massage therapy as such an intervention for older adults by comparing self-reported health outcome scores among adults 60 and older who have and have not utilized massage therapy in the past year. When controlling for age and cumulative morbidities, older adults who reported massage therapy usage in the past year had significantly better health outcome scores in the following domains: 1) emotional well-being, 2) limitations due to physical issues, and 3) limitations due to emotional issues. Because previous massage therapy research has not included or focused on older adults, studies examining massage therapy and emotional health, specifically among this population, are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Department, University of Kentucky, 900 S Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. niki.munk@uky.edu
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.forename: Faika
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanjani
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors