title: Effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, relaxation, and tension after colorectal surgery: A randomized study.
abstract: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of postoperative massage in patients undergoing abdominal colorectal surgery. One hundred twenty-seven patients were randomized to receive a 20-min massage (n = 61) or social visit and relaxation session (no massage; n = 66) on postoperative days 2 and 3. Vital signs and psychological well-being (pain, tension, anxiety, satisfaction with care, relaxation) were assessed before and after each intervention. The study results indicated that postoperative massage significantly improved the patients' perception of pain, tension, and anxiety, but overall satisfaction was unchanged. In conclusion, massage may be beneficial during postoperative recovery for patients undergoing abdominal colorectal surgery. Further studies are warranted to optimize timing and duration and to determine other benefits in this clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Nikol E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Dreyer
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Susanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cutshall
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huebner
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Foss
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Jenna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lovely
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address: bauer.brent@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Cima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012063:Relaxation
keywords: Anxiety; Complementary therapies; Integrative medicine; Massage; Pain; Surgery