The effect of massage therapy on blood pressure of women with pre-hypertension.

Date: 2011

Author: Moeini M, Givi M, Ghasempour Z, Sadeghi M.

Journal: Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res.

Background:

Prehypertension is considered as a cardiovascular disease predicator. Management of prehypertension is an appropriate objective for clinicians in a wide range of medical centers. Treatment of prehypertension is primarily non-pharmacological, one of which is massagetherapy that is used to control the blood pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Swedish massage (face, neck, shoulders and chest) on blood pressure (BP) of the women with prehypertension.

METHODS:

This was a single-blind clinical trial study. Fifty prehypertensive women selected by simple random sampling which divided into control and test groups. The test group (25 patients) received Swedish massage 10-15 min, three times a week for 10 sessions and the control groups (25 patients) also were relaxed at the same environment with receiving no massage. Their BP was measured before and after each session. Analyzing the data was done using descriptive and inferential statistical methods (chi square, Mann-Whitney, paired t-test and student t-test) through SPSS software.

RESULTS:

The results indicated that mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the massage group was significantly lower in comparison with the control group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Findings of the study indicated that massage therapy was a safe, effective, applicable and cost-effective intervention in controlling BP of the prehypertension women and it can be used in the health care centers and even at home.

Using massage to ease constipation.

Journal: Nurs Times.

Date: 2011 Feb 1-7;107(4):26-7.

Author: Lämås K.

Location: Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Sweden.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Constipation is a painful and serious condition that patients often find difficult to talk about. It is usually treated with laxatives alone.

AIM: To determine whether abdominal massage is an effective treatment for constipation. METHOD Of 60 people with constipation, half received 15 minutes of abdominal and hand massage a day, five days a week, for eight weeks, as well as prescribed laxatives. The rest received prescribed laxatives only. Interviews with participants were also conducted.

RESULTS: Abdominal massage used with laxatives reduced abdominal pain, increased bowel movements and improved quality of life compared with laxative use alone. Patients reported positive experiences of abdominal massage but it did not reduce their laxative use.

CONCLUSION: Abdominal massage was seen as a pleasant treatment that can be offered as an option in constipation management.