Massage therapy and healing touch reduced pain, mood disturbance (anger, anxiety, depression, confusion) and fatigue in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, according to a recent study.
“Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch Improve Symptoms in Cancer” was conducted by staff at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and United Hospital Department of Integrative Health in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The study involved 62 women receiving radiation therapy for newly diagnosed gynecological or breast cancer. The women were randomly assigned to receive either Healing Touch or mock treatment, along with standard care, and were blind to their actual group assignment.
Women with breast cancer who received massage therapy showed a significant increase in both beneficial natural-killer cells and dopamine levels, and a significant decrease in long-term anxiety, as compared to women who received relaxation therapy, according to a recent study.
“Breast Cancer Women Experience Increased Natural Killer Cells Following Massage Therapy” was conducted by staff at the Touch Research Institutes.
New research shows massage therapy reduced depression in pregnant women, and also reduced the incidence of massaged women’s babies being born prematurely.
Daily physical activity and massage help increase bone mineralization in premature infants, according to recent research.
“Physical Activity Combined with Massage Improves Bone Mineralization in Premature Infants: A Randomized Trial” was conducted by staff at George Washington University Hospital and Children’s National Medical Center, in Washington, D.C.; and the Ain Shams University School of Medicine, in Cairo, Egypt.