FRASER J, ROSS KERR J
An experimental design was used to measure the effects of back massage on
anxiety levels of elderly residents in a long-term care institution. Twenty-one
residents, 17 females and four males, participated in the study. Subjects were
randomly assigned to three groups which received ‘back massage with normal
conversation’, ‘conversation only’ and ‘no intervention’ respectively. The
dependent variable, anxiety, was measured prior to back massage, immediately
following, and 10 minutes later, on four consecutive evenings. The Spieiberger Self-
Evaluation Questionnaire (STAI), electromyographic recordings, systolic blood
pressure, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were used as measures of
anxiety. Analysis of variance was used to examine differences in group mean scores
over the pre-test to post-test, post-test to delayed time interval, and pre-test to
delayed time intervals, Scheffe comparisons being made where indicated. With the
exception of mean DBP which showed no change from pre-test to post-test and HR
which increased from post-test to delayed time interval, there was a statistically
insignificant decrease in mean scores on all variables in the back massage group
from pre-test to post-test and from post-test to delayed time interval. There was a
statistically significant difference in the mean anxiety (STAI) score between the back
massage group and the no intervention group. The difference between the back
massage group and the conversation only group approached statistical significance.
Verbal reports from subjects indicated that they perceived back massage as
relaxing. Back massage may be an effective, non-invasive technique for promoting
relaxation and improving communication with patients. It was recommended that
touch be encouraged in caring for the elderly and that further investigation of the
effects of such therapies as back massage are indicated.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1993 Feb; 18 (2): 238-45 -abstract
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DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.1993.tb02136.x
Filed under: Anxiety, Massage Therapy
