Effects of home massage rehabilitation therapy for the bed-ridden elderly: a pilot trial with a threemonth follow-up

Y Hirakawa, Y Masuda, T Kimata, K Uemura, M Kuzuya

Objectives: To assess the effects of home massage rehabilitation therapy on the bed-ridden elderly.

Design: Alternatively allocated trial.

Setting: Subjects’ homes, three home nursing stations, 13 visit care stations and one day service centre in Aichi prefecture, Japan.

Subjects: Bed-ridden patients who were 65 years and above, no dementia, stable general condition, and receiving no rehabilitation therapy.

Intervention: Thirty-minute sessions of home massage rehabilitation therapy by a massage practitioner 2 or 3 days a week for three consecutive months or usual care.

Main measurements: Barthel Index (BI), Subjective Satisfaction and Refreshment Scale, Apathy Scale and Self-rating Depression Score.

Results: Fifty-three subjects were recruited, 26 in the home massage rehabilitation group (HMG) and 27 in the routine care group without massage (RCG). The protocol was completed for 40 subjects, 22 in the HMG and 18 in the RCG. There were no significant differences between the baseline characteristics of both groups; age, presence of spouse, diseases associated with disabilities and use of day care rehabilitation (p / 0.76, 0.36, 0.94 and 0.71, respectively). The total BI score of the HMG (15.279=4.51) at baseline was nonsignificantly lower (p=0.03) than those of the RCG (11.449=5.90). Subjective Satisfaction and Refreshment Scale, Apathy Scale and Self-rating Depression Score of both groups at baseline were matched (p / 0.12, 0.32 and 0.89, respectively). There were no statistical differences between the intergroup changes over time in BI, Subjective Satisfaction and Refreshment Scale, Apathy Scale and Self-rating Depression Score (p / 0.35, 0.08, 0.70 and 0.55, respectively).

Conclusion: Home massage rehabilitation therapy did not show a positive effect on the bed-ridden elderly, either mentally or physically. We would require large-size trials to determine whether it is effective.

Clinical Rehabilitation 2005; 19; 20 – abstract

Full text available in  through MTABC member only website (link) under the research tab and then library.

DOI: 10.1191/0269215505cr795oa

Filed under: Massage Therapy, Patient satisfaction, Physical function, Research

Effectiveness of Social Work Treatment and Massage Therapy for Nursing Home Clients

Kam-fong Monit Cheung

Objective: An ABAB single-system design was employed to test the efficacy of a combined social work treatment with massage therapy to improve the physical functioning of nursing home clients.                                                                                                                                         Method: Six clients ages 75 to 90 were randomly selected in three small-scale nursing homes to receive baseline measures and two 7-week treatment programs over a 28-week study period. Activities of Daily Living level and frequency of personal assistance were measured by the caretakers at the nursing homes. Observations were noted by both the massage therapist and the social worker, who worked as a team serving each client.                                             Results: Although the outcome patterns varied from one individual to another, significant improvements were found in three individuals.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the improvement in physical outcomes among the
age 75 years or more (75+) population is largely influenced by the individual’s current state of
physical and mental capabilities.

Research on Social Work Practice 1999; 9; 229 – abstract

DOI: 10.1177/104973159900900207

Filed under: Massage Therapy, Physical function, Research