Can Massage Benefit Stroke Patients?
Rehabilitation for stroke patients typically involves physical therapy, speech therapy and/or occupational therapy. Unfortunately, massage therapy is rarely mentioned as one of the therapies of choice.
Scientific evidence aside, I think it would be hard to dispute the argument that massage can help someone who has experienced a stroke. At the very least, we know that massage helps to relax, reduce stress, improve circulation, and decrease pain.
Massage Therapy Research Studies - the Effects of Massage for Stroke Patients
While there have not been many studies conducted on the effects of massage for stroke patients, there are two worth mentioning:
A Swedish research study investigated the importance of massage for the recovery and well being of stroke patients. It was a smaller-scale randomized controlled study carried out at a Swedish geriatric clinic from 1998 to1999. The patients who received tactile massage experienced a significantly higher quality of life, showed an improvement in general hygiene and mobility, and used less medication, in particular for pain and depression.
In 2004, a research study was conducted with 102 subjects on “The effects of slow-stroke back massage on anxiety and shoulder pain in elderly stroke patients.” It was conducted by staff at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Department of Nursing and Wong Chuk Hang Hospital, in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.[1] The massage group received 10 minutes of slow-stroke back massage before bedtime for seven nights. Subjects in the control group received standard care.
Results of this study showed that 10 minutes of nightly slow-stroke back massage had significantly reduced pain, anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate, as compared to subjects in the control group. Ten minutes of massage. That’s pretty significant.
So can massage really benefit people who have had a stroke? Talk to someone who has had a stroke, and you will learn how difficult it is to deal with the numerous effects of a stroke. I am of the belief that you can help to relax, ease pain, and comfort the person who has had a stroke with the touch of your hand. Massage can also help to increase circulation to areas in the body that have been affected by a stroke.
What Can You Do?
Most cities and townships have a continuing education department or recreation centre where you could take an introductory course on the basics of the Swedish massage technique. Also, some massage clinics and massage therapists specialize in home or hospital visits if you should require the services of a professional therapist.
Rehabilitation from a stroke can often take months or years, so why not help to improve the quality of life of someone you know who has had a stroke.
© Copyright, Sylvia Carlson, 2006.
