Priorities: who's calling for what emphasis in massage research?
Growing recognition of the importance of holistic nursing interventions is resulting in a revival in the use of therapeutic massage. Massage contributes to health and healing through enhancement of relaxation, and is a safe, caring, and inexpensive intervention. Therapeutic massage research using older populations is reviewed for identification of its theoretical framework, design, outcome variables, sample, procedures, instruments, analyses and results. To establish a scientific basis for therapeutic massage in the future, it is critical that nurses include the following key elements in their research studies: clear definitions: procedures for massage that include type(s) of massage performed, part of body massaged, and length of time of massage; and analyses that control for the pre-massage level of the variable of interest. Research variables need to focus on concepts that have major health consequences such as agitation, immune status, and pain.
Develop uniform definitions
Develop standard procedures for therapeutic massage
Identify contraindications (if any) to massage
Identify and test conceptual and theoretical models that predict and explain the effects of therapeutic massage
Identify specific diseases that benefit from therapeutic massage (e.g. arthritis)
Identify outcome measures sensitive to massage intervention in the following categories: physiological; psychosocial; cognitive; functional
Measure the effect of time-specific amounts of therapeutic massage
Measure the effect of providing therapeutic massage at specific times during the day
Test the effect of therapeutic massage with and without medications that affect outcome variables
Perform longitudinal studies on effects of therapeutic massage
Measure effects of therapeutic massage when massage is performed on different body parts
Identify predictors for effective therapeutic massage for the patient
Conduct studies that examine the effect of therapeutic massage on sundowning, sleep/wake cycles, and temporal patterns
Determine if a relationship exists between demographic factors and positive effects of therapeutic massage
Compare outcomes in studies that examine therapeutic massage, therapeutic touch, and reflexology
Test effects of other alternative therapies in combination with therapeutic massage
Measure the effects of aging (if any) on massage
Determine if there is a difference in outcomes when personnel with different levels of professional preparation give therapeutic massage
Test the effects of therapeutic massage with different populations
Test the effects of environmental factors on outcomes of therapeutic massage
Identify ethical issues involved with therapeutic massage
Test effect of family member vs. health professional giving massage
