July 2007 [Volume 6, Issue 7]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Cancer Patients Find Relief with Massage
• Aromatherapy Massage Effective in Combating Anxiety and Depression
• Massage and Sciatic Pain Question

Cancer Patients Find Relief with Massage

Those undergoing cancer treatments suffer through a great deal, the least of which is combating the disease. Often, the side effects of the various treatment options bring on a host of additional symptoms, including pain, fatigue and nausea.

In a recent Swedish study called, "Massage Relieves Nausea in Women with Breast Cancer Who Are Undergoing Chemotherapy," researchers found that massage lowered the occurrence of nausea in women suffering from chemotherapy treatments.

The randomized, controlled study was conducted in an oncology clinic in a southwestern Swedish hospital and included 39 women suffering from breast cancer who were scheduled to undergo chemotherapy treatments. Nineteen of the participants received massage, while the other 20 were placed in a control group without massage. The massage group was given five 20-minute massage sessions consisting of soft strokes and patients were able to choose the location of their massages (between the foot and lower leg or between the hand and lower arm). The control group received 20-minute visits from hospital staff where each patient was engaged in a topic of conversation that was their choice.

While researchers determined that massage lowered nausea in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatments, it did not find any effect of massage on depression or anxiety. Researchers ultimately concluded that while these results were positive for cancer patients, further studies with larger samples were needed to confirm these findings.

Aromatherapy Massage Effective in Combating Anxiety and Depression

Researchers in the U.K. have discovered that aromatherapy massage is effective in providing short-term relief for cancer patients suffering from anxiety and depression.

The study examined 288 cancer patients in four cancer centers and a hospice. Each patient was randomly assigned to a four-week course of weekly hour-long sessions of aromatherapy massage with usual care or usual supportive care alone. Each of the 12 participating massage therapists agreed to a specific treatment protocol that included 20 essential oils, massage strokes, timing and overall massage style. A treatment protocol for each patient was then determined by these overall guidelines.

At two weeks following the final aromatherapy session, 64 percent of the massage group experienced a reduction in anxiety and depression, compared to 46 percent of the usual care group. However, this benefit was not maintained at six weeks post-treatment.

Researchers concluded that aromatherapy massage was effective in relieving mild to moderate anxiety and depression in cancer patients, with the benefits only lasting a few weeks.

Massage and Sciatic Pain Question

Question: What should I do for sciatic pain?

Answer: It's important to get a proper diagnosis, as often the best choice of treatment will be determined by what is causing the sciatic condition. True sciatica is pain and inflammation of the sciatic nerve root at L4, L5 and sacral plexus caused by something like a disc herniation, sometimes by adhesions, fibrositis or another degenerative joint condition like arthritis. In these cases, often a combination of treatment modalities like chiropractic or physiotherapy along with massage is what works the best to relieve sciatic discomfort.

Pseudo sciatica is sciatic nerve inflammation brought on by piriformis syndrome, IT band syndrome or perhaps fibromyalgia. These conditions respond well with massage therapy treatments. Even the strain from imbalanced posture can trigger sciatica. Flat feet or having one leg shorter than the other, food allergies, previous injuries to back or hips and emotional distress or trauma can cause sciatic discomfort.

These would call for completely different courses of action such as orthotics, allergy treatments or even counseling.

Wendy Turpin, RMT

Note: Information provided in this Q&A section is drawn from the "Ask a Massage Therapist" online forum, in which massage therapists field questions relative to the massage profession. Readers are encouraged to post their questions at www.massagetoday.com/ask/. Answers should not be misconstrued as a diagnosis, prognosis or treatment recommendation and do not in any way constitute the practice of massage therapy or any other health care profession. Readers should consult their own health care providers for medical advice.

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