Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2024

Spring 2024 • 67

neck disability index and self-rating anxiety scale. Researchers noted foot massage was effective in alleviating pain and anxiety while also improving the quality of life in patients who had undergone ACDF. Another study 7 investigated the influence of foot and back massage on blood pressure and sleep quality in women with essential hypertension. Six sessions (30 minutes, twice a week for three weeks) of foot massage and back massage were provided to the 60-person intervention group, and results indicated the intervention group reduced systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure values. Foot massage has also been shown to help women with pain during labor. A 2023 study 8 explored the effect of foot massage in pregnant women during labor for outcomes around labor pain, the duration of the delivery, postpartum bleeding and the emotional state of the mother. The study separated 80 women into two groups of 40 (foot massage and control). The intervention group received a 20-minute foot massage on each foot at three separate times during the first phase of birth. Results showed that pain severity for women who received the foot massage decreased after the intervention, and they also experienced less pain in the postpartum period. Additionally, women in the intervention group had shorter second and third stages of labor. Massage for the lower body is proving beneficial for more than just achy joints and muscle pain. While research has long suggested massage is a good intervention for these types of pain, especially when included as part of a larger integrative health care treatment plan, we’re starting to understand more about the value massage brings to other conditions, such as restless leg syndrome, ACDF, and labor pain and duration.

Daily Life Function, and Quality of Life in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.” Complement Med Res . 2021;28(4):292–299. 2. Wu Q, Zhao J, Guo W. “Efficacy of massage therapy in improving outcomes in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Complement Ther Clin Pract . 2022 Feb;46:101522. 3. Oshvandi K, Mirzajani Letomi F, Soltanian AR, Shamsizadeh M. “The effects of foot massage on hemodialysis patients’ sleep quality and restless leg syndrome: a comparison of lavender and sweet orange essential oil topical application.” J Complement Integr Med . 2021 Apr 12;18(4):843–850. 4. Döner A, Taşcı S. Effect of massage therapy with lavender oil on severity of restless legs syndrome and quality of life in hemodialysis patients. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2022 May;54(3):304–314. 5. Kesik G, Altinok Ersoy N. “The effect of nonpharmacologic interventions for muscle cramps and restless-leg syndrome in hemodialysis patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” T her Apher Dial . 2023 Aug;27(4):636–654. 6. Ren N, Yang G, Ren X, Li L. “Effects of foot massage on relieving pain, anxiety and improving quality of life of patients undergone a cervical spine surgery.” Health Qual Life Outcomes . 2021 Jan 19;19(1):22. 7. Arslan G, Ceyhan Ö, Mollaoğlu M. “The influence of foot and back massage on blood pressure and sleep quality in females with essential hypertension: a randomized controlled study.” J Hum Hypertens . 2021 Jul;35(7):627-637. 8. Şanli Y, Güngör Satilmiş İ. “Effect of foot massage on labor pain in parturient women.” Altern Ther Health Med . 2023 Mar;29(2):82–88. 9. Yoshimura A, Sekine Y, Furusho A, Yamazaki K, Hirose N. “The effects of calf muscle self massage on ankle joint range of motion and tendon-muscle morphology.” J Bodyw Mov Ther . 2022 Oct;32:196–200. 10. Espí-López GV, Ruescas-Nicolau MA, Castellet García M, Suso-Martí L, Cuenca-Martínez F, Marques-Sule E. “Effectiveness of Foam Rolling vs. Manual Therapy in Postexercise Recovery Interventions for Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial .” J Strength Cond Res . 2023 Jun 1;37(6).

References 1. Hasanpour-Dehkordi A, Kabiri F, Dris F.

“Comparing the Effects of Massage Therapy and Aromatherapy on Knee Pain, Morning Stiffness,

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