Pain research

Massage therapy relieves nurses pains

Modern-day nursing carries with it certain occupational hazards, commonly reported symptoms affecting nurses are tension and back pain.

The Department of Psychology at the Toronto Hospital, Canada investigated the use of massage therapy for their nursing staff with a series of eight 15-minute massage treatments whilst at work.

The researchers were attempting to determine whether the massage therapy reduced the levels of pain and stress experienced by the nursing staff at a large teaching hospital.

Twelve hospital staff (10 registered nurses and 2 non-medical ward staff) participated in the study. Each nurse received up to eight, 15-minute Swedish massage treatments by registered massage therapists. Pain, tension, relaxation, and the Profile of Mood States were all measured before and after each massage session.

The results indicated that the intensity of pain and tension levels were significantly reduced after the eight-session massage programme. The therapy also improved the overall mood and morale of the nurses working at the teaching hospital.

The response to the massage therapy was so positive that the researchers recommended further research be carried out to study, in more detail, the efficacy of conducting massage in the workplace for reducing stress, alleviating pain, and improving the overall mood and staff morale.

Source : J Perianesth Nurs 1999 Jun;14(3):128-33
Pain and tension are reduced among hospital nurses after on-site massage treatments: a pilot study. Katz J, Wowk A, Culp D, 
Wakeling H

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