None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Integrative therapies such as massage have gained support in the literature as methods to improve the overall patient experience. Massage therapy (MT) has been widely accepted as a therapy to help with pain and anxiety and, in fact, many healthcare institutions have integrated massage into their standard of care for patients. Although there are studies that indicate the specific benefits of massage therapy, there are a limited number of studies looking at the specific benefits for cardiac surgical patients. Cardiac surgical patients undergo long surgical procedures and in the immediate post-operative period, commonly complain of back and shoulder pain that may be related to the surgical procedure, bed positioning or general stress and tension. Given the promising, yet insufficiently researched, effects of massage therapy as a symptom relief strategy for alleviating pain and anxiety, we plan to conduct a study to provide evidence of the efficacy and feasibility of massage therapy delivered in a cardiovascular surgery setting. Our planned program of research focuses on the question: Can a massage therapy intervention be delivered within a busy clinical cardiovascular surgery setting in an efficacious manner to alleviate patient pain, anxiety and tension?
Interventions
Two 20 minute swedish massage therapy sessions, performed between days 3 and 6 post-operative. 20 minutes of hands-on massage will be performed and focused on the areas requested by the patient. Depending upon the area identified by the patient to be massaged, the gentle massage procedure may consist of; back and neck, arm and hands, or foot, leg and hips.
Sponsors
Professor Franklin Rosenfeldt
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery or cardiac valve surgery or both. Patients that have given consent to participate. Patients who are medically able to participate in massage therapy between days 3-6 post-operatively.
Exclusion criteria
Patients with chronic pain or a psychiatric history will be excluded from the study. Patients with prolonged bleeding or intubation greater than 24 hours. Patients that decide not to participate post operatively. Patients that are not alert enough to participate in the data collection. Patients that would not be able to get a massage due to complexity of medical care including active cellulitis, phlebitis, complex wounds and multiple drains.
Outcome results
None listed