Psychophysiological Effects of Sweden Massage: A Pilot Study

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Junko Inagaki, PhD, RN, RSW
Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Yamaguchi University, Ube,Yamaguchi, Japan
Haruka Aoyama, RN
Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube city, Japan
Akari Imada, RN
Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
Umiko Fujisawa, RN
Krashiki Central Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan
Atsuko Kawamura, RN
Fundamental Nursing, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube city, Japan
Namika Ikuta, MHW, RN
Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
Nobuko Kaseda, RN, MNS
Fundamental Nursing, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube City, Japan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the psychophysiological effects of sweden massage.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to descript the psychophysiological effects of sweden massage.

Background:  Massage has been one of the nursing skills for a long time. Joseph (2002) reported the massage on healthy people increased blood pressure and heart rates. And Wilkinson (2008) reported massage on cancer patients reduced anxiety and physical symptoms. However, psychophysiological effects of massage were little reported.

Objective: This study’s purpose was to identify the psychophysiological effects of Sweden massage which was the basics of all kinds of massage.

Methods: Crossover design was employed in this study. Massage group was treated by Sweden massage,  and control group was not treated. 10 people participated in this experiment. Electrocardiogram, blood pressure, amylase of saliva, temperature of eardrum, profile of moods(POMS) and visual analog scale (VAS)of moods were measured during 20- minute Sweden massage. Statistic analysis was conducted using Wilcoxon test.

Results: Delta values of heart rates were not significantly different  in two groups. But high frequency of heart rate variability on massage group was significantly higher than control group from 10 to 15 minutes after massage. Delta values of diastolic blood pressure on massage group were significantly higher than control group for the first 15minutes of  massage. Delta values of amylase of saliva  and temperature of eardrum were not significantly different  in two groups. Delta values of fatigue from POMS on massage group was significantly  lower than control group just after massage. And Delta values of comfort and relax from VAS on massage group were significantly higher than control group just after massage. Conclusion: It became clear that massage affected the increase in the blood pressure, improvement in fatigue.  Massage also helped to improve the level of relaxation due to increased parasympathetic activity of heart.

Ethical consideration: This study was approved by the Ethical Review Board of Faculty of Health Sciences Yamaguchi University.