Article

Massage Therapy as a Supportive Care Intervention for Children With Cancer

Deborah Hughes

Elena Ladas

Diane Rooney

Kara Kelly

supportive care, children
ONF 2008, 35(3), 431-442. DOI: 10.1188/08.ONF.431-442

Purpose/Objectives: To review relevant literature about massage therapy to assess the feasibility of integrating the body-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice as a supportive care intervention for children with cancer.

Data Sources: PubMed®, online references, published government reports, and the bibliographies of retrieved articles, reviews, and books on massage and massage and cancer. More than 70 citations were reviewed.

Data Synthesis: Massage therapy may help mitigate pain, anxiety, depression, constipation, and high blood pressure and may be beneficial during periods of profound immune suppression. Massage techniques light to medium in pressure are appropriate in the pediatric oncology setting.

Conclusions: Massage is an applicable, noninvasive, therapeutic modality that can be integrated safely as an adjunct intervention for managing side effects and psychological conditions associated with anticancer treatment in children. Massage may support immune function during periods of immunosuppression.

Implications for Nursing: Pediatric oncology nurses are vital in helping patients safely integrate CAM into conventional treatment. Pediatric oncology nurses can help maximize patient outcomes by assessing, advocating, and coordinating massage therapy services as a supportive care intervention.

Jump to a section

    References

    Ahles, T. A., Tope, D. M., Pinkson, B., Walch, S., Hann, D., Whedon, M., et al. (1999). Massage therapy for patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 18(3), 157-163.
    American Massage Therapy Association. (n.d.). States with massage therapy practice laws. Retrieved November 17, 2006, from http://amtamassage.org/about/lawstate.html
    Arkko, P. J., Pakarinen, A. J., & Kari-Koskinen, O. (1983). Effects of whole body massage on serum protein, electrolyte and hormone concentrations, enzyme activities, and hematological parameters. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 4(4), 265-267.
    Basmajian, J. V. (1985). Manipulation, traction, and massage (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
    Billhult, A., Bergbom, I., & Stener-Victorin, E. (2007). Massage relieves nausea in women with breast cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 13(1), 53-57.
    Billhult, A., & Dahlberg, K. (2001). A meaningful relief from suffering experiences of massage in cancer care. Cancer Nursing, 24(3), 180-184.
    Billhult, A., Stener-Victorin, E., & Bergbom, I. (2007). The experience of massage during chemotherapy treatment in breast cancer patients. Clinical Nursing Research, 16(2), 85-99.
    Boutin, P. D., Buchwald, D., Robinson, L., & Collier, A. C. (2000). Use of and attitudes about alternative and complementary therapies among outpatients and physicians at a municipal hospital. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 6(4), 335-343.
    Bredin, M. (1999). Mastectomy, body image and therapeutic massage: A qualitative study of women's experience. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 29(5), 1113-1120.
    Byers, D. C. (1983). Better health with foot reflexology: The Ingham method of reflexology. Saint Petersburg, FL: Ingham.
    Cassileth, B. R., & Vickers, A. J. (2004). Massage therapy for symptom control: Outcome study at a major cancer center. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 28(3), 244-249.
    Cline, K. (2000). Chinese pediatric massage: A practitioner's guide. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
    Cohen, M. H. (2006). Legal and ethical issues relating to use of complementary therapies in pediatric hematology/oncology. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 28(3), 190-193.
    Cole, J., & Stovell, E. (1991). Exercise and massage in health care through the ages. Occasional Papers on Medical History of Australia, 5, 42-48.
    Corner, J., Cawley, N., & Hildebrand, S. (1995). An evaluation of the use of massage and essential oils on the well-being of cancer patients. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 1(2), 67-73.
    Curties, D. (2000). Could massage therapy promote cancer metastasis? Massage Therapy Journal, 39(3), 83-90.
    Dibble, S. L., Chapman, J., Mack, K. A., & Shih, A. S. (2000). Acupressure for nausea: Results of a pilot study. Oncology Nursing Forum, 27(1), 41-47.
    Diego, M. A., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Shaw, K., Friedman, L., & Ironson, G. (2001). HIV adolescents show improved immune function following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 106(1-2), 35-45.
    Docherty, S. L. (2003). Symptom experiences of children and adolescents with cancer. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 21, 123-149.
    Ernst, E. (2003). The safety of massage therapy. Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 42(9), 1101-1106.
    Evans, B. (1995). An audit into the effects of aromatherapy massage and the cancer patient in palliative and terminal care. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 3(4), 239-241.
    Fellowes, D., Barnes, K., & Wilkinson, S. (2004). Aromatherapy and massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD002287.
    Ferrell-Torry, A. T., & Glick, O. J. (1993). The use of therapeutic massage as a nursing intervention to modify anxiety and the perception of cancer pain. Cancer Nursing, 16(2), 93-101.
    Field, T. (1995). Massage therapy for infants and children. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 16(2), 105-111.
    Field, T. (2002). Massage therapy. Medical Clinics of North America, 86(1), 163-171.
    Field, T., Cullen, C., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Sprinz, P., Beebe, K., et al. (2001). Leukemia immune changes following massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 5(4), 271-274.
    Field, T., Henteleff, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Martinez, E., Mavunda, K., Kuhn, C., et al. (1998). Children with asthma have improved pulmonary function after massage therapy. Journal of Pediatrics, 132(5), 854-858.
    Field, T., Morrow, C., Valdeon, C., Larson, S., Kuhn, C., & Schanberg, S. (1992). Massage reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31(1), 125-131.
    Fritz, S. (2003). Mosby's fundamentals of therapeutic massage (3rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
    Gecsedi, R. A. (2002). Massage therapy for patients with cancer. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 6(1), 52-54.
    Glaser, R., Rice, J., Speicher, C. E., Stout, J. C., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (1986). Stress depresses interferon production by leukocytes concomitant with a decrease in natural killer cell activity. Behavioral Neuroscience, 100(5), 675-678.
    Grealish, L., Lomasney, A., & Whiteman, B. (2000). Foot massage: A nursing intervention to modify the distressing symptoms of pain and nausea in patients hospitalized with cancer. Cancer Nursing, 23(3), 237-243.
    Hadfield, N. (2001). The role of aromatherapy massage in reducing anxiety in patients with malignant brain tumours. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 7(6), 279-285.
    Hall, N. R. S. (2001). Alternative medicine and the immune system. In R. Ader, D. L. Felten, & N. Cohen (Eds.), Psychoneuroimmunology (3rd ed., pp. 161-171). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
    Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Ironson, G., Beutler, J., Vera, Y., Hurley, J., et al. (2005). Natural killer cells and lymphocytes increase in women with breast cancer following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 115(4), 495-510.
    Hernandez-Reif, M., Ironson, G., Field, T., Hurley, J., Katz, G., Diego, M., et al. (2004). Breast cancer patients have improved immune and neuroendocrine functions following massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57(1), 45-52.
    Hodgson, H. (2000). Does reflexology impact on cancer patients' quality of life? Nursing Standard, 14(31), 33-38.
    Ironson, G., Field, T., Scafidi, F., Hashimoto, M., Kumar, M., Kumar, A., et al. (1996). Massage therapy is associated with enhancement of the immune system's cytotoxic capacity. International Journal of Neuroscience, 84(1-4), 205-217.
    Jemmott, J. B., III, & Locke, S. E. (1984). Psychosocial factors, immunologic mediation, and human susceptibility to infectious diseases: How much do we know? Psychological Bulletin, 95(1), 78-108.
    Jwing-Ming, Y. (1994). Chinese qigong massage. Jamaica Plain, MA: YMAA.
    Kirshbaum, M. (1996). Using massage in the relief of lymphoedema. Professional Nurse, 11(4), 230-232.
    Kite, S. M., Maher, E. J., Anderson, K., Young, T., Young, J., Wood, J., et al. (1998). Development of an aromatherapy service at a cancer centre. Palliative Medicine, 12(3), 171-180.
    Kusch, M., Labouvie, H., Ladisch, V., Fleischhack, G., & Bode, U. (2000). Structuring psychosocial care in pediatric oncology. Patient Education and Counseling, 40(3), 231-245.
    Loman, D. G. (2003). The use of complementary and alternative health care practices among children. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 17(2), 58-63.
    Maxwell-Hudson, C. (1988). The complete book of massage. New York: Random House.
    McLean, T. W., & Kemper, K. J. (2006). Complementary and alternative medicine therapies in pediatric oncology patients. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 4(1), 40-45.
    Mehling, W. E., Jacobs, B., Acree, M., Wilson, L., Bostrom, A., West, J., et al. (2007). Symptom management with massage and acupuncture in postoperative cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 33(3), 258-266.
    National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health. (2006). Manipulative and body based practices: An overview. Retrieved November 17, 2006, from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/manipulative.htm
    Nordschow, M., & Bierman, W. (1962). The influence of manual massage on muscle relaxation: Effect on trunk flexion. Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, 42, 653-657.
    Ostrom, K. W. (1907). Massage and the original Swedish movements: Their application to various diseases of the body (6th ed.). Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son and Co.
    Phipps, S., Dunavant, M., Rai, S. N., Deng, X., & Lensing, S. (2004). The effects of massage in children undergoing bone marrow transplant. Massage Therapy Journal, 43(3), 62-71.
    Post-White, J., Kinney, M. E., Savik, K., Gau, J. B., Wilcox, C., & Lerner, I. (2003). Therapeutic massage and healing touch improve symptoms in cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2(4), 332-344.
    Rattray, F. S. (1995). Massage therapy—An approach to treatments (2nd ed.). Toronto, Canada: Massage Therapy Texts and Maverick Consultants.
    Rolf, I. P. (1977). Rolfing: Reestablishing the natural alignment and structural integration of the human body for vitality and well-being. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
    Ross, C. S., Hamilton, J., Macrae, G., Docherty, C., Gould, A., & Cornbleet, M. A. (2002). A pilot study to evaluate the effect of reflexology on mood and symptom rating of advanced cancer patients. Palliative Medicine, 16(6), 544-545.
    Sagar, S. M., Dryden, T., & Wong, R. K. (2007). Massage therapy for cancer patients: A reciprocal relationship between body and mind. Current Oncology, 14(2), 45-56.
    Shin, Y. H., Kim, T. I., Shin, M. S., & Juon, H. S. (2004). Effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy cycle for Korean postoperative stomach cancer patients. Cancer Nursing, 27(4), 267-274.
    Simons, D. G., Travell, J. G., & Simons, L. S. (1999). Travell and Simons' myofascial pain and dysfunction: The trigger point manual (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
    Sims, S. (1986). Slow stroke back massage for cancer patients. Nursing Times, 82(47), 47-50.
    Smith, M. C., Kemp, J., Hemphill, L., & Vojir, C. P. (2002). Outcomes of therapeutic massage for hospitalized cancer patients. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 34(3), 257-262.
    Soden, K., Vincent, K., Craske, S., Lucas, C., & Ashley, S. (2004). A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliative Medicine, 18(2), 87-92.
    Stephenson, N., Dalton, J. A., & Carlson, J. (2003). The effect of foot reflexology on pain in patients with metastatic cancer. Applied Nursing Research, 16(4), 284-286.
    Stephenson, N. L., Swanson, M., Dalton, J., Keefe, F. J., & Engelke, M. (2007). Partner-delivered reflexology: Effects on cancer pain and anxiety. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34(1), 127-132.
    Stephenson, N. L., Weinrich, S. P., & Tavakoli, A. S. (2000). The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 27(1), 67-72.
    Tidy, N. (1952). Massage and remedial exercises in medical and surgical conditions (9th ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
    Turner-Cobbs, J. M., Sephton, S. E., & Spiegel, D. (2001). Psychosocial effects on immune function and disease progression in cancer: Human studies. In R. Ader, D. L. Felten, & N. Cohen (Eds.), Psychoneuroimmunology (3rd ed., pp. 565-582). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
    Van Cleve, L., Bossert, E., Beecroft, P., Adlard, K., Alvarez, O., & Savedra, M. C. (2004). The pain experience of children with leukemia during the first year after diagnosis. Nursing Research, 53(1), 1-10.
    Walton, T. (2000). Clinical thinking and cancer. Massage Therapy Journal, 39(3), 66-82.
    Weinrich, S. P., & Weinrich, M. C. (1990). The effect of massage on pain in cancer patients. Applied Nursing Research, 3(4), 140-145.
    White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. (2002). White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy: Final report March 2002 [NIH Publication 03-5411]. Retrieved November 17, 2006, from http://www.whccamp.hhs.gov
    Whitton, S. (1995). Essential oils and essences: A practical guide to aromatherapy and natural health. London, United Kingdom: Quintet Publishing, Ltd.
    Wilcock, A., Manderson, C., Weller, R., Walker, G., Carr, D., Carey, A. M., et al. (2004). Does aromatherapy massage benefit patients with cancer attending a specialist palliative care day centre? Palliative Medicine, 18(4), 287-290.
    Wilkie, D. J., Kampbell, J., Cutshall, S., Halabisky, H., Harmon, H., Johnson, L. P., et al. (2000). Effects of massage on pain intensity, analgesics and quality of life in patients with cancer pain: A pilot study of a randomized clinical trial conducted within hospice care delivery. Hospice Journal, 15(3), 31-53.
    Wilkinson, S. (1995). Aromatherapy and massage in palliative care. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 1(1), 21-30.
    Wilkinson, S. (1996). Palliative care. Get the massage. Nursing Times, 92(34), 61-64.
    Wilkinson, S., Aldridge, J., Salmon, I., Cain, E., & Wilson, B. (1999). An evaluation of aromatherapy massage in palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 13(5), 409-417.
    Wilkinson, S. M., Love, S. B., Westcombe, A. M., Gambles, M. A., Burgess, C. C., Cargill, A., et al. (2007). Effectiveness of aromatherapy massage in the management of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25(5), 532-539.
    Williams, A. F., Vadgama, A., Franks, P. J., & Mortimer, P. S. (2002). A randomized controlled crossover study of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. European Journal of Cancer Care, 11(4), 254-261.
    Xiangcai, X. (2002). Chinese tui na massage: The essential guide to treating injuries, improving health and balancing qi. Boston: YMAA.
    Zeitlin, D., Keller, S. E., Shiflett, S. C., Schleifer, S. J., & Bartlett, J. A. (2000). Immunological effects of massage therapy during academic stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62(1), 83-84.