Continued from page 1
A nerve conduction test was also performed at
start and finish of
study. This involved stimulation of
median sensory nerves through electrodes placed on each subject's index finger and wrist. Peak sensory latencies were recorded to test for nerve compression at
carpal tunnel. Median peak latency was
primary outcome measure.
Assessments were also made before and after
massage sessions on
first and last days of
study, including
Perceived Grip Strength Scale; VITAS, a pain assessment using a visual analogue scale;
state anxiety inventory; and
Profile of Mood States.
Results of
study showed that
subjects in
massage group had significantly less pain and reduced carpal tunnel symptoms, as well as shorter median peak latencies and increased grip strength.
"Functional activity also improved as noted in reduced pain and increased grip strength in
massage therapy group, both immediately after
first and last massage therapy sessions and by
end of
study," state
study's authors. "Finally,
massage therapy group reported lower anxiety and depressed mood levels both immediately after
first and last sessions and by
end of
study."
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*Source: Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Originally published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2004, Vol. 8, pp. 9-14.