Research/Articles
In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. ~ Mother Teresa
Most current research news: Massage for Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
"Healing Hands: Massage Therapy Can Offer Relief for CIPN Symptoms"
Additional Samplings of Evidence-Based Research for Massage Therapy
1. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23342930
Results of Study Shows Prophylactic Manual Lymph Drainage in Preventing Secondary Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Surgery
This German study evaluated the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in the prevention of secondary lymphedema after treatment of breast cancer. The study consisted of 67 women, who underwent breast surgery for primary breast cancer. From the second day of surgery, 33 randomly chosen women were given MLD. The control group consisted of 34 women who did not receive MLD. This study demonstrates that regardless of the surgery type and the number of the lymph nodes removed, MLD effectively prevented lymphedema of the arm on the operated side. Even in high risk breast cancer treatments (operation plus irradiation), MLD was demonstrated to be effective against arm volume increase. Even though confirmatory studies are needed, this study demonstrates that MLD administered early after operation for breast cancer should be considered for the prevention of lymphedema.
Lymphology. 2012 Sep;45(3):103-12. Zimmermann A, Wozniewski M, Szklarska A, Lipowicz A, Szuba A. Wannsee-Schule Ev, Berlin, Germany.
2. Source:http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/15/suppl_2/19.long
Integrative and Behavioral Approaches to the Treatment of Cancer-Related Neuropathic Pain. A Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (US) study reviews the efficacy of complementary modalities in the treatment of neuropathic pain or sensory dysfunction, a chronic, often debilitating condition that affects an increasing number of cancer patients. Figure 2 in the article shows that massage therapy reduces pain and other symptoms in cancer patients over many hours. Barrie R. Cassileth and Francis J. Keefe, Correspondence: Francis J. Keefe, Ph.D., Duke Pain Prevention and Treatment Research Program, Suite 340, 2200 Main Street, Durham, N.C. 27705, USA. Telephone: 919-416-3401; Fax: 919-416-3458; Received 09.25.2009. Accepted 01.18.2010.
3. Source: http://www.amtamassage.org/research/Massage-Therapy-Research-Roundup.html
Massage Therapy for Improvements in Balance, Neurological, and Cardiovascular Measures in Older Adults Research published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (IJTMB) found that older adults who receive massage therapy for up to six weeks could benefit from decreased blood pressure and improved stability. “This study suggests that regular massage therapy can produce several advantages for the older generation, including a relaxation affect for the entire body, lowering blood pressure, decreasing stress and improving balance, amongst other things,” says American Massage Therapy Association President, Cynthia Ribeiro. Sefton JM, Yarar C, Berry JW, et al. Six weeks of massage therapy produces changes in balance, neurological and cardiovascular measures in older persons. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.2012; 5(3):28-40.
Massage Therapy for Decreasing Stress in Cancer Patients Research published in BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care indicates that massage therapy can have a positive influence on the quality of life of people suffering serious illnesses such as brain cancer. The American Massage Therapy Association acknowledges these study results, which suggest that massage therapy can improve physical as well as emotional well-being in patients with late stage disease and when used in combination with standard care, massage can help reduce stress, anxiety, pain and fatigue. Keir SM and Saling JR. Pilot study of the impact of massage therapy on sources and levels of distress in brain tumor patients. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2012; 2:363-36.
Massage Therapy for Chronic Low-Back Pain Research released in July 2011 expanded on previous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of massage therapy for chronic low back pain. Researchers found that “patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function”. The study was conducted over 10 weeks through Group Health Research Institute. Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, Wellman R, Cook AJ, Johnson E, Erro J, Delaney K, Deyo RA. A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial. 
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jul 5;155(1):1-9.
5. Source: Massage & Bodywork, Sept/Oct 2011
Massage Therapy for Our Hands The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, in a study conducted in conjunction with Massage Envy, has concluded that massage therapy reduces pain and anxiety, improves sleep, and increases grip strength for various conditions of the hand. Subjects received fifteen minutes of hand massage for four weeks and experienced positive results in relation to the control group, which did not receive massage. Tiffany Field, PhD, of TRI indicates that hand massage can provide relief for arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and tennis elbow, among other conditions. The results were published in the April 2011 edition of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice Journal.
6. Source: www.massagemag.com
Massage therapy for improved pain and sleep in metastatic cancer patients
Research published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that therapeutic massage at home for metastatic cancer patients can improve their overall quality of life by reducing pain and improving sleep quality. American Massage Therapy Association President Winona Bontrager says of the study, "These findings suggest that cancer patients can also benefit from professional massage, both physically and mentally, providing the necessary comfort during advanced stages of the disease."
Online Articles
"A Touch of Healing: Oncology Massage Can Help Alleviate Many Symptoms of Cancer and its Treatments, as Long as Practitioners Have the Right Qualifications" by Maria Prato
CURE Magazine, Fall, 2015, Volume 14, No. 4
"Side Effects of Chemotherapy" by Lynn Schucter, MD, Cancer.Net
Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
"Study Divides Breast Cancer into Four Distinct Types" The New York Times.com by Gina Kolata, September 23, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/health/study-finds-variations-of-breast-cancer.html?_r=0
"Massage Could Ease Distress of Brain Cancer" by Sarah Guy, MedWire News Reporter, NewsMedical.Net, December 2012
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20121213/Massage-could-ease-distress-of-brain-cancer.aspx
"Road to Recovery: Cancer Rehab Defines the New Normal" by Kathy LaTour, CURE Summer Issue, June 2012
http://curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/1935
"What is Peripheral Neuropathy?" NCCN.com (National Comprehensive Cancer Network)
http://www.nccn.com/component/content/article/61-symptoms/1722-what-is-peripheral-neuropathy.html
"A Touch of Massage Therapy" (Reiki Use for Cancer Patients) by Laura Johannes, March 15, 2011, The Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576200502111578620.html#articleTabs%3Darticle