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Massage therapy as a complementary and alternative approach for people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.

Disability and rehabilitation
October 1, 2022
Zakieh Heidari et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to systematically review the effectiveness of different massage approaches on common MS symptoms, including fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and spasticity.

Results Summary

Massage improved fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and spasticity in MS patients, with specific techniques like reflexology and Swedish massage showing effectiveness for different symptoms.

Population

Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS)

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
massage
increase
motor and non-motor symptoms in MS
people with MS
-
may have beneficial effects
#1
different massage styles, such as reflexology, nonspecific therapeutic massage, and Swedish massage
increase
fatigue
Patients with MS (PwMS)
-
improved
#2
reflexology techniques
increase
pain
Patients with MS (PwMS)
-
effectively improved
#3
reflexology techniques
increase
anxiety
Patients with MS (PwMS)
-
effectively improved
#4
reflexology techniques
increase
depression
Patients with MS (PwMS)
-
effectively improved
#5
Swedish massage and reflexology techniques
decrease
spasticity
Patients with MS (PwMS)
-
reduced
#6
different massage approaches
increase
MS symptoms such as fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and spasticity
Patients with MS (PwMS)
-
effectively improved
#7
Swedish massage
increase
pain
people with MS
-
best improved
#8
Swedish massage
increase
fatigue
people with MS
-
best improved
#9
reflexology
increase
anxiety
people with MS
-
effectively improved
#10
reflexology
increase
depression
people with MS
-
effectively improved
#11
Abstract

PURPOSE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes a range of different symptoms. Patients with MS (PwMS) have looked for alternative therapies to control their MS progress and treat their symptoms. Non-invasive therapeutic approaches such as massage can have benefits to mitigate some of these symptoms. However, there is no rigorous review of massage effectiveness for PwMS. The present systematic review aims to examine the effectiveness of different massage approaches on common MS symptoms, including fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and spasticity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of related trials was conducted in electronic databases including Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using search terms related to Multiple Sclerosis and massage therapy. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of reviewed studies. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. We rated 5 studies as fair and 7 studies as good. Fatigue was improved by different massage styles, such as reflexology, nonspecific therapeutic massage, and Swedish massage. Pain, anxiety, and depression were effectively improved by reflexology techniques. Spasticity was reduced by Swedish massage and reflexology techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Different massage approaches effectively improved MS symptoms such as fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and spasticity.Implications for rehabilitationThe present review results indicate that massage may have beneficial effects on motor and non-motor symptoms in MS.Massage could be considered a complementary and alternative treatment combined with conventional medicine in people with MS.Pain and fatigue are best improved by Swedish massage, while anxiety and depression are effectively improved by reflexology.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnxietyFatigueHumansMassageMultiple SclerosisPain
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year2.0
Relative Citation Ratio1.45
NIH Percentile64%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.45
Normalized Score0.69
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