A Retrospective Cohort Study on the Preliminary Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Cancer Patients.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if a single session of massage therapy could provide immediate relief from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms, specifically pain and neuropathy.
Results Summary
One massage therapy session significantly reduced moderate-to-severe pain (from 81% to 0%) and neuropathy (from 77% to 12%) among patients, with statistically significant improvements in both measures.
Population
Cancer patients (median age 64, 74% female, 70% White) experiencing CIPN during or after chemotherapy.
Effective Dosage
1 session
Duration
Single session (immediate effects measured)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
massage therapy | decrease | percentage of patients reporting moderate-to-severe pain | patients with CIPN | from 81% at baseline to 0% (none) post-massage | decreased the percentage of patients reporting moderate-to-severe pain | #1 |
massage therapy | decrease | percentage of patients reporting neuropathy | patients with CIPN | from 77% at baseline to 12% following treatment | reduced percentage of patients reporting neuropathy | #2 |
massage therapy | decrease | pain scores | patients with CIPN | mean: -1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.9 to -1.2; P = .001 | statistically significant pre-post differences for pain | #3 |
massage therapy | decrease | neuropathy scores | patients with CIPN | mean: -1.2, 95%CI -1.4 to -0.9; P < .0001 | statistically significant pre-post differences for neuropathy | #4 |
massage therapy | decrease | neuropathy and CIPN pain | cancer patients with CIPN | - | was associated with immediate neuropathy and CIPN pain relief | #5 |
PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) worsens the quality of life for people with cancer. Massage therapy involves neuromuscular modulations and can potentially reduce CIPN symptoms. We examined the immediate improvements in CIPN-related pain and neuropathy following massage therapy among patients with CIPN. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort, we assessed patients who received 1 massage therapy session for CIPN symptom relief during or after chemotherapy at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center from October 2017 to September 2022. We measured the severity of pain and neuropathy before and after massage therapy with a 4-item verbal rating scale (VRS) or a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale (NRS). We converted NRS to VRS scores and examined the pre-post differences in symptom severity using the Wilcoxon rank test. RESULTS: Among 23 patients (median [range] age 64 [4-85] years, female 74%, White 70%), one session of massage therapy decreased the percentage of patients reporting moderate-to-severe pain from 81% at baseline to 0% (none) post-massage; percentage of patients reporting neuropathy also reduced from 77% at baseline to 12% following treatment. The pre-post differences were statistically significant for both pain (mean: -1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.9 to -1.2; P = .001) and neuropathy scores (mean: -1.2, 95%CI -1.4 to -0.9; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Among cancer patients with CIPN, one session of massage therapy was associated with immediate neuropathy and CIPN pain relief reported by patients following treatment. However, this preliminary finding requires further rigorous verifications in future randomized controlled clinical trials.