Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

A Retrospective Cohort Study on the Preliminary Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Cancer Patients.

Integrative cancer therapies
May 5, 2025
Mingxiao Yang et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralHuman Study
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansMassageFemaleMaleRetrospective StudiesMiddle AgedAgedPeripheral Nervous System DiseasesNeoplasmsAdultAged, 80 and overQuality of LifeAntineoplastic AgentsYoung AdultAdolescentChildCohort StudiesTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality65/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.30
Normalized Score0.67
Related Supplements