An article in the The Archives of Surgery (Dec 2007) documented a study that examined the role of massage therapy in managing post-operative pain. The study concluded that “Massage is an effective and safe adjuvant therapy for the relief of acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing major operations”

The study was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted between 2003 and 2005 and involved 605 participants. Overall patients in the group that received massage therapy experienced greater decreases in pain intensity and unpleasantness. Patients in this group also reported a greater rate in reduction in these measures.

If you or someone you care about is undergoing major surgery – consider asking your health care team if post operative massage therapy would be an appropriate in your case.

For more information the abstract is available at:
http://archsurg.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/142/12/1158

Source:
Acute Postoperative Pain Management Using Massage as an Adjuvant Therapy
Allison R. Mitchinson, MPH, NCTMB; Hyungjin Myra Kim, ScD; Jack M. Rosenberg, MD; Michael Geisser, PhD; Marvin Kirsh, MD; Dolores Cikrit, MD; Daniel B. Hinshaw, MD
Arch Surg. 2007;142(12):1158-1167.