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Unresolved stress has been shown to have numerous adverse effects on the body. A review of the literature has revealed 2 major themes: (1) research that argues that massage has a direct relationship with positive health outcomes and (2) research that stresses that although there are little or no measurable physiological changes that occur from massage, patients' perceptions of stress and anxiety were significantly reduced. The simple act of touch-focused care, even a simple 5-min hand or foot massage, can be useful in lowering a patient's perceived level of stress. Further research is necessary on the benefits and risks of implementing massage therapy in the hospital setting.
The physiological effects of emotional stress are well known to almost everyone. People can feel their muscles tense, and respirations and heartbeat increase, when encountered by a stressful situation (Hansen & Sawatzky, 2008). The extent to which stress affects the body depends on the personal meaning attached to the stressful situation (Lewis & Shaw, 2007). Stress, whether real or perceived, alters the body's ability to maintain homeostasis. Unresolved stress has been shown to have numerous adverse effects on the body. Some examples include immunocompromise, migraine headaches, obesity, and hypertension (Hansen & Sawatzky, 2008).
Massage has been used for centuries around the world as a therapy to promote relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety. In the United States, massage therapies and other forms of nonpharmacological treatment modalities gained popularity as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the 1970s and 1980s (Zollman & Vickers, 1999). Currently, there is an increase in consumer-driven demand for massage therapy in treating people with health problems. It is estimated that 36% of the American population currently uses some form of alternative medicine, with about 11% of the population using massage (Cambron, Dexheimer, Coe, & Swenson, 2007; Kaye et al., 2008). More than $34 billion a year is spent as out-of-pocket expenses on CAM (Herman, Craig, & Caspi, 2005). Several insurance companies are currently offering coverage for massage therapy (Nahin & Straus, 2001), and some hospitals are incorporating massage into care modalities (Osborn, 2008). With such a large population of health consumers seeking this form of treatment, massage therapy is a treatment that is relevant to the practice of nursing. The goal of this...