Expanding the nursing repertoire: the effect of massage on post-operative pain
Nixon, M.; Teschendorff, J.; Finney, J.; Karnilowicz, W.
Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing a Quarterly Publication of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation 14(3): 21-26
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0813-0531 PMID: 9180443 Document Number: 471336
An equivalent groups design with a treatment group of 19 patients and a control group of 20 patients was used to investigate the impact of massage therapy on patients' perceptions of post-operative pain. Data were analysed using analysis of covariance repeated measures (within subjects) design. Controlling for age, the results indicated that massage produced a significant reduction in patients' perceptions of pain over a 24 hour period. A linear positive relationship emerged between patients' age and the duration of the massage. The study indicates that further investigation of the potential for massage to reduce pain is warranted.