Effects of the application of therapeutic massage in children with cancer: a systematic review.
Juan Rodríguez-Mansilla, Blanca González-Sánchez, Silvia Torres-Piles and 3 others
PMID 28614430WHAT IT FOUND
Therapeutic massage may reduce pain, anxiety, and depression in children with cancer, but results are inconsistent.
Some studies showed no benefit for nausea or pain. Effects depend on technique and duration, and evidence is limited by small sample sizes.
Key findings
01Massage reduced pain in three studies, but showed no significant change in two others.
02Massage decreased anxiety and depression in several studies, but only one study showed a significant decrease in heart rate.
03One study found a decrease in post-traumatic stress syndrome in 97 of 171 children.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Small sample sizes in most studies (17-52 patients), limiting statistical power. Heterogeneity in massage techniques, durations, and providers (masseurs vs. parents vs. nurses). Potential bias from parent-reported data in some studies. Inconsistent outcomes across studies for the same symptoms.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding sources were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume therapeutic massage is a reliable treatment for all cancer-related symptoms in children. The review found mixed results, with no significant benefit for nausea in two studies and no change in pain in two others. Evidence is low certainty due to small, heterogeneous studies.