Impact of Massage Therapy on Fatigue, Pain, and Spasticity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease that leads to fatigue, pain, and spasticity, as well as other sensorimotor and cognitive changes. Often traditional medical approaches are ineffective in alleviating these disruptive symptoms. Although about one-third of surveyed individuals report they use massage therapy (MT) as an adjunct to medical treatment, there is little empirical evidence that MT is effective for symptom management in people with MS.

PURPOSE

To measure the effects of MT on fatigue, pain, spasticity, perception of health, and quality of life in people with MS.

SETTING

Not-for-profit long-term care facility.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-four of 28 enrolled individuals with MS (average age = 47.38, SD = 13.05; 22 female) completed all MT sessions and outcome assessments.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Nonrandomized, pre-post pilot study.

INTERVENTION

Standardized MT routine one time a week for six weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Modified Fatigue Index Scale (MFIS), MOS Pain Effects Scale (MOS Pain), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Secondary outcome measures: Mental Health Inventory (MHI) and Health Status Questionnaire (HSQ).

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in MFIS ( < .01), MOS Pain ( < .01), MHI ( < .01), and HSQ ( < .01), all with a large effect size (ES) (Cohen's d = -0.76, 1.25, 0.93, -1.01, respectively). There was a significant correlation between change scores on the MFIS and the MOS Pain ( = 0.532, < .01), MHI ( = -0.647, < .01), and subscales of the HSQ (ranging from = -0.519, to -0.619, < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

MT as delivered in this study is a safe and beneficial intervention for management of fatigue and pain in people with MS. Decreasing fatigue and pain appears to correlate with improvement in quality of life, which is meaningful for people with MS who have a chronic disease resulting in long-term health care needs.