Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trial
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rhythmic embrocation (RE), a massage technique, on postoperative stress levels (measured by heart rate variability) in colorectal cancer surgery patients compared to empathic conversation.MethodsThe study included 68 patients who were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1439420/full |
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| author | Paul G. Werthmann Paul G. Werthmann Paul G. Werthmann Dirk Cysarz Melanie Jungbluth Ann-Kathrin Lederer Ann-Kathrin Lederer Gergana Nenova Roman Huber Monique van Dijk Gunver S. Kienle |
| author_facet | Paul G. Werthmann Paul G. Werthmann Paul G. Werthmann Dirk Cysarz Melanie Jungbluth Ann-Kathrin Lederer Ann-Kathrin Lederer Gergana Nenova Roman Huber Monique van Dijk Gunver S. Kienle |
| author_sort | Paul G. Werthmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rhythmic embrocation (RE), a massage technique, on postoperative stress levels (measured by heart rate variability) in colorectal cancer surgery patients compared to empathic conversation.MethodsThe study included 68 patients who were randomized into three groups: one received RE from professionals, another from students, and the third received empathic conversations. Stress was quantified using heart rate variability before and after the interventions.ResultsThe standard deviation of the heartbeat intervals (SDNN) increased more in the professional RE group 9.12 ms (IQR 3.59-12.3 ms) than in the other groups: student RE group 5.68 ms (-0.66-7.5 ms), empathic conversation group 6.64 ms (-1.49-7.38 ms); hence stress decreased more in the professional RE group, although not statistically significant (p= 0.21). Other factors like sleep quality, nausea, pain, and mood did not differ significantly between the groups. No complications were associated with the interventions.ConclusionRE was safe and a statistically significant superiority of RE on postoperative stress compared to empathic conversations could not be found. Due to high inter- and intraindividual variability a clear pattern of response of the secondary outcomes to RE in comparison to empathic conversations could not be found. The study was limited by a small sample size, high patient variability, effective co-interventions for sleep, pain and nausea, and by an imbalance between groups. The study indicates that future research on RE should focus on a more narrowly defined patient population, increase the sample size, and select comparison groups that are clearly distinct from each other as well as a clinical context with fewer confounding factors. Furthermore, the patient’s preferences and previous experiences with massage therapy should be considered.Clinical trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (www.drks.de), identifier DRKS00023407. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-110871dcb25e443fada4f1c06b60fe99 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-110871dcb25e443fada4f1c06b60fe992025-02-06T07:21:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-02-011510.3389/fonc.2025.14394201439420Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trialPaul G. Werthmann0Paul G. Werthmann1Paul G. Werthmann2Dirk Cysarz3Melanie Jungbluth4Ann-Kathrin Lederer5Ann-Kathrin Lederer6Gergana Nenova7Roman Huber8Monique van Dijk9Gunver S. Kienle10Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyInstitute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Freiburg, GermanyResearch Group Integrative Medicine, Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, GermanyIntegrated Curriculum for Anthroposophic Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, GermanyCenter for Complementary Medicine, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyCenter for Complementary Medicine, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of General and Visceral Surgery, Center of Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyCenter for Complementary Medicine, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Nursing Science, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, NetherlandsCenter for Complementary Medicine, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyPurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rhythmic embrocation (RE), a massage technique, on postoperative stress levels (measured by heart rate variability) in colorectal cancer surgery patients compared to empathic conversation.MethodsThe study included 68 patients who were randomized into three groups: one received RE from professionals, another from students, and the third received empathic conversations. Stress was quantified using heart rate variability before and after the interventions.ResultsThe standard deviation of the heartbeat intervals (SDNN) increased more in the professional RE group 9.12 ms (IQR 3.59-12.3 ms) than in the other groups: student RE group 5.68 ms (-0.66-7.5 ms), empathic conversation group 6.64 ms (-1.49-7.38 ms); hence stress decreased more in the professional RE group, although not statistically significant (p= 0.21). Other factors like sleep quality, nausea, pain, and mood did not differ significantly between the groups. No complications were associated with the interventions.ConclusionRE was safe and a statistically significant superiority of RE on postoperative stress compared to empathic conversations could not be found. Due to high inter- and intraindividual variability a clear pattern of response of the secondary outcomes to RE in comparison to empathic conversations could not be found. The study was limited by a small sample size, high patient variability, effective co-interventions for sleep, pain and nausea, and by an imbalance between groups. The study indicates that future research on RE should focus on a more narrowly defined patient population, increase the sample size, and select comparison groups that are clearly distinct from each other as well as a clinical context with fewer confounding factors. Furthermore, the patient’s preferences and previous experiences with massage therapy should be considered.Clinical trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (www.drks.de), identifier DRKS00023407.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1439420/fullcolorectal cancerrhythmical embrocationsmassagestressheart-rate-variability |
| spellingShingle | Paul G. Werthmann Paul G. Werthmann Paul G. Werthmann Dirk Cysarz Melanie Jungbluth Ann-Kathrin Lederer Ann-Kathrin Lederer Gergana Nenova Roman Huber Monique van Dijk Gunver S. Kienle Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trial Frontiers in Oncology colorectal cancer rhythmical embrocations massage stress heart-rate-variability |
| title | Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trial |
| title_full | Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trial |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trial |
| title_short | Efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized, controlled, three-arm trial |
| title_sort | efficacy and safety of massage for postoperative stress in colorectal cancer patients a randomized controlled three arm trial |
| topic | colorectal cancer rhythmical embrocations massage stress heart-rate-variability |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1439420/full |
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