Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102604

Bennett Edwards, PhD, RKT, ATC and Joseph Palmer, MS, CMT, LAT. Sponsored Research, Shaw University, 118 E. South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, 919-231-2501, bedwardssu@aol.com

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of Massage Therapy (M) on Vital Signs (VS): Blood Pressure (BP), Heart Rate (HR), Blood Flow (BF), Skin Temperature (TEMP), O2 Saturation (02); Anxiety/Depression; and Hemoglobin (HbA1c), Cortisol, and Insulin. METHODS: Eleven AA with NIDDM, ages 45-72, (8 female/3 males) were subjects. VS were obtained before and after each of 20-24-sixty-minute M sessions. BF was measured with a pulsed doppler and decibel meter. Blood collections via venupuncture (n=8-9)and Well-Being 22 (WB-22) Questionnaires (n=11) were conducted before and after this study. M consisted of acupressure on spine utilizing the thumb at levels T-8/T-9, Urinary Bladder (UB17/UB23/U2), Stomach (ST2), Kidney (K5), Renal and; Effleurage (gliding/stroking), Petrissage (kneading) and Tapotement (cupping/hanking/pincing), and Vibration Friction of the neck, extremities, back/torso. Hand pressure provided 20 minutes of massage to the pancreas. VS data were analyzed with General Estimation Equations (GEE) and Matched Pairs Wilcoxon Tests (W) for WB-22/Blood Work. RESULTS: Pre/Post massage BF increased with sessions/time (p=0.001). TEMP and HR both decreased following massage (p=0.001). Pre/Post HR increased with M sessions/time (0.005). Cortisol had +borderline significance (p=0.074) and HbA1c increased 22%. WB parameters improved insignificantly (W); -Anxiety, -Depression, +Energy, +Positive WB, +Total WB. Anxiety/Depression decreased 19.5%/13.8% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate effects of massage were lower HR and skin TEMP. Intermediate-long term effects appear to be higher resting HR and SBP, increased BF, higher cortisol and a trend toward improved WB. Randomized controlled studies are needed to assess whether there are significant health benefits.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and describe a specific massage therapy protocol for subjects with type II diabetes.
• Identify the immediate and intermediate effects of massage therapy on vital signs of subjects with type II diabetes.
• To determine the intermediate effects of massage therapy on measured psychometric Well-Being parameters in type II diabetes subjects.
• Determine the effects of massage therapy on blood glucose and stress hormones of type II diabetes subjects

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Funded by NIH-National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities 1-P60-MD000244 and P60-MD000239/Subaward No. 5-520 Partially supported by NCMHD (R24-MD000167) and AHRQ (R24-HS13353).