Effects of Traditional Japanese Massage Therapy on Various Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease:A Case-Series Study

[Bolt_Upright]

Effects of Traditional Japanese Massage Therapy on Various Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease:A Case-Series Study 2012 sci-hub.st/10.1089/acm.2011...

Abstract:

Objectives: Massage therapy is one of the most commonly used complementary therapies for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effects of traditional Japanese massage therapy on various symptoms of patients with PD.

Design: The study design was a case series study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Center for Integrative Medicine, Tsukuba University of Technology, Japan.

Subjects: The subjects were 10 patients with idiopathic PD (mean age, 69.6 – 7.7 years; range, 55–85 years) who presented for consultation with a neurologist between February and April 2009 and who desired massage therapy in conjunction with standard pharmaceutical treatment.

Intervention: The intervention comprised a 30-minute session of traditional Japanese massage in conjunction with standard conventional medication.

Outcome measures: The outcome measures were as follows: Gait speed in the 20-m walk test (10-m walk and return) for gait disturbance, angular range of shoulder joint motion for frozen shoulder, and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for assessing the severity of each of various symptoms (hypophonia, shoulder stiffness, muscle pain, heaviness or lassitude of a body part, and fatigue), as determined before and after the massage session.

Results: (1) Patients with gait disturbance showed improved gait speed, (2) those with frozen shoulder showed improved range of motion of the shoulder joint, and (3) VAS scores for assessing the severity of other subjective symptoms were improved.

Conclusions: These results suggest that traditional Japanese massage therapy used in combination with medication is effective for alleviating various symptoms in patients with PD and may contribute to enhancing their health-related quality of life. Larger studies with a control group are required to verify these findings.

[gaga1958]

Bolt, was looking into what exactly this particular type of massage was like. (Sidenote: I go to a private movement disorder exercise therapist weekly. I gain a lot of benefit from her since she concentrates specifically on my weaknesses and challenges.) Anyway, back to massage--I was looking into who used this massage technique in my area and what do you know--my exercise therapist does this type of massage. She's been trying to get me to get this massage, but I was hesitant because I didn't want to give up her exercise therapy and cannot afford both. Maybe 1 week one thing, another week the other thing. thxs

[Smittybear7 in reply to gaga1958]

where are you located in the United States? Is there a particular name of that type of massage that I can ask in my area?

[gaga1958 in reply to Smittybear7]

I am near Richmond, VA. I just googled Japanese massage method and lots of articles popped up. Here's one.......medicalnewstoday.com/articl... Then when I put shiatsu (or ashiatsu) massage in Richmond VA a number of practitioners showed up.

[Shorebirdsotherhalf]

am I the only one having problems finding the study if you click on the link? I get a “403 forbidden” warning message. Maybe the first 402 readers were successful? 😉

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Shorebirdsotherhalf]

The link still works for me. Try this one: sci-hub.ru/10.1089/acm.2011...

[Smittybear7]

Thanks for sharing !

[Shorebirdsotherhalf]

I’m still getting the same error message. I’ll work on my end to correct it. According to Google it may be an issue with a setting within my browser. Thanks, Bolt. Always enjoy your posts and my wife and I [and I’m sure many other readers] appreciate your warm disposition, invaluable contributions and keen insight shared here on Health Unlocked. Much appreciated. Z&V

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Shorebirdsotherhalf]

If you chat your e-mail to me I will e-mail the document over. And thanks for the kind words.

[pearlette]

I have regular therapeutic Thai massage weekly (90 minutes) for about 5 years now. Its very deep and painful over some of my dystonic muscle groups. My therapist who is from Thailand was trained by an elite traditionalteacher in Thailand and is probably one of the best qualified practitoners in the UK. But she is rather humble and down to earth with a heart of gold.

Has done wonders for reducing my high tone and rigidity in my lower limbs and as a result my balance and gait improved a lot. Also takes care of any stiffness in arms,shoulder and neck.

It is expensive (despite being offered to me at a good discounted rate)but I choose it over other luxuries.

Shiatsu is somewhat milder; have had a few free sessions from a practioner who I met in a yoga class 8 years ago (as a thank you gesture for helping her out with a personal problem). It is too subtle for me now.

[gomelgo]

I think I'm going to go back to shiatsu .... I used to date a guy for a few years who was learning it, and practiced on me. It was really nice having that. I think I'd like to try doing shiatsu once week, cranio the next, and maybe bowen therapy on the other weeks. Maybe days is even better. I'd better start raising some serious money for these necessities. I do go to feldenkrais every week, and have now started going twice because I get a discount.