Patients dealing with the late stages of terminal cancer may benefit from gentle massage therapy, according to a new study conducted by the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.
Researchers studied 380 hospice patients suffering from advanced forms of cancer. Lead researcher Jean S. Kutner, M.D., and colleagues found that after two weeks of massage therapy, many reported temporary improvements in both mood and pain levels.
Massage does seem to be helpful, at least for a short time, Kutner said in a Reuters health report. She explained that its not entirely clear why massage helps with the pain, but that the basic principles of massage therapy have been shown to decrease inflammation and swelling decrease muscle spasms and may trigger feel good hormones called endorphins.
Kutner also noted that the simple human contact between the patient and the therapist could contribute not only to increased physical well-being, but mental well-being, too.