A study was made of 16 bedridden elderly stroke
patients. A 10-min skin rubdown for about 10 min
was administered for 10 days. Blood was
collected at noon on the day before skin
rubdown, 5 days and 10 days after initiation and
5 days after completion, and the neutrophil
count, lymphocyte count, serum gamma globulin
and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and natural
killer cell activity were measured. In nine of
these 16 patients, B, T, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte
counts were also measured on the same days.
There were no significant changes in the time
course of the lymphocyte count, gamma globulin
or CRP levels. The neutrophil count increased 10
days after initiation of the skin rubdown, and
natural killer cell activity increased 5 days
and 10 days days after initiation, and returned
to the baseline level 5 days after completion.
Although there were no changes in the time
course of the B, T, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte
counts, the CD4/CD8 ratio showed an increase 5
days after initiation and completion. The
authors concluded that skin rubdown activates
natural killer cells, which may be attributed to
the effect of certain mediators released from
the T lymphocytes and/or the stimulated effect
on the sympathetic nerves.
Iwama H, Akama Y. Skin rubdown with a dry towel
activates natural killer cells in bedridden old
patients.
Cancer Killer cells activated by massage
The benefits of massage for these clients include
improved blood circulation, equalized blood
pressure, and help with fatigue and nausea. The
place to start is by consulting with your physician
and your massage therapist. For those who are 2-3
months out from treatment, bodywork that can be used
includes lymph drainage therapies, trigger point
therapy, neuromuscular therapy, myotherapy and
myofascial release, among others. It's better to
wait before receiving deeper work.
While hospitalized, some appropriate techniques
include cranialsacral therapy, polarity therapy,
reiki and Therapeutic Touch. MacDonald said no
matter how severe the cancer treatment's side
effects, a way can always be found to administer
some type of bodywork. According to massage
therapist and former oncology nurse Cheryl Chapman,
while it's important to receive touch from a
qualified practitioner who has worked with cancer
patients before, "Touch is always appropriate --
there isn't anyone who is untouchable."
-
Ease cancer-related
pain as
well as pain related to treatment and muscle
tension. Massage may help "take the edge off" of
acute pain.
-
Help control nausea for
those undergoing cancer treatment and some types
of bone marrow transplants. A small study
suggested that massage helped lower medical
costs of managing nausea and vomiting.
-
Improve sleep and
lessen fatigue, common
side effects of cancer and its treatment.
-
Ease stress and
anxiety. The
deeply relaxing effects of massage can help you
cope with the emotional stress of having a
life-threatening illness.
If you have a family member who is in the advanced
stages of cancer, or if you know of a dear friend in
this situation, you may be glad to know that massage
therapy has been found to be beneficial for their
care. This includes the various massage therapy
modalities offered by professional massage spas that
give reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage
therapy, deep tissue
