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Clinical Trial
. 2010 Dec;25(8):680-6.
doi: 10.1177/1533317510386215.

Physical and psychological effects of 6-week tactile massage on elderly patients with severe dementia

Mizue Suzuki  1 , Asami Tatsumi, Toshiko Otsuka, Keiko Kikuchi, Akiko Mizuta, Kimiko Makino, Akie Kimoto, Kiyoe Fujiwara, Toshihiko Abe, Toshihiro Nakagomi, Tatsuya Hayashi, Takayuki Saruhara
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Physical and psychological effects of 6-week tactile massage on elderly patients with severe dementia

Mizue Suzuki et al. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2010 Dec.

Abstract

Tactile massage is a soft massage that improves physical relaxation and psychological well-being. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of a 6-week tactile massage on changes in physical and mental function, symptoms of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among elderly patients with dementia. In addition, chromogranin A (CgA) levels as an index of stress examined the effects of tactile massage intervention. A tactile massage group consisting of elderly patients with dementia received tactile massage therapy a total of 30 times each for about 20 minutes between 16:00 and 17:00 hours. In the control group, the mean scores for ''intellectual'' and ''emotional function'' score decreased significantly after 6 weeks (P < .05); however, no change was observed in the tactile massage group. Both the ''aggressiveness'' score (P < .05) and CgA levels decreased significantly after 6 weeks in the tactile massage group. These results suggest that tactile massage reduces aggressiveness and stress level in patients with dementia.

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References

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