Effects of Massage Therapy on Clinical Symptoms of Older People

Nurses can improve outcomes of patient care by integrating complementary and alternative therapies with traditional medical practices. Among the non-pharmacological methods that can be used in geriatrics and gerontology are massage, aromatherapy, relaxation, meditation, therapeutic touch, biofeedback (neurotherapy), guided affective imagery (creative psychotherapy), reflexology, acupressure, and naturopathy. Massage therapy attracts the attention of healthcare professionals, patients, and families because it improves many symptoms, it has no side effects, it is easy to learn and apply, and is safe, effective, and economical. Massage therapy is used in geriatric patients for various purposes. For instance, it is effective in the management of pain, agitation, stress, anxiety, worry, and depression, it relieves constipation and improves the range of motion of the joints. Massage therapy together with pharmacological treatments reduces many symptoms of neurological diseases and neurological disease-associated risks, and it has a safe, supportive and positive effect. It is thought that this review, based on the effects of massage therapy, can be a guide especially for nurses working with elderly patients in the neurology clinic.