CONTEXT: Admission to the hospital for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization can be perceived as a threat to one's health status. Autonomic nervous system arousal, particularly the sympathetic division, can elicit negative physiological and psychological human responses as a reaction to this threat. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a 20-minute back massage on the physiological and psychological human responses of patients admitted for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization. DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial design was used. Data were compared in a repeated measures design before massage (T1), immediately following the back massage or standard care (T2), and 10 minutes later (T3). SETTING: A large urban academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six subjects admitted from home for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration, peripheral skin temperature, pain perception, and psychological state. INTERVENTION: A 20-minute back massage. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between subject effect for group, with a reduction in systolic blood pressure in the treatment group (F = 8.6, P < .05). In addition, main effects were noted for time for diastolic blood pressure (F = 5.44; P < .006), respiration (F = 10.6; P < .005), total Profile of Mood States score (F = 5.9; P < .001) and pain perception (F = 4.09; P < .04) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A 20-minute back massage appeared to reduce systolic blood pressure in patients awaiting a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, while preparatory time in the cardiac catheterization laboratory appeared to reduce diastolic blood pressure, respiration, perceived psychological distress, and pain.

The effects of back massage before diagnostic cardiac catheterization