The Effect of Massage on Asthma Condition in Asthmatic children referred to the Immunology and Allergy Clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences: A Randomized Clinical Trial, 2012.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Asthma is the most common chronic medical illness of childhood. The chronic and potentially life threating nature of these diseases, the cost and side –effects of the standard asthma treatment, and the lack of definitive preventive and curative therapies lead many families to seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. Massage therapy is a part of complementary therapies. And it has been tried as a complementary treatment of asthma. However, there were few published reports on this subjects, especially in children. Systematic reviews on the effect of massage therapy on pediatric asthma, still report insufficient or inconclusive evidence to confirm or reject its benefits. Objective: The present study aims to determine the effect of mixture massage on asthma condition in asthmatic children, referred to the Immunology and Allergy clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This study was a randomized –controlled trial that was performed in the Immunology and Allergy clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Sixty children with asthma of 6-13 year old were invited to participate in this study. They were divided into two groups at random. Subjects in the massage therapy group received a 30 minute acupressure and massage therapy by their parents at home before bedtime every night for 4 weeks in addition to the standard asthma treatment. The control group received the standard asthma treatment alone for 4 weeks. They were also given a diary notes to control symptoms and used medications. A spirometry along with exercise was done in both groups at the first and last days of the study. Data was analyzed; SPSS 18 software independent t test, paired t test, chi square and covariance were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that, the end of the study from remaining 58, there was no significant difference in mean spirometry indexes (FEV1, FVC, PEF, FEV1/FVC), (P>0.05). But in the massage group there was reduced symptoms and consumption of breathing rescue medications. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, mixture massage therapy in pediatric asthma can't improve spirometric indexes and pulmonary functions, but it does improve symptoms and reduce the consumption of breathing rescue medications. However, further research in this area is needed.