Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter June 18, 2015

Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes

  • Jolie Haun EMAIL logo , Nitin Patel , Gary Schwartz and Cheryl Ritenbaugh

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of massage therapy using gas discharge visualization (GDV), a computerized biophysical electrophoton capture (EPC), in tandem with traditional self-report measures to evaluate the use of GDV measurement to assess the bioenergetic whole-person effects of massage therapy.

Methods: This study used a single treatment group, pre–post-repeated measures design with a sample of 23 healthy adults. This study utilized a single 50-min full-body relaxation massage with participants. GDV measurement method, an EPC, and traditional paper-based measures evaluating pain, stress, muscle tension, and well-being were used to assess intervention outcomes.

Results: Significant differences were found between pre- and post-measures of well-being, pain, stress, muscle tension, and GDV parameters. Pearson correlations indicate the GDV measure is correlated with pain and stress, variables that impact the whole person.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that GDV parameters may be used to indicate significant bioenergetic change from pre- to post-massage. Findings warrant further investigation with a larger diverse sample size and control group to further explore GDV as a measure of whole-person bioenergetic effects associated with massage.

Acknowledgments

Dr Haun and co-authors conducted this research in cooperation with the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, and the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health; and Canyon Ranch. This material is also the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D), Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Tampa, FL, within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Manuscript content is solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NCCAM, the National Institutes of Health, or the University of Arizona; or the VA or the United States Government.

Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

Research funding: This publication was in part made possible by Grant Number T32 AT001287 from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

Employment or leadership: None declared.

Honorarium: None declared.

Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

References

1. CassilethBR, VickersAJ. Massage therapy for symptom control: outcome study at a major cancer center. J Pain Symptom Manage2004;28:2449.10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2003.12.016Search in Google Scholar PubMed

2. KutnerJS, SmithMC, CorbinL, HemphillL, BentonK, MellisBK, et al. Massage therapy versus simple touch to improve pain and mood in patients with advanced cancer. Ann Intern Med2008;149:36979.10.7326/0003-4819-149-6-200809160-00001Search in Google Scholar PubMed

3. WilkinsonS, BarnesK, StoreyL. Massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer: systematic review. J Adv Nurs2008;63:4309.10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04712.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

4. HaunJ, Graham-PoleJ, ShortleyB. Children with cancer and blood diseases experience positive physical and psychological effects from massage therapy. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork2009;2:714.10.3822/ijtmb.v2i2.12Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

5. FieldT, Hernandez-ReifM, TaylorS, QuintinoO, BurmanI. Labor pain is reduced by massage therapy. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol1997;18:28691.10.3109/01674829709080701Search in Google Scholar PubMed

6. FieldT, Hernandez-ReifM, DiegoM, FraserM. Lower back pain and sleep disturbance are reduced following massage therapy. J Bodywork Mov Ther2007;11:1415.10.1016/j.jbmt.2006.03.001Search in Google Scholar

7. FurlanAD, BrosseauL, ImamuraM, IrvinE. Massage for low-back pain: a systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group. Spine2002;27:1896910.10.1097/00007632-200209010-00017Search in Google Scholar PubMed

8. WentworthLJ, BrieseLJ, TimimiFK, SanvickCL, BartelDC, CutshallSM, et al. Massage therapy reduces tension, anxiety, and pain in patients awaiting invasive cardiovascular procedures. Prog Cardiovasc Nurs2009 Dec;24:15561.10.1111/j.1751-7117.2009.00054.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

9. MitchinsonAR, KimHM, RosenbergJM, GeisserM, KirshM, CikritD, et al. Acute postoperative pain management using massage as an adjuvant therapy: a randomized trial. Arch Surg2007;142:115867 (discussion 1167).10.1001/archsurg.142.12.1158Search in Google Scholar PubMed

10. MitchinsonA, FletcherCE, KimHM, MontagniniM, HinshawDB. Integrating massage therapy within the palliative care of veterans with advanced illnesses: an outcome study. Am J Hosp Palliat Care2014;31:612.10.1177/1049909113476568Search in Google Scholar PubMed

11. PiotrowskiMM, PatersonC, MitchinsonA, KimHM, KirshM, HinshawDB. Massage as adjuvant therapy in the management of acute postoperative pain: a preliminary study in men. J Am Coll Surg2003;197:103746.10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2003.07.020Search in Google Scholar

12. FieldT, DeedsO, DiegoM, Hernandez-ReifM, GaulerA, SullivanS, et al. Benefits of combining massage therapy with group interpersonal psychotherapy in prenatally depressed women. J Bodywork Mov Ther2009;13:297303.10.1016/j.jbmt.2008.10.002Search in Google Scholar

13. FieldT, MorrowC, ValdeonC, LarsonS, KuhnC, SchanbergS. Massage reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatr1992;31:12531.10.1097/00004583-199201000-00019Search in Google Scholar

14. SharpePA, WilliamsHG, GrannerML, HusseyJR. A randomised study of the effects of massage therapy compared to guided relaxation on well-being and stress perception among older adults. Complement Ther Med2007;15:15763.10.1016/j.ctim.2007.01.004Search in Google Scholar

15. FieldT, IronsonG, ScafidiF, NawrockiT, GoncalvesA, BurmanI, et al. Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. Int J Neurosci1996;86:197205.10.3109/00207459608986710Search in Google Scholar

16. FieldT, GrizzleN, ScafidiF, SchanbergS. Massage and relaxation therapies’ effects on depressed adolescent mothers. Adolescence1996;31:90311.Search in Google Scholar

17. FieldT, DiegoM, Hernandez-ReifM, DeedsO, FigueiredoB. Pregnancy massage reduces prematurity, low birthweight and postpartum depression. Infant Behav Dev2009;32:45460.10.1016/j.infbeh.2009.07.001Search in Google Scholar

18. SmithMC, StallingsMA, MarinerS, BurrallM. Benefits of massage therapy for hospitalized patients: a descriptive and qualitative evaluation. Altern Ther Health Med1999;5:6471.Search in Google Scholar

19. IronsonG, FieldT, ScafidiF, HashimotoM, KumarM, KumarA, et al. Massage therapy is associated with enhancement of the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity. Int J Neurosci1996; 84:20517.10.3109/00207459608987266Search in Google Scholar

20. DiegoMA, FieldT, Hernandez-ReifM, ShawK, FriedmanL, IronsonG. HIV adolescents show improved immune function following massage therapy. Int J Neurosci2001;106:3545.10.3109/00207450109149736Search in Google Scholar

21. KashaniF, KashaniP. The effect of massage therapy on the quality of sleep in breast cancer patients. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res2014;19:11318.Search in Google Scholar

22. FieldT, HenteleffT, Hernandez-ReifM, MartinezE, MavundaK, KuhnC, et al. Children with asthma have improved pulmonary functions after massage therapy. J Pediatr1998;132:8548.10.1016/S0022-3476(98)70317-8Search in Google Scholar

23. DiegoMA, FieldT. Moderate pressure massage elicits a parasympathetic nervous system response. Int J Neurosci2009;119:6308.10.1080/00207450802329605Search in Google Scholar PubMed

24. EzzoJ, DonnerT, NickolsD, Is MassageCM. Useful in the management of diabetes? A systematic review. Diabetes Spectr2001;14:21824.10.2337/diaspect.14.4.218Search in Google Scholar

25. FieldT, DiegoM, Hernandez-ReifM, DieterJN, KumarAM, SchanbergS, et al. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 increased in preterm neonates following massage therapy. J Dev Behav Pediatr2008;29:4636.10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181856d3bSearch in Google Scholar

26. FieldT, CullenC, DiegoM, Hernandez-ReifM, SprinzP, BeebeK, et al. Leukemia immune changes following massage therapy. J Bodywork Mov Ther2001;5:2714.10.1054/jbmt.2001.0228Search in Google Scholar

27. KorotkovKG. Human energy field study with GDV bioelectrography. Fair Lawn, New Jersey: Backbone Publishing, 2002.Search in Google Scholar

28. KorotkovK, WilliamsB, WisneskiLA. Assessing biophysical energy transfer mechanisms in living systems: the basis of life processes. J Altern Complement Med2004;10:4957.10.1089/107555304322848959Search in Google Scholar

29. KorotkovKG, MatraversP, OrlovDV, WilliamsBO. Application of electrophoton capture (EPC) analysis based on gas discharge visualization (GDV) technique in medicine: a systematic review. J Altern Complement Med2010;16:1325.10.1089/acm.2008.0285Search in Google Scholar

30. Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. American Psychological Association, 2002;57(12):1060–73.10.1037/0003-066X.57.12.1060Search in Google Scholar

31. PriceDD, McGrathPA, RafiiA, BuckinghamB. The validation of visual analogue scales as ratio scale measures for chronic and experimental pain. Pain1983;17:4556.10.1016/0304-3959(83)90126-4Search in Google Scholar

32. WewersME, LoweNK. A critical review of visual analogue scales in the measurement of clinical phenomena. Res Nursing Health1990;13:22736.10.1002/nur.4770130405Search in Google Scholar

33. CollinsSL, MooreRA, McQuayHJ. The visual analogue pain intensity scale: what is moderate pain in millimetres?Pain1997;72:957.10.1016/S0304-3959(97)00005-5Search in Google Scholar

34. BellI, CunninghamV, CaspiO, MeekP, FerroL. Development and validation of a new global well-being outcomes rating scale for integrative medicine research. BMC Complement Altern Med2004;4:1.10.1186/1472-6882-4-1Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

35. RubikB, BrooksAJ, SchwartzGE. In vitro effect of Reiki treatment on bacterial cultures: role of experimental context and practitioner well-being. J Altern Complement Med2006;12:713.10.1089/acm.2006.12.7Search in Google Scholar PubMed

36. ShangC. Emerging paradigms in mind-body medicine. J Altern Complement Med2001;7:8391.10.1089/107555301300004565Search in Google Scholar PubMed

37. World Health Organization. A proposed standard international acupuncture nomenclature: Report of a WHO scientific group. [Internet]. 1991. Available at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/1991/9241544171_eng.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

38. KorotkovK, ShelkovO, ShevtsovA, MohovD, PaolettiS, MirosnichenkoD, et al. Stress reduction with osteopathy assessed with GDV electrophotonic imaging: effects of osteopathy treatment. J Altern Complement Med2012;18:2517.10.1089/acm.2010.0853Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Received: 2014-3-11
Accepted: 2015-5-28
Published Online: 2015-6-18
Published in Print: 2015-9-1

©2015 by De Gruyter

Downloaded on 28.9.2023 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jcim-2014-0014/html
Scroll to top button