Foot Massage Consoles Bereaved Relatives

A study has revealed that people in bereavement can be consoled with soothing massages. The study found that an eight week course in hand and foot massage provides considerable relief to people in grieving.
 
The study involved 18 people from 34 to 78 years of age who had recently lost a relative due to cancer. They were offered foot or hand massages for an 8 week period. The sessions took place once a week at home, work or hospital and lasted 25 minutes. Eight of them selected hand massage, nine selected foot massage and one selected both.
 
Dr Berit S Cronfalk the study author and palliative care provider from the Sjukhem Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, said "Details about the massage study were included in an information pack provided by the palliative care team when people's relatives died."
 
Describing the massage, Dr Cronfalk said, "Soft tissue massage is gentle, but firm. This activates touch receptors which then release oxytocin, a hormone known for its positive effects on well-being and relaxation.” He further explained that "In this study the hand or foot massage was done with slow strokes, light pressure and circling movements using oil lightly scented with citrus or hawthorn.” After which "The relatives were then encouraged to relax for a further 30 minutes."

Before starting the massage sessions, some baseline information was gained from the volunteers during a 60-minute interview. Another 60-minute interview was carried out a week following the end of the 8 week programme.

During the interviews one of the grieving relatives said, "Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I just felt I needed to do something to get rid of that pain and it seemed like a good alternative."
 
Another one said, "I suddenly realised that I could go through my thoughts in a much calmer way…I was more sensible in my thinking."
 
The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing’s April edition.