THERAPEUTIC TOUCH THERAPY

Nheil Patrick J. Abarca, RN

HVI Administrative Supervisor, Perpetual Help Medical Center-Biñan
Clinical Instructor, College of Nursing, UPH-Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University
 THERAPEUTIC TOUCH
• Is the use of touch to comfort and relieve
pain (Engebretson & Wardell, 2007).
• Therapeutic touch is the use of touch to provide
comfort and relieve pain (Dowd et al., 2007)
• It is based on the concept that the body contains
energy fields that, when plentiful,
lead to health and, when in lesser supply, result in ill
health.
 THERAPEUTIC TOUCH
• The laying on of hands to redirect the energy fields
that lead to pain (Krieger, 1990)
• Touch and massage probably work to relieve pain by
increasing the release of endorphins.
• Therapeutic touch may also be effective as it serves
as a form of distraction.
• Massage, especially, can be helpful in the
first and second stages of labor (Kimber, 2007).
 HISTORY OF MASSAGE IN NURSING
• Since Florence Nightingale pioneered modern nursing, nurses have
been trained in massage therapy and have routinely administered
massages to patients.

• In 1882, the "American Florence Nightingale," Anna Maxwell of

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, began instructing
nursing students in the art of massage, ultimately prompting the
head nurses at the hospital to request a course at their own
expense and inspiring physicians to prescribe massage for their
patients.
 HISTORY OF MASSAGE IN NURSING
• Several early nursing texts described massage as a basic nursing
skill, and writings from the 1920s indicate that massage was at that
time still firmly embedded in the nursing process-seen as an
essential part of patient care plans, with site and frequency based
on medical diagnoses.

• Throughout the 20th century, evening back massages were

considered routine care in hospitals and elsewhere, and massage
was taught in U.S. nursing schools, though it lost ground with the
increased reliance on analgesics, technologically based protocols,
and increased monitoring and documentation demands on nurses'
time.
 FIVE BASIC STROKES
1. Effleurage

• This type of massage stroke is a long gliding stroke.

• This stroke can be done using the practitioner's one hand, both hands,
palms of hands, knuckles, and/or forearms. This would depend on the
specific body part that is being worked on.
• This stroke is used to apply and deliver the massage lotion/oil and also to
evaluate the soft tissue that is being worked on. You can determine if
there is tightness or trigger points that will need to have additional work
done.
 FIVE BASIC STROKES
1. Effleurage
• This is usually the first stroke when starting a new body part. It can be
used in between other more specific strokes and is usually the last stroke
on a body part before moving on to the next area to be worked on.
• As the practitioner works on an area and the pressure of the strokes is
increased, it provides a stretch to the muscles which will result in
increased relaxation.
 FIVE BASIC STROKES
2. Petrissage

•This type of massage stroke is often described as one in which the practitioner
is kneading, rolling, wringing, and lifting the soft tissue being worked on.
•This stroke usually occurs after effleurage and once the practitioner
determines what type of massage stroke should come next.
•Petrissage is used to help free up knotted and tight muscles and soft tissues. It
also helps increase blood and lymphatic flow to the area, which assists in the
healing process.
 FIVE BASIC STROKES
2. Petrissage
 FIVE BASIC STROKES
3. Tapotement
•This type of massage stroke is a percussive stroke in which the hand action is
rhythmically applied to an area being worked on in order to stimulates nerves,
muscles, and circulation.
•This can be achieved by such hand positions as cupping your hands, with flat
palms, using soft fists, and/or the practitioner's fingers interlaced.
 FIVE BASIC STROKES
4. Friction
•Friction is a warming stroke that is used on specific areas of the body that the
practitioner determines needs deeper work. This stroke will generate heat in
order to warm up the area that is to be worked on.
•This stroke can be done by applying pressure to the client's tolerance and
either going in the direction of the muscle fibers, going against the direction
of the muscle fibers (cross-fiber friction), or going in small circular
movements.
 FIVE BASIC STROKES
5. Vibration
•This category of strokes usually refers to as rocking, shaking, or trembling
movements.
•These movements can be done slowly or rapidly depending on the outcome
the practitioner is looking for.
•The goal of this type of stroke is to decrease tension in an area while
increasing relaxation.
 BENEFITS OF MASSAGE
• Reducing stress and increasing relaxation
• Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension
• Improving circulation, energy and alertness
• Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
• Improving immune function
• Eliminate toxins and improve flexibility
• Improve sleep
• Reduce fatigue
• Alleviate depression and anxiety
 CONTRAINDICATIONS OF MASSAGE
• Bleeding disorders or take blood-thinning medication
• Burns or healing wounds
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Infections
• Broken bones (fractures)
• Severe osteoporosis
• A very low platelet count (severe thrombocytopenia)
• Presence of Tumors
• Contagious Skin Infections
 RESEARCH ON MASSAGE THERAPY
• This narrative review on pediatric massage literature from the last decade
suggests that massage therapy has positive effects on several pediatric
conditions.

• These include
– preterm infant growth,
– psychological problems including aggression,
– gastrointestinal problems including constipation and diarrhea,
– painful conditions including burns and sickle cell,
– muscle tone disorders including cerebral palsy and Down syndrome,
and
– chronic illnesses including diabetes, asthma cancer, and HIV.
 NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES
• Confirm the identity of the patient.
• Obtain consent to do the procedure.
• Make sure that massage is not contraindicated to the
patient.
• Always provide privacy and maintain safe
environment.
• Be sensitive when providing massage because
patient had different thresholds.
THANK YOU!