A study has shown that acupressure massage can significantly improve dyspnoea or shortness of breath among patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This should be of great significance to families of patients with such a condition. They could seek the help of professional massage therapists from massage clinics in Largo 33771, Belleair and Indian Rocks Beach.
The word dyspnoea is Latin and is rooted in the Greek words dyspnoia and dyspnoos, all meaning shortness of breath. The American Thoracic Society defines dyspnoea as a “subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity. The experience derives from interactions among multiple physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors, and may induce secondary physiological and behavioral responses.”
Members of the staff of four health institutions – the Jen Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, in Miaoli, Taiwan; the Institute of Chinese Medical Science at Chinese Medical College, in Taichung, Taiwan; and the Institute of Health and Welfare Policy and the Institute of Clinical Nursing at National Yang-Ming Univiersity, in Taipei, Taiwan – conducted the study entitled “Effectiveness of acupressure in improving dyspnoea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
There were a total of 44 participants in the study, all of them suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Majority of the participants were male and the average age was 73. The participants were assigned randomly to one of two groups. The first group was the true acupressure massage group while the second group was the sham acupressure massage group. They were given five acupressure massage sessions a week for four weeks. Each of the 20 sessions lasted for 16 minutes.
The true acupressure massage group received acupressure massage treatment in points corresponding to their specific complaint. These points were the Lung Transport (B13), Celestial Chimney (CV22), Great Hammer (GV14), Kidney Transport (B23) and Fish Border (L10).
The sham acupressure massage group received acupressure massage treatment in points corresponding to the encouragement of better intestinal movement. These points were the Large Pile (Liv1), Shang Hill (Sp5) and Supreme White (Sp3).
Participants were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study. They were given a six minute walking distance test to evaluate how much they can tolerate activity. Their dyspnoea, fatigue and activity were measured with the use of the Dyspnoea Questionnaire-Modified (PFSDQ-M) and the Pulmonary Function Status. The level of their anxiety, on the other hand was measured using the State Anxiety Inventory.
Before and after each acupressure massage session, the oxygen saturation of each participant was measured with the use of a pulse oximeter on the finger.
Results showed that after the 20 acupressure massage treatments over four weeks, the participants from the true acupressure massage group experienced significantly reduced dyspnoea, significantly improved levels of fatigue, significantly lower levels of anxiety, and better tolerance of activity. After every acupressure massage session, the participants from the true acupressure massage group also showed significantly higher mean scores in oxygen saturation. This is reflective of better pulmonary function.
Scores of the participants from the sham acupressure massage group paled in comparison.
According to the researchers, “We found significantly greater improvements in patients receiving acupressure at true acupoints compared with those receiving acupressure at sham points. This improvement related to all the variables studied and suggests that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease would benefit from acupressure at true acupoints.”
If the patients can tolerate it, they would also benefit from other massage modalities such as deep tissue massage and sports massage given by the same professional massage therapists from massage clinics in Largo 33771, Belleair and Indian Rocks Beach.
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