Abstracts from the 2014 Research Poster Session at The American Massage Therapy Association Annual Convention

s from the 2014 Research Poster Session at The American Massage Therapy Association Annual Convention The Use of Massage Therapy to Relieve Chronic Low Back Pain [case report] Laura Allen A 53-year-old male, formerly employed as a construction worker, was referred for massage therapy for treatment of debilitating low back pain. He has pain in all areas of the back; although he sometimes experiences cervical pain and/or thoracic pain, he reports the majority of his pain is in the lumbar area. His objective for treatment is to cut down on pain medication, acetaminophen and oxycodone (Percocet), currently prescribed at 7.5 mg four times daily. The subject states he does not like to take it that frequently because it makes him feel lethargic and disoriented. The massage used was a combination of Swedish strokes (effleurage, petrissage, friction), muscle stripping, and myofascial release, techniques chosen based on the practitioner’s 14 years of experience in working with clients who are in pain. A treatment plan of six weekly visits was agreed upon with re-evaluation after the sixth visit. The subject is dependent on only his disability income and is unable to commit to more frequent visits. Progress was measured using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Scale and by subjective statements on his decreased pain level and decreased need for medication, and positive effects on his activities of daily living. The massage therapy intervention was so successful that the subject switched to monthly maintenance care after four sessions instead of six as originally planned. The success of this intervention for this subject suggests that massage therapy can be an effective intervention for chronic low back pain. A Viable Intervention for Stress Reduction in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder [case report] Angela Burke Objective: To present research data representing shortand long-term stress reduction in a child with an autism spectrum disorder using zen shiatsu as a complementary and alternative treatment. Methods: A seven-year-old male with a diagnosis of autism was given 20-min zen shiatsu sessions weekly for six consecutive weeks. Using a fivepoint stress scale that utilized facial expressions with corresponding stress values, the client indicated his stress level prior to the session, as well as afterwards. Measurement comparing the levels demonstrated a decrease in stress within the 20-min period. In addition, the parent was given the PEDS QL 4.0 Young Child Questionnaire to determine the child’s HRQoL (Health Related Quality of Life) prior to the six-week zen shiatsu treatment to establish a baseline. The parent completed the same questionnaire after the six weeks of sessions, to compare results. Results: Stress levels decreased in the client after receiving zen shiatsu after all six sessions. The PEDS QL 4.0 showed higher HRQoL scores in all domains, indicating that the child’s overall quality of life improved within the six weeks of receiving zen shiatsu. Conclusions: Zen shiatsu, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, has the potential to be a viable treatment for stress reduction in children with autism spectrum disorders, thereby improving overall quality of life. Effects of Massage Combined with Eccentric Resistance on Ankle Flexibility and Balance in Adults Aged 50–65 Years Jeffrey Forman, PhD, NCTMB, Michael E. Rogers, PhD, FACSM, Mikalea Bunyan, MEd, Nicole L. Rogers, PhD, Jeremy A. Patterson, PhD, FACSM Background: Reduced flexibility and balance are associated with aging and increased fall risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects a single active muscle therapy treatment on ankle flexibility and balance in adults aged 50–65 years. Method: Thirty-one volunteers (26 women, 5 men; 58.5 ± 4.6 yrs; 84.6 ± 22.7 kg; 166.1 ± 8.2 cm; mean ± SD) had their balance measured with the FDA-approved Sway Balance TM mobile application (Sway Medical, Tulsa, OK) which uses the built-in tri-axial accelerometer within an iPhone or iPod Touch to measure postural sway. Participants held the device against the chest while standing with feet together, in tandem, and on one foot for 10 sec each. Sway measures from each stance were compiled into a single score with 100 being perfect (no sway). In addition, ankle dorsi and plantar flexion flexibility were measured using a digital inclinometer. Participants then underwent a 2.5 min warm-up massage to each foot, ankle, and lower leg; a 2.5 min stripping