RECENT RESEARCH
patient-centered communication. When supported by institutional infrastructure and interdisciplinary trust, these providers serve as valuable contributors to early detection and care coordination. This case series underscores the importance of formally integrating integrative health practitioners into diagnostic workflows to improve patient outcomes and safety.
Gogola A, Gnat R. Effects of 12-Week Infant Shantala Massage Program on Maternal Emotional Well-Being Following First-Time Birth. Healthcare( Basel). 2025; 13( 15): 1895. doi: 10.3390 / healthcare13151895. PMID: 40805928; PMCID: PMC12346134.
Background / Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether postpartum mothers exhibit a uniform trajectory of postpartum emotional status( PES) changes or if distinct subgroups with differing trajectories of PES exist. Additionally, it investigated whether intensified tactile stimulation of the infant through Shantala massage influences maternal PES.
Method: A quasi-experimental design with a matched control group was employed. Eighty women following their first physiological delivery volunteered to participate. The intervention involved applying intensified tactile stimulation to the infant via Shantala massage over a 12-week postpartum period. Maternal PES, divided into negative and positive emotional domains, was assessed using four standardized questionnaires.
Results: Two opposing trajectories of PES change were identified: adverse and favorable. Intensified tactile stimulation was associated with improvement in maternal emotional status along both trajectories.
Conclusions: PES changes do not follow a uniform course across all women; notably, those with a favorable trajectory often begin with more severe symptoms. Overlooking this distinction in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment may result in suboptimal care. The factors influencing PES trajectories remain unidentified but may affect clinical intervention outcomes.
The Shantala massage intervention appears to slow the progression of emotional disorders in women with adverse PES changes and accelerate recovery in those with favorable changes. Implementation of this approach in clinical settings is recommended.
Pereira GS, Paulino GE, de Almeida THMF, Siqueira CMR, Torres da Silva JR, da Silva ML, Alves Ferrera LM. Effectiveness of cold-water immersion vs. massage in reducing delayedonset muscle soreness and enhancing recovery following CrossFit ® Murph Workout: Randomized rial. PLoS One. 2025; 20( 8): e0329892. doi: 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0329892. PMID: 40802667; PMCID: PMC12349088.
The Murph workout, one of the most challenging CrossFit ® workouts, demands endurance and high intensity. This WOD( Workout of the Day) includes a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and another 1-mile run, typically performed while wearing a weighted vest. Due to its high physical demands, athletes commonly experience Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness( DOMS), characterized by increased sensitivity, fatigue, and reduced muscle function. To minimize these effects and ensure proper recovery, it is essential to adopt strategies that restore muscle function, reduce pain, and allow athletes to return to training without an elevated risk of injury. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of massage therapy( MAS) or cold-water immersion( CWI) as a recovery intervention for DOMS in athletes following high-intensity physical activity during the CrossFit ® Murph workout. For this purpose, thirty individuals with a minimum of six months of CrossFit ® experience and familiarity with all exercises used in the study were recruited. Pain assessment questionnaires, including the Brief Pain Inventory( BPI) and the A-DOM questionnaire, along with a socioeconomic questionnaire, were administered before and after WOD. Additionally, pain assessments were conducted using algometry and thermographic imaging. After completing the WOD, participants were randomly assigned to one of two recovery interventions: MAS or CWI. The study results highlight the differential impacts of CWI and MAS on pain management and recovery dynamics following structured exercise. Our findings clearly demonstrate that CWI significantly reduces pain prevalence, both at rest and during exercise, as evidenced by the absence of pain reports from participants 48 hours after the intervention. While our study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of CWI and MAS for postexercise recovery, limitations such as the non-blinded study design and small sample size may influence the generalizability of the findings.
Boangmanalu ES, Masfuri M, Adam M, Nining S, Banna T, Pulungan IM. Swedish abdominal massage against warm water therapy on postoperative orthopaedic surgery constipation: a comparison quasi-experimental study. F1000Res. 2025; 13:1531. doi: 10.12688 / f1000research. 159217.2. PMID: 40799202; PMCID: PMC12340488.
Background: Postoperative immobilizatiton for patients with lower extremity fractures causes constipation, which usually affects 50-70 % of patients. When it comes to nursing interventions for postoperative constipation, Swedish abdominal massage and warm water drinking therapy are two possible options.
Aim: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of drinking warm water and Swedish abdominal massage on constipation scores on postoperative lower extremity fractures.
Methods: A quasi-experimental preposttest design without control group design was applied. 30 respondents used simple random sampling technique. The Constipation Assessment Scale( CAS) questionnaire was used to assess the patient’ s constipation levels before and after the intervention. The data analysis used independent t-test.
Results: The mean score of constipation of drinking water group after the intervention was 4.60 while abdominal Swedish massage was 3.56. Although both significantly reduced the constipation score, the p-value was 0.00.
182 | vol31 | no3 | JATMS