According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Due to a defective gene, the body produces a thick and sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and can cause lung infections. This mucus also blocks output from the pancreas, an organ responsible for producing enzymes that help break down and absorb food, leading to difficulties in fully absorbing fats and proteins. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation reports that there are 30,000 children and adults in the United States, and 70,000 worldwide, living with this disease.
Decreased Anxiety
Only one study to date has examined the effects of massage therapy on children with cystic fibrosis. Researcher Hernendez-Reif and colleagues had parents massage their children, ages five to 12, for 20 minutes every night before bed for 30 days. Both parents and children completed a questionnaire at the beginning and end of the study. Compared to children with cystic fibrosis whose parents read to them, children who received a nightly massage were less anxious by the end of the study, as were their parents.
Increased Lung Function
Children who received massage in the study by Hernendez-Reif and colleagues had increased peak air flow readings by the end of the study. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Stanford, peak air flow monitoring allows measurement of the amount of air a child can exhale quickly. Ability to expel a lot of air quickly means airways are open. An improvement in this measurement may signal an improvement in lung function.
Massage in Adults
The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center recommends that massage therapy be used in youth with cystic fibrosis due not only to Hernendez-Reif's findings, the sole study to investigate the effects of massage on children, but also based on studies that investigate this in adults with cystic fibrosis and children with asthma. These findings include a decrease in pain and muscle tightness, an increase in the ease of breathing, and improved airway clearance and well being.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Diseases and Conditions Index: Cystic Fibrosis
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: About Cystic Fibrosis
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology: Children With Cystic Fibrosis Benefit From Massage Therapy
- The Cystic Fibrosis Center at Stanford: Managing CF, Measuring Peak Flow
- The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: Best Evidence Statement
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