TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes
AU - Haun, Jolie
AU - Patel, Nitin
AU - Schwartz, Gary
AU - Ritenbaugh, Cheryl
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 by De Gruyter.
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of massage therapy using gas discharge visualization (GDV), a computerized biophysical electrophoton capture (EPC), in tandem with traditional self-report measures to evaluate the use of GDV measurement to assess the bioenergetic whole-person effects of massage therapy. Methods: This study used a single treatment group, pre-post-repeated measures design with a sample of 23 healthy adults. This study utilized a single 50-min full-body relaxation massage with participants. GDV measurement method, an EPC, and traditional paper-based measures evaluating pain, stress, muscle tension, and well-being were used to assess intervention outcomes. Results: Significant differences were found between pre-and post-measures of well-being, pain, stress, muscle tension, and GDV parameters. Pearson correlations indicate the GDV measure is correlated with pain and stress, variables that impact the whole person. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that GDV parameters may be used to indicate significant bioenergetic change from pre-to post-massage. Findings warrant further investigation with a larger diverse sample size and control group to further explore GDV as a measure of whole-person bioenergetic effects associated with massage.
AB - Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of massage therapy using gas discharge visualization (GDV), a computerized biophysical electrophoton capture (EPC), in tandem with traditional self-report measures to evaluate the use of GDV measurement to assess the bioenergetic whole-person effects of massage therapy. Methods: This study used a single treatment group, pre-post-repeated measures design with a sample of 23 healthy adults. This study utilized a single 50-min full-body relaxation massage with participants. GDV measurement method, an EPC, and traditional paper-based measures evaluating pain, stress, muscle tension, and well-being were used to assess intervention outcomes. Results: Significant differences were found between pre-and post-measures of well-being, pain, stress, muscle tension, and GDV parameters. Pearson correlations indicate the GDV measure is correlated with pain and stress, variables that impact the whole person. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that GDV parameters may be used to indicate significant bioenergetic change from pre-to post-massage. Findings warrant further investigation with a larger diverse sample size and control group to further explore GDV as a measure of whole-person bioenergetic effects associated with massage.
KW - complementary therapies
KW - massage
KW - outcome measures
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U2 - 10.1515/jcim-2014-0014
DO - 10.1515/jcim-2014-0014
M3 - Article
C2 - 26087069
AN - SCOPUS:84941076692
VL - 12
SP - 231
EP - 239
JO - Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
JF - Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
SN - 1553-3840
IS - 3
ER -