A retrospective cohort study on the preliminary efficacy of massage therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy among cancer patients Journal Article


Authors: Yang, M.; Shao, C.; Shao, C.; Saint, K.; Gupta, M.; Caputo, R.; Galantino, M. L.; Harte, S.; Bao, T.
Article Title: A retrospective cohort study on the preliminary efficacy of massage therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy among cancer patients
Abstract: Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) worsens the quality of life for people with cancer. Massage therapy involves neuromuscular modulations and can potentially reduce CIPN symptoms. We examined the immediate improvements in CIPN-related pain and neuropathy following massage therapy among patients with CIPN. Methods: In a retrospective cohort, we assessed patients who received 1 massage therapy session for CIPN symptom relief during or after chemotherapy at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center from October 2017 to September 2022. We measured the severity of pain and neuropathy before and after massage therapy with a 4-item verbal rating scale (VRS) or a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale (NRS). We converted NRS to VRS scores and examined the pre-post differences in symptom severity using the Wilcoxon rank test. Results: Among 23 patients (median [range] age 64 [4-85] years, female 74%, White 70%), one session of massage therapy decreased the percentage of patients reporting moderate-to-severe pain from 81% at baseline to 0% (none) post-massage; percentage of patients reporting neuropathy also reduced from 77% at baseline to 12% following treatment. The pre-post differences were statistically significant for both pain (mean: −1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.9 to −1.2; P =.001) and neuropathy scores (mean: −1.2, 95%CI −1.4 to −0.9; P <.0001). Conclusion: Among cancer patients with CIPN, one session of massage therapy was associated with immediate neuropathy and CIPN pain relief reported by patients following treatment. However, this preliminary finding requires further rigorous verifications in future randomized controlled clinical trials. © The Author(s) 2025.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; child; treatment outcome; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; retrospective studies; young adult; antineoplastic agents; antineoplastic agent; neoplasm; neoplasms; quality of life; cohort studies; peripheral neuropathy; cohort analysis; oncology; retrospective study; drug therapy; massage; therapy; chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy; peripheral nervous system diseases; massage therapy; complication; procedures; retrospective cohort study; trial design; very elderly; humans; human; male; female
Journal Title: Integrative Cancer Therapies
Volume: 24
ISSN: 1534-7354
Publisher: Sage Publications  
Date Published: 2025-01-01
Start Page: 15347354251323258
Language: English
DOI: 10.1177/15347354251323258
PUBMED: 39995182
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC11863244
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Rocco Caputo
    1 Caputo