Alternative therapies in health and medicine
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Altern Ther Health Med · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effects of back massage before diagnostic cardiac catheterization.
Admission to the hospital for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization can be perceived as a threat to one's health status. Autonomic nervous system arousal, particularly the sympathetic division, can elicit negative physiological and psychological human responses as a reaction to this threat. ⋯ A 20-minute back massage appeared to reduce systolic blood pressure in patients awaiting a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, while preparatory time in the cardiac catheterization laboratory appeared to reduce diastolic blood pressure, respiration, perceived psychological distress, and pain.