de Mesa, Maria Arlexcie B.

BSN 402 Group VIII-B March 7, 2011

“Acupressure and Massage Therapy Can Support

Hemodialysis in Charlotte NC”

A study has shown that acupressure coupled with one of many

available therapeutic body massage services can support hemodialysis by
easing the patients’ fatigue and depression. Massage therapists skilled in
acupressure can, therefore, do much to assist patients with end stage renal
disease in Charlotte NC.

Yi-Ching Cho, R.N. and Shiow-Luan Tsay, R.N., Ph.D., conducted the
study titled “The Effect of Acupressure with Massage on Fatigue and
Depression in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease.” Both were members
of the staff of the Department of Nursing at the National Tainan Institute of
Nursing in Tainan, Taiwan and the National Taipei College of Nursing
Graduate Institute in Taipei, Taiwan, Their paper was subsequently published
in pages 51-58 of the Journal of Nursing Research, 2004, Vol. 12, No. 1.

The study was participated in by 62 patients who had end stage renal
disease and were then undergoing hemodialysis. The participants were
assigned randomly to one of two groups. Participants in the experimental
group were given acupressure and massage. Participants in the control
group, on the other hand, were given standard care for their condition. The
treatment period lasted for four weeks.

Participants in the experimental group were given 12 minutes of

acupressure and three minutes of massage on their legs for three days each
week. The acupressure sessions focused on the Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Taixi and
Yungchuan acupressure points because these corresponded to the easing of
fatigue and depression. The acupressure therapists used the pads of their
fingers to rub and press on the points. Pressure equivalent to three to five
kilograms was applied for five seconds and was followed by a one second
release at the end. This was repeated for each point for a total of three
minutes. Afterwards, the participants received three minutes of leg massage
therapy.

Participants were assessed at the beginning of the study and at the

end of the treatment period of four weeks. The Piper Fatigue Scale was used
by the researchers in measuring fatigue while the Chinese counterpart of
Beck’s Depression Inventory was used in measuring depression.
de Mesa, Maria Arlexcie B. BSN 402 Group VIII-B March 7, 2011

The findings of the study showed a significant lowering of the

experimental group participants’ perceived fatigue when their scores at the
start of the study were compared to their scores at the end of the study. On
the other hand, participants in the control group showed no significant
difference between their perceived fatigue scores at the start of the study as
compared to their scores at the end of the study.

The participants from the experimental group likewise showed a

significant improvement when their depression scores at the start of the
study were compared to their scores at the end of the study. Once again,
participants in the control group showed no significant difference between
their depression scores at the start of the study as compared to their scores
at the end of the study.

The researchers of the study therefore concluded acupressure

accompanied by massage therapy are effective in easing fatigue and
depression in patients with end stage renal disease who are undergoing
hemodialysis. They recommend the integration of these treatments in the
care for such patients. According to Yi-Ching Cho, R.N. and Shiow-Luan Tsay,
R.N., Ph.D., “Assessment of end-stage renal disease patients’ fatigue and
depression should be an essential part of nursing practice, and clinicians
may consider providing acupressure therapy as a method for improving
dialysis patients’ fatigue.”

Professional massage therapists can offer not just acupressure but

also other beneficial therapeutic body massage services, as well. Among
these are reflexology massage, foot massage, back massage, deep tissue
massage, sports massage and Swedish massage. There are also massage
gift cards for all these therapeutic body massage services from reputable
therapeutic massage clinics in Charlotte NC.

Reaction:
Well, as for me, I think this is a new alternative method of helping the
patients in the hemodialysis unit to cope up with their stress. It is can also be
another way of making them more feel comfortable while their having their
treatment. It also improves their emotional health status.