3.1. Patient characteristics A total of 58 patients were randomly assigned to massage therapy (n ¼ 30) or standard care (n ¼ 28). The average age of participants in the control group was 68.1 years; in the intervention group, 64.3 years. The groups had no significant differences in age, sex, or baseline scores of pain, anxiety, and tension (Table 1).
3.2. Effect of massage on pain, anxiety, and tension Comparison of the changes in pain, anxiety, and tension between the 2 groups showed a statistically significant improvement in all 3 parameters (Table 2 and Figs. 1–3).
3.3. Feasibility After each scheduled session, the massage therapist was instructed to identify any barriers to providing massage to the participant. The principal challenge identified centered on patient status. On several occasions, the patient was either