Soothing massages once a week for eight weeks after the death of a loved one can ease the pain of bereavement.
Death of a close family member or friend is recognised as being an emotional and existential turning point in life. Previous studies emphasise a need for various support strategies to assist relatives while they are grieving. Soft tissue massage is a gentle, but firm massage, which activates touch receptors which release oxytocin, a hormone known for its positive effects on well-being and relaxation.
To judge the efficacy of soft tissue massage in easing the pain of bereavement, researchers studied eighteen Swedish people (11 women and seven men) aged between 35 and 75 years, who had lost a relative because of cancer. The participants included widows, widowers and daughters and sisters of the person who died of cancer. While some of them chose a foot massage, others preferred a hand massage.
These relatives were offered a 25-minute hand or foot massage once a week for eight weeks and could choose whether the sessions took place at home, work or at the hospital. The hand or foot massage was done with slow strokes, light pressure and circling movements using oil lightly scented with citrus or hawthorn. The relatives were then encouraged to relax for a further 30 minutes.
Baseline data was collected on the participants during a 60-minute interview before the programme started and a further 60-minute interview was conducted a week after the massage programme finished.
The interviews with the participants showed that they derived considerable benefits from the programme. Soft tissue massage proved to be helpful and to generate feelings of consolation in the first four months of grieving. The findings showed that massage was considered a helping hand at the right time, something to rely on, as well as provided moments of rest and energy retention. Soft tissue massage appears to be a good support option for bereaved family members.