Measuring the Effect of Therapeutic Massage on Pain and Discomfort in Cardiac Cath Lab Staff

The cardiac catheterization laboratory is a very dynamic work environment. The physical and psychosocial demands of the work environment place a significant amount of stress on the physical well being of the employee. The nature of the work involved includes that of responding to rapidly changing patient clinical conditions which are often urgent, and require repetitive actions in an ergonomically challenging environment. In addition, employees who are directly exposed to the radiation required to perform diagnostic and interventional procedures wear lead aprons weighing on average 10-15 pounds.

A constant build-up of tension in the muscles from regular, repetitive activity may lead to stresses on the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. Adding to this, working while wearing lead aprons, with elements of repetitive use and non-optimal ergonomic situations, Cardiac Cath Lab employees are at higher risk for muscle imbalances. The accumulation of tension and imbalance leads to joint wearing and muscle fatigue that result in injuries. Massage therapy, applied skillfully, is one of the most effective forms of therapy for releasing muscle tension, restoring balance to the musculoskeletal system, while creating awareness of musculoskeletal balance in the employee. Massage provided regularly may help employees prevent injuries caused by overuse.

As muscle imbalances develop they often go undiagnosed until they are serious enough to cause the employee discomfort or impede performance. Frequently the discomfort is masked with pain medications and ultimately leads to injuries. A skilled massage therapist will detect variations in the soft tissues and by using the correct techniques, help the employee maintain a much healthier physical state and prevent injury.

Massage therapy is purported to affect both the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system by promoting the relaxation response and reducing muscle tension and fatigue while improving posture. Given the potential benefits of massage therapy, many work environments are implementing massage therapy programs to improve the health and well being of their employees.

Inclusion criteria

Diagnostic and interventional cardiology staff including:

• cardiologists
• cardiology fellows
• nurses
• technical staff
• and a core group of CRNA's employed by the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

These staff members, per their job descriptions, wear lead aprons while caring for patients during the weeks of the massage therapy pilot study.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals that decline to participate in the study.
• Massage therapy has contraindications that require a physician's order before the therapist is allowed to see the person for massage. The following total contraindications will be total exclusions for this study unless the individual gains a physician's order that negates the exclusions or defines it to a local contraindication.

Total Contraindications

• Acute sprain with swelling
• Lymphatic cancer
• Fever

Local Contraindications do not exclude the person from the study. These are area exclusions that disallow the therapist to work on a specific part of the body and/or the therapist needs to adjust techniques. The therapist will track all local contraindications.

Local contraindications:

• Varicose veins
• Pregnancy
• Trapped or pinched nerve (radicular symptoms)
• Skin abrasions, open wounds
• Venous thrombus
• Melanoma