Small Animal Massage Therapy: A Brief Review and Relevant Observations

Massage therapy is becoming increasingly popular in human and animal physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Wider application of the technique led to research efforts aimed at providing scientific support to anecdotal beneficial effects, particularly pain relief. Recent studies have shown that massage th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Topics in companion animal medicine 2017-12, Vol.32 (4), p.139-145
Main Authors: Formenton, Maira Rezende, Pereira, Marco Aurélio Amador, Fantoni, Denise Tabacchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anxiety
Aromatherapy
Arthritis
Cancer therapies
Cats
Data processing
Dogs
Domestic animals
Dopamine
Edema
Edema - therapy
Edema - veterinary
Endorphins
Hormones
Horses
Humans
Immune system
Lymphedema
Massage
Massage - veterinary
massage therapy
Medicine
Nitric oxide
Noradrenaline
Norepinephrine
Pain
Pain Management - veterinary
Palliative care
Physical therapy
physiological effects
Physiology
Psychological effects
Rehabilitation
Serotonin
Sports medicine
Veterinary medicine
Wounds and Injuries - rehabilitation
Wounds and Injuries - veterinary
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Summary:Massage therapy is becoming increasingly popular in human and animal physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Wider application of the technique led to research efforts aimed at providing scientific support to anecdotal beneficial effects, particularly pain relief. Recent studies have shown that massage therapy alters dopamine and serotonin levels, decreases noradrenaline levels, and modulates the immune system. Psychological effects such as reduction of stress and anxiety, with improvement of depressive patients, have been reported in humans. This article set out to review the major aspects of massage therapy based on recent publications on the topic, and to extrapolate concepts and practical aspects described in human physiotherapy to the veterinary patient, particularly the applicability of different techniques in Small Animal Medicine. Indications of massage therapy in small animals include pain relief, orthopedic rehabilitation, Canine Sports Medicine, intensive care, and management of nonspecific edema. Techniques described in this article were originally intended for use in humans and scientific data supporting anecdotal, beneficial effects in domestic animals are still lacking; this fruitful area for research is therefore open to veterinary professionals.
ISSN:1938-9736
1946-9837
1876-7613
DOI:10.1053/j.tcam.2017.10.001