Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Symptom Management in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Background: Cancer and its treatments frequently lead to physical and psychological symptoms that negatively affect quality of life. Massage therapy has been proposed as a complementary intervention to reduce symptom burden through its effects on stress regulation and autonomic balance. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of massage therapy in patients with cancer. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, and CINAHL. Search terms included "massage therapy," "reflexology," "massage," and "cancer." Randomized controlled trials comparing massage therapy with placebo or standard care and reporting quantitative outcomes were eligible. Seven studies met inclusion criteria for the meta-ana

SUBMITTER: Uzunoglu A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12732605 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature