Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Massage as adjuvant therapy in the management of acute postoperative pain: a preliminary study in men.
Opioid analgesia alone may not fully relieve all aspects of acute postoperative pain. Complementary medicine techniques used as adjuvant therapies have the potential to improve pain management and palliate postoperative distress. ⋯ Massage may be a useful adjuvant therapy for the management of acute postoperative pain. Its greatest effect appears to be on the affective component (ie, unpleasantness) of the pain.