As Americans are living longer, the number of people who suffer from pain is increasing. Currently, it is recorded that more than 116 million Americans suffer from chronic pain conditions.1 Routinely, pharmaceuticals such as opioids have been prescribed for pain management. However, there has been an increasing epidemic of prescription opioid abuse, leading to a growing recognition for the need of non-pharmacological therapies for pain management.1 In 2015, data suggested that pain medication accounted for 28% of the overall pain management therapies.1 In the face of these challenges, the FDA has asked organizations to provide guidelines and protocols for short and long-term treatment programs, including preventative and corrective care.1
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A systematic review of literature, conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, observed that acupuncture and yoga can help with back pain, acupuncture and tai chi can help knee osteoarthritis, massage therapy can provide short-term relief for neck pain, and relaxation techniques can reduce severity of headaches and migraines.4 In addition, according to a national survey, over the past 25 years, complementary approaches to pain management are utilized by 30-40% of the United States’ public.4 Also, mild to moderate pressure applied during massage therapy has been noted to improve several conditions such as, anxiety, fatigue, stress, perception, nausea, depression, lymphedema, muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure and increase quality of sleep, plasma beta-endorphins, skin temperature, and blood flow.3,5,6 Studies have also examined ideal patient populations, including hospitalized patients, intensive care unit patients, palliative care patients, and hospice patients, thus CAM can be provided in a hospital setting safely and with the potential to improve clinical care.3,5,7 The integration of alternative therapies into mainstream care over the past few decades has been supported with evidence-based studies.5 Studies have observed and concluded that in addition to conventional medicine, alternative therapies can provide additional benefits to a wide range of general hospitalized patients.5 This study will further characterize which patient groups (i.e. general, intensive care,
A systematic review of literature, conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, observed that acupuncture and yoga can help with back pain, acupuncture and tai chi can help knee osteoarthritis, massage therapy can provide short-term relief for neck pain, and relaxation techniques can reduce severity of headaches and migraines.4 In addition, according to a national survey, over the past 25 years, complementary approaches to pain management are utilized by 30-40% of the United States’ public.4 Also, mild to moderate pressure applied during massage therapy has been noted to improve several conditions such as, anxiety, fatigue, stress, perception, nausea, depression, lymphedema, muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure and increase quality of sleep, plasma beta-endorphins, skin temperature, and blood flow.3,5,6 Studies have also examined ideal patient populations, including hospitalized patients, intensive care unit patients, palliative care patients, and hospice patients, thus CAM can be provided in a hospital setting safely and with the potential to improve clinical care.3,5,7 The integration of alternative therapies into mainstream care over the past few decades has been supported with evidence-based studies.5 Studies have observed and concluded that in addition to conventional medicine, alternative therapies can provide additional benefits to a wide range of general hospitalized patients.5 This study will further characterize which patient groups (i.e. general, intensive care,