Massage after open heart surgery may ease pain and improve sleep
NCT ID NCT06529471
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether back massage after open heart surgery can help with pain, sleep, and stress. 96 adults who had elective open heart surgery were included. The massage group received three 30-minute back massages on the first day after surgery. Researchers measured pain, sleep quality, and a stress hormone called cortisol.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- back massage
- What this could lead to
- If effective, massage could become a simple, drug-free way to help heart surgery patients feel less pain and sleep better during recovery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with no blinding, so results may be influenced by placebo effects. The findings may not apply to all heart surgery patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for CORTISOL are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Kocaeli University
Kocaeli, Türkiye, 41380, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Tape to tame Post-Surgery face swelling?
- Electric pulses on the wrist may tame colonoscopy pain
- Virtual reality may distract patients from pain and fear during anesthesia
- Could fear of movement slow spine surgery recovery?
- Could a gentle yoga practice turn down the Body's pain and inflammation?
- Can a 5-Pill opioid prescription match a 30-Pill one after hip surgery?