The effects of Meridian Massage on the functions of upper limbs and depression of hemiplegic patients

경락마사지가 편마비환자의 상지 기능과 우울에 미치는 효과

Meridian massage is originated from oriental medical manipulation, and it has been mainly applied to as pain and paralysis. The purpose was to develop new method of nursing care for help hemiplegic patients to recover their functions of upper limbs and to reduce depressions. This study was carried out between 8, March, and 8, June, 2000 and the subjects of the study were .60 hemiplegic stroke patients who were participants at a hospitalized in K oriental medical center. The experimental group(30) and the control group(30) were assigned by means of participation order. The experimental group took meridian massage on affected upper limb for 10 minutes daily for 2 weeks. We evaluated muscle power and endurance with band from AVIVA corp.; range of motion with goniometer; shoulder pain with visual analogue scale; swelling with Jeweiers ring measurement of Dirette; depression with self-rating depression scale translated into Korean by Yang(1982). Data were analyzed by SPSS PC and the results are described below. The experimental group showed better muscle power and endurance than control group. Range of motiont of affected shoulder improved significantly in experimental group. Also, the experimental group showed less shoulder pain, hand edema, depression than control group. In this study, we observed that meridian massage is an effective nursing care in improving the function of upper limb and managing depression of stroke patients.