A Resilience Framework for Research in Oncology Massage Therapy

Abstract

Pain and anxiety affect nearly half of patients with cancer, and high symptom burden causes stress during treatment. Both massage therapy and interventions focused on resilience building have been reported to ease symptoms. Resilience theory explains how a patient’s resilience can help them navigate stressful events and return to health. Resilience at the family and health system level also affects a patient’s ability to cope, recover, and rehabilitate after illness. Massage therapy is reported to reduce pain and anxiety, but its effect on resilience has not been studied. The purpose of this paper is to propose resilience theory as a framework for the role of massage therapy, symptom burden, and resilience, and how these might interact in patients with cancer.