A prospective study on the effects of Ayurvedic massage in post-stroke patients

BACKGROUND: Few stroke patients have reported improvements after Ayurvedic massage. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of indexed literature to support the use of this in rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: To objectively measure the differences between patients with stroke who received Ayurvedic massage in addition to standard Physiotherapy (PT) versus those who received only standard PT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a prospective case control study, retrospectively analysed. The setting was a tertiary level hospital with neuro-rehabilitation unit. Fifty-two patients undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation were prospectively followed post stroke. They were self-selected one month from the event for Ayurvedic massage with regular PT or PT alone. Twenty five received Ayurvedic massage with PT and twenty seven received only PT. All participants completed treatment. Information related to age, gender, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale result, number of co-morbidities, and whether cases were deemed simple or complex were taken at baseline. All patients received 6 hours of physical therapy averaged over a week. Massage was delivered daily for a total of 10 sessions followed by steam application. RESULTS: Patients were categorized as simple or complicated stroke based on events prior to rehabilitation. Both simple and complicated patients who received Ayurvedic massage had lower MAS and need for antispastic drugs, achieved standing with minimal assistance sooner, and had better locomotion at discharge. All these differences were significant. CONCLUSION: Utilizing Ayurvedic massage in post stroke patients with flaccidity can promote faster standing with minimal assistance and lead to less need for antispastic drugs at discharge.