Positive Effects of Massage Therapy on a Patient with Narcolepsy

  • Robyn Hill, RMT Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
  • Amanda Baskwill, BEd, RMT Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Keywords: narcolepsy, sleep patterns, massage therapy, getting to sleep, quality of sleep, awake following sleep, behaviour following wakening

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this case report was to investigate the effects of massage therapy on the sleep patterns of a woman with narcolepsy. Participant: The 23-year-old woman’s primary symptoms included excessive daytime sleepiness and periodic leg movements (PLM), which were associated with her diagnoses of both narcolepsy and cataplexy. Intervention: Five 45-minute massage therapy treatments were administered over a five-week period. The patient’s sleep patterns were recorded each week before the treatment. A final measurement was recorded in the sixth week. The sleep patterns were monitored using the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire, which included ten visual analogue scales. Results: The results of this case report included an improvement in getting to sleep by 148%, an improvement in quality of sleep by 1100%, an improvement in awake following sleep by 121%, and an improvement in behaviour following wakening by 28% using the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire. Conclusion: This case report suggests that massage therapy had a positive effect on this patient with narcolepsy. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of massage therapy on narcolepsy and sleep patterns.

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Published
2013-04-06
How to Cite
Hill, RMT, R., & Baskwill, BEd, RMT, A. (2013). Positive Effects of Massage Therapy on a Patient with Narcolepsy. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Research Education &Amp; Practice, 6(2), 24–28. https://doi.org/10.3822/ijtmb.v6i2.205
Section
Practice