Researchers from the University of Extremadura have found promising results in the use of massage therapy and ear acupuncture to improve the behavior and participation in occupational therapy among elderly dementia patients. In 2014, a study conducted by Juan Rodríguez-Mansilla and colleagues, aimed to assess the impact of these treatments on behavior, sleep disturbances, and participation in rehabilitation and eating activities.

In this controlled, randomized longitudinal trial, 120 elderly subjects with dementia residing in care homes in Extremadura, Spain, received treatments of massage therapy and ear acupuncture over a period of three months. The study was ethically approved by the Bioethics Commission of the University of Extremadura.

The researchers monitored the subjects monthly during the three-month intervention and continued assessments at one and two months post-treatment. An occupational therapist, who was not involved in the study, used a structured questionnaire with closed-format questions to evaluate changes in behavior, sleep patterns, and participation in rehabilitation and eating.

The results were striking. Both massage therapy and ear acupuncture demonstrated a statistically significant positive effect on the measured variables. These improvements were not only observed at the end of the three-month intervention (P < 0.001) but were also sustained two months after the treatment had concluded (P < 0.021) compared to the control group.

This pilot study concludes that massage therapy and ear acupuncture can effectively improve behavior and sleep disturbances while enhancing participation in eating and rehabilitation activities among elderly dementia patients living in residential homes. These findings suggest that such therapies could be valuable non-pharmacological interventions in managing dementia symptoms and improving the quality of life for this vulnerable population.

Reference: Rodriquez-Mansilla, J. (2014). Ear therapy and massage therapy in the elderly with dementia: a pilot study. The Journal of Chinese Medicine, (104), 61-62.