Last Updated on February 11, 2026 by MASSAGE Magazine
Massage therapy for HIV-positive children may help preserve immune function in those who do not have access to antiretroviral medication. That is the finding of a preliminary study conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of Miami School of Medicine and Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
This article reviews the study’s design, the type of massage provided, the measurement of immune function, and the researchers’ observations regarding CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte levels. All findings summarized here come directly from the published report in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (December 2004, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 1093–1095).
What Was the Purpose of the Study on Massage and HIV-Positive Children
The purpose of the study was to examine whether massage therapy could help preserve immune system markers in HIV-1-infected children who were not receiving antiretroviral medication.
The study, titled “Massage Treatment in HIV-1 Infected Dominican Children: A Preliminary Report on the Efficacy of Massage Therapy to Preserve the Immune System in Children without Antiretroviral Medication,” was conducted by staff from:
- University of Miami School of Medicine, Division of Disease Prevention
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Department of Medicine
- Touch Research Institutes
- Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital in Santo Domingo
The researchers focused on immune markers associated with disease progression in HIV-positive children.
How Was the Study Designed
Fifty-four HIV-positive children who were not receiving antiretroviral medication participated in the study. All participants were recruited from Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital.
The children were randomly assigned to one of two groups:
- A massage therapy group
- A friendly visit control group
Children in the massage group received two 20-minute massage sessions per week for 12 weeks. Children in the friendly visit control group received two 20-minute visits per week for 12 weeks that involved reading, talking or playing quiet games.
This design allowed researchers to compare massage therapy with a social interaction control condition.
What Did the Massage Sessions Include
Massage sessions consisted of moderate-pressure stroking and kneading using unscented oil. The treatments were administered by trained nurses.
Each session lasted 20 minutes and occurred twice weekly over a 12-week period.
The use of moderate pressure and trained providers ensured consistency across participants in the massage group.
How Was Immune Function Measured
Immune function was assessed using CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts, which are commonly used markers in monitoring HIV progression.
Outcome measures included:
- Absolute helper cell count (CD4 or T4 cells)
- Absolute suppressor cell count (CD8 or T8 cells)
Blood samples were drawn at baseline and again at the end of the 12-week study to assess lymphocyte levels. Lymphocytes play a central role in immune function and are critical indicators in HIV infection.
By the end of the study, complete data were available for 24 of the 54 participants.
Did Massage Therapy Affect CD4 and CD8 Cell Counts?
By the end of the 12-week study, results showed differences between the massage and control groups.
The mean CD4 cell count increased in the massage group and decreased in the control group. CD4 cell counts increased significantly from baseline to the end of the study among children who received massage, whereas no such increase was observed in the control group.
The risk of a 20 percent or greater decrease in CD4 cell count during the 12-week study was significantly higher in the control group than in the massage group.
Overall, lymphocyte loss was greater in the control group. Fifty-seven percent of children in the control group lost 50 or more CD8 lymphocytes, whereas only 10 percent of children in the massage group lost 50 or more CD8 lymphocytes.
What Did the Researchers Conclude?
The authors concluded, “[M]assage therapy appears to have a positive impact on immune function in HIV+ children not receiving antiretroviral medications.”
They further stated that this finding “may offer hope to thousands of children worldwide without access to antiretrovirals, or who may not benefit from antiretroviral treatment.”
The study was described as a preliminary report, indicating that additional research would be necessary to confirm and expand upon these findings.
What Does This Research Suggest for Complementary Care
This study suggests that massage therapy for HIV-positive children may help preserve immune system markers, particularly CD4 cell counts, in children who do not have access to antiretroviral medication.
Over the 12-week period, children receiving massage experienced increases in CD4 counts and less lymphocyte loss compared with those receiving friendly visits alone. While the sample size was limited and data were available for only 24 participants at the conclusion, the findings indicate a potential supportive role for massage therapy in this population.
Originally published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2004, this preliminary research highlights the need for continued investigation into massage therapy as a complementary intervention in pediatric HIV care.