Last Updated on February 3, 2026 by MASSAGE Magazine
Bone marrow transplant is an intensive medical procedure that places extraordinary physical and emotional demands on patients. Alongside the risks associated with chemotherapy, radiation, and immune suppression, many patients experience neurological symptoms, anxiety, sleep disruption, and significant discomfort during recovery. A growing body of research has explored whether supportive touch-based therapies can improve patient outcomes during this critical period.
A study published in MASSAGE Magazine examined the effects of massage therapy and Therapeutic Touch on patients undergoing bone marrow transplant. The findings suggest that structured touch therapies can reduce neurological complications and significantly improve patient comfort, offering meaningful support alongside conventional medical care.
A Study on Touch Therapies During Bone Marrow Transplant
A study, titled “Outcomes of Touch Therapies During Bone Marrow Transplant,” was conducted by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing and the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver. The research team included Marlaine Smith, R.N., Ph.D.; Francelyn Reeder, R.N., Ph.D.; Linda Daniel, R.N., Ph.D.; Julaluk Baramee, R.N., Ph.D.; and Jan Hagman, R.N., clinic coordinator of the Outpatient Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.
The goal of the study was to evaluate whether touch-based therapies could influence clinical outcomes and patient experiences during bone marrow transplant treatment.
Who Participated in the Study?
Participants included 61 patients between the ages of 18 and 70 who were undergoing either autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplants.
An autologous transplant involves collecting and freezing the patient’s own bone marrow or stem cells, which are later reinfused. An allogeneic transplant involves receiving bone marrow from a donor. Most participants were being treated for breast cancer or lymphoma, with additional cases involving leukemia.
The study population was stratified and randomly assigned to one of three groups to ensure balanced representation across treatment types.
What Treatments Were Compared?
Participants were assigned to one of three interventions:
Massage Therapy
Patients in the massage-therapy group received a standardized 30-minute Swedish massage. The sessions were structured to maintain consistency across participants and focused on promoting relaxation and comfort.
Therapeutic Touch
Patients in the Therapeutic Touch group received a 30-minute session involving a conscious, noninvasive energy-based approach. The practitioner used the hands as a focal point to facilitate healing without direct manipulation of tissue.
Friendly Visit (Control Group)
The control group participated in a 30-minute friendly visit involving social conversation. This group accounted for the effects of attention and human interaction without therapeutic touch.
What Outcomes Were Measured?
Researchers evaluated three primary outcome variables to assess the impact of touch therapies during bone marrow transplant.
Time to Engraftment
Engraftment refers to the point at which newly infused blood-forming cells begin producing blood cells. This is a critical milestone in transplant recovery.
Treatment-Related Complications
Researchers monitored 11 specific areas of function, including food intake, cardiac and circulatory function, central nervous system and neurological symptoms, and other physiological markers.
Patient Perception of Therapeutic Benefit
Participants completed surveys rating their experiences of support, comfort, well-being, pain, anxiety, and overall benefit from the intervention they received.
Key Findings: Neurological Complications Were Reduced with Massage Therapy
The most significant clinical difference emerged in the area of neurological complications.
Patients who received massage therapy experienced significantly lower scores for central nervous system and neurological symptoms compared to the other groups. These symptoms included disorientation, agitation, anxiety, numbness, headaches, and insomnia.
The study’s authors emphasized the importance of this finding, noting that reduced neurological symptoms can substantially improve quality of life during bone marrow transplant recovery. Improved rest, clearer communication with family members, and reduced anxiety and depression were identified as meaningful secondary benefits.
Effects on Engraftment Time
No statistically significant differences were found among the three groups regarding time to engraftment. This indicates that while touch therapies did not accelerate blood cell production, they also did not interfere with this critical biological process.
Patient-Reported Benefits and Comfort Levels
Patients in the massage-therapy group reported significantly greater perceived benefits from their treatment compared to those in the friendly visit group.
In addition, both the massage-therapy and Therapeutic Touch groups reported significantly higher comfort scores than the control group. These findings suggest that therapeutic touch—whether through structured massage or energy-based methods—enhances patient comfort beyond the effects of social interaction alone.
Why These Findings Matter in Bone Marrow Transplant Care
Bone marrow transplant patients often endure prolonged hospital stays, isolation, and cumulative physical stress. Neurological symptoms and discomfort can interfere with rest, emotional stability, and the ability to cope with treatment demands.
The study demonstrates that massage therapy, in particular, may reduce neurological complications without introducing risk or interfering with medical outcomes. Therapeutic Touch also showed benefits in comfort, highlighting the broader role of intentional touch in supportive cancer care.
Implications for Integrative Oncology and Supportive Care
These findings support the inclusion of touch-based therapies as complementary interventions in bone marrow transplant settings. While not replacing medical treatment, massage therapy and Therapeutic Touch may enhance patient comfort, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life during one of the most challenging phases of cancer care.
The results also reinforce the value of trained practitioners working within clinical guidelines to support patients safely and effectively.
Touch Therapies as Meaningful Support During Bone Marrow Transplant
The study “Outcomes of Touch Therapies During Bone Marrow Transplant” provides evidence that structured touch therapies can play a valuable role in patient care. Massage therapy was associated with reduced neurological complications, while both massage therapy and Therapeutic Touch significantly improved patient comfort.
Although these therapies did not affect engraftment time, their impact on comfort, neurological symptoms, and perceived benefit highlights their potential to improve the lived experience of bone marrow transplant patients. In an environment defined by aggressive medical intervention, gentle, intentional touch offers measurable support when patients need it most.
Source: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing and Hospital in Denver. Authors: Marlaine Smith, R.N., Ph.D.; Francelyn Reeder, R.N., Ph.D.; Linda Daniel, R.N., Ph.D.; Julaluk Baramee, R.N., Ph.D.; and Jan Hagman, R.N. Originally published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, January/February 2003, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 40-49.