Introduction
Evidence-based Practice integrates external scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and patient/caregiver standpoints with an aim to provide services of high standard to the clients (Melnyk et al., 2010). It is a method of solving problems in the healthcare sector and assists in the improvement of the quality of care. Through it, the caregivers update their knowledge and skills and less time is used to gather the required information (Melnyk et al., 2010). This paper describes how evidence-based practice can be used to solve problems by a massage therapist. The purpose of this report is to show how research backs up pain relieving through massage. This is supposed to demonstrate to the management the available solution to the problem.
Formulation of the clinical question (Ask)
This is the initial stage of applying the evidence-based practice. The PICO approach was used in this guideline. This approach analyzes the population, intervention, comparison and outcome of a situation. When the four areas are fully satisfied, the clinical question developed ensures that the evidence sought is exemplary and relevant (Melnyk et al., 2010).
Population- Clients come and say that they are experiencing back pains and would, therefore, like to have a massage. The majority of these people are athletes and other sports people. Of late, offering massage services is for pleasure and relaxation. The need to have their problem solved is of critical. The hospital management needs to look at this issue and address it appropriately.
Intervention- Introducing a deep tissue therapy of massage would serve as an intervention of the situation. Deep tissue therapy aims muscles and connective tissues that are deeply located in the body. It is typically done to relieve muscles from pain or to help in injury recovery.
Comparison- Swedish massage is very common and usually performed by use of gentle strokes. It is very relaxing but cannot solve the problem of painful muscles.
Outcome- The expected outcome is to reduce the pain experienced by the clients. This has been demonstrated as a possible outcome once the massage therapy is performed.
Finding Evidence
This is the process of identifying evidence towards the resolution of the problem in question. An analysis of several past studies on massage therapy was conducted, and the information was found to correlate with the clinical question (Polubinski & West, 2005).
Massage therapy has been recorded to be as an ancient medical practice by Chinese and Greeks, though at the time it was not that much accepted. At the begging of the 20th century, the practice became accepted as a medical therapy (Cavaye, 2012). The main reason for massage even in the ancient times was to relieve pain (Cavaye, 2012).
Researchers have observed that patients with the problem of painful muscles usually get relieved after a massage therapy (Paolini, 2009). The patients that were used for this guideline also provided information to the support of this observation. Evidence shows that massage helps in relieving muscle pain (Paolini, 2009). Myofascial is a technique of massage therapy that can be used to reduce pain and increase tissue extensibility. This therapy approach has sometimes been used as one of the best muscle treatment options (Paolini, 2009).
Research done in 2005 showed that after exercising, athletes usually experience pain in the muscles (Zainuddin et al., 2005). The research showed that application of a 10-minute massage could help to reduce the pain in muscles (Zainuddin et al., 2005). A specific massage technique was described as a good remedy for muscle pains by this study.
Appraising the Evidence
This provides a justification for the evidence (Melnyk et al., 2010).The evidence given above is relevant to the clinical question and therefore is valid. The authors of the journals are qualified professionals who are not likely to be biased towards their results. Their works, therefore, remains as a credible source of information. Again, the findings of these authors concur with what colleague experts in this field believe. The clients also get along with this line of thought and would be happy to see such a thing happen.
Application of Evidence-Based Practice
This stage describes the possible outcomes of the guidelines if adopted (Melnyk et al., 2010). In this case, clients’ expectation and experience are almost uniform, and this would ensure that no one of them is excluded by application of the evidence gathered. They have back pains and would need a deep tissue massage. Massage therapy would relive their muscle pains. Though massage has been demonstrated to have side effects, its health benefits are more valuable as compared to the damage that the side effects may bring.
Assessing the Whole Process
Evidence-based practice should be evaluated critically (Melnyk et al., 2010). This guideline follows all the necessary steps of evidence-based practice. Now and then, the whole process would be evaluated, and corrections would be done, where necessary. Questions to the clients and other people were right, clear and relevant. This ensured that they understood them correctly, and answered with ease. As time went by, the process became more effective and efficient. Updates on this work were made as soon as a new development took place. This means that these findings are accurate, valid, updated, and can be relied upon.
Dissemination of the Results
The information of the results is to be shared by all the stakeholders (Melnyk et al., 2010). Hospital management, fellow colleagues, other organizations, and clients or patients have to be informed about these findings. The information would be shared through a report, the institution’s website, and will also be published in the monthly medical journal of the hospital.
Conclusion
Massage is a therapy for people suffering from muscle pains. It is an approach that the hospital should adopt as many clients and patients are in full support of the idea. The evidence-based practice guidelines above reveal the importance and implications of such a program being adopted in the institution. Therefore, the management should seriously consider the guidelines in this report.
References
Cavaye, J. (2012). Does therapeutic massage support mental well-being? Medical Sociology Online, 6(2), 43-50.
Melnyk, B. M., Fineout-Overholt, E., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Evidence-based practice: step by step: the seven steps of evidence-based practice. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 110(1), 51-53.
Paolini, J. (2009). Review of myofascial release as an effective massage therapy technique. Athletic Therapy Today, 14(5), 30-34.
Polubinski, J. P., & West, L. (2005). Implementation of a massage therapy program in the home hospice setting. Journal of pain and symptom management, 30(1), 104-106.
Zainuddin, Z., Newton, M., Sacco, P., & Nosaka, K. (2005). Effects of massage on delayed-onset muscle soreness, swelling, and recovery of muscle function. Journal of athletic training, 40(3), 174.
