Shiatsu is an alternative therapy that is popular, but has so far attracted almost no research. Therefore, I was excited when I saw a new paper on the subject. Sadly, my excitement waned quickly when I stared reading the abstract.
This single-blind randomized controlled study was aimed to evaluate shiatsu on mood, cognition, and functional independence in patients undergoing physical activity. Alzheimer disease (AD) patients with depression were randomly assigned to the “active group” (Shiatsu + physical activity) or the “control group” (physical activity alone).
Shiatsu was performed by the same therapist once a week for ten months. Global cognitive functioning (Mini Mental State Examination – MMSE), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale – GDS), and functional status (Activity of Daily Living – ADL, Instrumental ADL – IADL) were assessed before and after the intervention.
The researchers found a within-group improvement of MMSE, ADL, and GDS in the Shiatsu group. However, the analysis of differences before and after the interventions showed a statistically significant decrease of GDS score only in the Shiatsu group.
The authors concluded that the combination of Shiatsu and physical activity improved depression in AD patients compared to physical activity alone. The pathomechanism might involve neuroendocrine-mediated effects of Shiatsu on neural circuits implicated in mood and affect regulation.
The Journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine also published three ‘Highlights’ of this study:
- We first evaluated the effect of Shiatsu in depressed patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
- Shiatsu significantly reduced depression in a sample of mild-to-moderate AD patients.
- Neuroendocrine-mediated effect of Shiatsu may modulate mood and affect neural circuits.
Where to begin?
1 The study is called a ‘pilot’. As such it should not draw conclusions about the effectiveness of Shiatsu.
2 The design of the study was such that there was no accounting for the placebo effect (the often-discussed ‘A+B vs B’ design); therefore, it is impossible to attribute the observed outcome to Shiatsu. The ‘highlight’ – Shiatsu significantly reduced depression in a sample of mild-to-moderate AD patients – therefore turns out to be a low-light.
3 As this was a study with a control group, within-group changes are irrelevant and do not even deserve a mention.
4 The last point about the mode of action is pure speculation, and not borne out of the data presented.
5 Accumulating so much nonsense in one research paper is, in my view, unethical.
Research into alternative medicine does not have a good reputation – studies like this one are not inclined to improve it.
7 Responses to “Shiatsu significantly reduced depression in a sample of mild-to-moderate AD patients.” ??? Not really!
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A small fluffy dog did all this? lol
No need to hound anyone, just because they’re barking.
10 minutes playing with a small fluffy dog and accompanying half hour daily walk should not to be sniffed at for improving one’s physical and psychological well being!
Shih Tzu is the proper name of the dog breed.
Come to think of it, domestic pets have been shown to do wonders for the sufferers of dementia, that pretentious petting like Shiatsu does not . The only benefit ever from Shiatsu was to the blind population in Japan. When General MacArthur banned quackery along with other aspects of traditional Japanese culture, during the occupation after World War II, many blind lost their only way of making a living.
Interesting about Macarthur’s ban: yet more stuff to trawl Madame Internet for data. Ain’t learning wonderful.
Dare I say, Bjorn, thanks for the lead?
If you ask me these therapies are Fi Shi.
Here you can read the Collected Reports of The Shiatsu Therapy Research Lab (the official Namikoshi style recognized by the Ministry of Health, integrated in the National Health System) made between 1998-2012 and 2013-2017 at the Japan Shiatsu College from Tokyo, JAPAN -> http://e.shiatsu.ac.jp/research/