Background: Methods such as massage can be traced all the way from ancient Greece and the Roman Empire in the writings of Hippocrates. Hippocrates felt that through various "rubbingprocesses” could treat some medical conditions. Recent research has shown, for example, that patients who suffered a stroke and had a massage while in the hospital improved their abilities to carry out activities of daily living faster than the control group.
Aim: The aim was to describe patients' experiences of soft tissue massage in health care.
Method: This literature review is based on ten qualitative and one quantitative article which were found in the database Cinahl. Friberg's method of analysis has been used when the authors analyzed the articles. Keywords: touch, experience, care, touching, patient, nursing, nurs*, massage, tactile, tactile massage, soft tissue massage and aromatherapy. In the discussion the results were linked to the theoretical point that is Katie Erikssons nursing theory and the nursing concept “care”.
Results: The results revealed four themes, one of which has two subthemes. In the first theme, The relationship to the massage giver, the patients describe the relationship and feelings toward the massage giver. This theme has two subthemes: Trust and connectedness and Feel cared for and special. The second theme, To be here and now, is about the mental relaxation, the participants felt that they were given by the massage. The third theme, Bodily well-being, is about the participants' various positive physical experiences. The fourth and final theme, Negative aspects, is about what the participants experienced as negative during the massage.
Discussions: The discussion is anchored in two theoretical points which are Katie Erikson's theory of nursing, Trim, Playing and Learning, and the consensus concept Care. The debate focuses on the main findings of the result. These concepts are discussed along with some of the main findings of the results. Touch, intimacy and warmth characterize the trim and here the corporeal pleasure is an important element. Soft massage can be seen as part of the trim in the care, as it can be done with the aim of creating physical as well as mental relaxation and well-being of the patient.