A history of massage in nurse training school curricula (1860-1945)

Introduction: Guided by Florence Nightingale, massage nurse training instruction methods were duplicated in the U.S. nurse training curricula. In the 1880s to 1900s massage training and instruction was delivered by physicians, nurses, or masseurs for many disease conditions. In the 1930s to 1940s, influential nurse authors and educators began to recommend specialization in physiotherapy for nurses. Scientific and pharmacological solutions for symptoms of disease became popular, thus practicing basic nursing comfort measures using massage declined. Purposes: To trace roots of massage in the medical literature, the inclusion of massage in U.S. nurse training school curricula, and examine the historical shift from massage as a basic nursing comfort measure to a specialization of physiotherapy. Method: Primary text books by physicians, nurses, massage instructors; medical/nursing journals; nursing curriculum guidelines—archival collections of the Center for Historical Nursing Inquiry; Historical Collections at the University of Virginia Claude Moore Health Sciences Library; private historical collections; and secondary published books/ articles were used. Findings: Prior to increase in scientific care, use of analgesics, and specialization of physiotherapy departments, the nurse provided basic comfort measures that included massage. Historical research in the use of massage in nursing may help refocus attention on the healing of the mind/body and reinforce the value of compassionate touch and balance in nursing practice today.