The effectiveness of massage with and without dimethyl sulfoxide in preventing pressure ulcers: A randomized, double-blind cross-over trial in patients prone to pressure ulcers

Background Although guidelines advise against massage, it is one of the methods widely regarded and used by nurses to prevent pressure ulcers (PU). Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of different variations of massage in preventing pressure ulcers. Methods A randomized, double-blind cross-over design, in which patients of nursing homes who are prone to PU underwent two of the three possible interventions; ‘position changes only’, ‘massaging with an indifferent cream’ and ‘massaging with a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) cream’. Results The results of three interventions did not differ significantly. DMSO did not fulfil the expectations raised by literature and a previous pilot-study.