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.