<p>Physical contact between people is a powerful form of communication, and also a basic behavioural need (Bowlby 1969, Bowlby 1973, Ainsworth et al 1978, Main 1990). Positively applied, it can be a non-threatening demonstration of care and social acceptance that cannot be replaced by words alone (Watson and Watson 1997, Keltner and Shiota 2003). If such contact can be developed in a positive way to help alleviate suffering through controlled therapy such as massage, then the benefits for patients and clinical management are readily apparent (Huntley and Ernst 2000). This is especially the case if the massage can be applied by the primary caregiver, rather than a clinician (Cullen and Barlow 2004).</p>