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R
E S E A R C H
Massage Eases Lower
Back Pain, Increases Range of Motion
Adults with chronic
low-back pain found relief from massage therapy, according to a
research study. Massage eased pain, reduced depression and anxiety,
and improved sleep and range of motion.
The study, "Lower Back Pain is
Reduced and Range of Motion Increased After Massage Therapy,"
was completed in January 2000 by the Touch Research Institute in
conjunction with the University of Miami School of Medicine and
Iris Burman of Educating Hands, and was first published in the International
Journal of Neuroscience.
Twenty-four adults who had experienced
low-back pain for at least six months were randomly assigned to
either a massage therapy group or a relaxation therapy group.
The massage therapy group received
twice-weekly, 30-minute massages for five weeks. Starting in the
prone position, the following techniques were used: kneading and
pressing the back muscles, stroking both sides of the spine and
hips, gliding strokes to the legs, and kneading and pressing the
thighs. Continuing in the supine position, participants received:
gliding strokes to the neck and abdomen, kneading of the rectus
and oblique muscles that help bend the trunk of the body forward,
stroking of the legs, kneading of the anterior thighs, flexing of
the thighs and knees, and gentle pulling on both legs.
Those in the relaxation group were instructed
in progressive muscle relaxation techniques to tense and relax muscles
in the feet, calves, thighs, hands, arms, back and face. Participants
performed these exercises at home twice weekly for 30 minutes.
Assessments taken before and after
the first and last sessions included: the Profile of Mood States
Depression Scale to rate depression; the State Anxiety Inventory
to rate feelings at the present moment; the McGill Pain Questionnaire
to measure pain; the Visual Analogue Scale to measure present level
of pain; the Range of Motion Measures test to rate the level of
ability to bend; a Symptom Checklist-90 Revised to measure moods;
a sleep scale to measure quality of sleep; and urine samples to
measure levels of the stress hormone cortisol, serotonin and catecholamines
(amino acid derivatives that affect the nervous system, cardiovascular
system, metabolic rate, temperature and muscles).
Results showed that both groups experienced
a decrease in stress and long-term pain, but only the massage group
experienced less pain directly after the session, fewer depressive
symptoms, better sleep, improved range of motion and an increase
in serotonin and the catecholamine dopamine biochemical levels.
"The findings from the present
study are compelling and if the effects can be replicated and persist,
these data suggest that massage therapy effectively reduces pain,
positively impacts on the biochemical system, and attenuates psychological
symptoms associated with lower back pain," the study authors
wrote.
The authors also wrote that future
studies might "examine the impact of massage therapy on job
productivity and absenteeism for individuals with chronic low back
problems."
- Source: Touch Research
Institute. Originally reported in International Journal of Neuroscience,
2001, Vol. 106, pp. 131-145.
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