|
R
E S E A R C H
Massage
Improves Function, Reduces Pain and Anxiety Associated with Subacute
Low-Back Pain
Adults with subacute
low-back pain reported improved function, less intense pain and
a decrease in the quality of pain and anxiety after six sessions
of massage therapy and remedial exercise, according to a research
study.
"Effectiveness of massage therapy
for subacute low-back pain" was conducted by Michele Preyde,
a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Social Work at the University
of Toronto and a member of the College of Massage Therapists of
Ontario. It was originally published in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal.
Ninety-eight subjects with an average
age of 46 participated in the study. Each subject complained of
subacute low-back pain lasting anywhere from one week to eight months,
and 60 percent of the participants said their pain lasted longer
than three months.
Subjects were randomly assigned to one
of four groups: comprehensive massage therapy, which included soft-tissue
manipulation, remedial exercise and posture education; soft-tissue
manipulation only; remedial exercise and posture education only;
or a placebo of sham laser therapy. Each participant received six
treatments in one month.
Members of the comprehensive massage-therapy
group received half-hour massages aimed at promoting circulation
and relaxation of spasm or tension, through techniques such as friction,
trigger-point and neuromuscular therapy. This group's members were
also taught to perform stretches for the trunk, hips and thighs,
including flexion and modified extension in a pain-free range. Each
stretch, held for about 30 seconds, was performed twice per session
for related areas and more often for affected areas. The comprehensive
massage-therapy group was also encouraged to exercise for general
mobility and overall fitness, through walking, swimming, aerobics
or another sport. They also received a brief education on posture
and body mechanics at work and in day-to-day activities.
Participants placed in the soft-tissue manipulation
group received the same massage as those in the comprehensive massage-therapy
group, but no additional treatments. Subjects in the remedial exercise
group underwent the same exercise and education components as the
comprehensive massage-therapy group, but did not receive massage.
The control group was given sham low-level, infrared laser therapy
with a laser that appeared to work but did not.
Subjects' functionality, pain, anxiety
and lumbar range of motion were evaluated before the first session,
after the last session and a month after treatment had ended.
The Roland Disability Questionnaire was
used to assess participants' level of functionality when performing
daily tasks. The McGill Pain Questionnaire measured intensity of
pain and quality of pain. Lumbar range of motion was evaluated with
the Modified Schober test, and the State Anxiety Index measured
subjects' present levels of anxiety.
"Soft-tissue manipulations were
shown to have considerable benefit, and the addition of remedial
exercise and posture education was shown to improve the clinical
results moderately," states the study's author. "Comprehensive
massage therapy seemed to have the greatest impact on pain scores
but was only marginally better than soft-tissue manipulation alone
for improving function."
All subjects in the comprehensive massage-therapy
group reported levels of pain decreased in intensity from the study's
start to finish, an outcome that did not occur for any other group.
At the end of treatment, and at follow-up, the comprehensive massage-therapy
group had significantly lower levels of anxiety than the control
group, whereas no other group did.
One month after the treatment had ended,
63 percent of the comprehensive massage-therapy group reported no
pain, as compared with 27 percent of the soft-tissue manipulation
group, 14 percent of the exercise group and none of the control
group.
"Both the comprehensive massage
therapy group and the soft-tissue manipulation group showed clinical
significance for the improvement of function," states the study's
author. "Massage therapy that is based on physiology and emphasizes
the soft-tissue manipulation component of treatment was found to
be effective in the nonpharmacological management of subacute low-back
pain."
- Source: College of
Massage Therapists of Ontario. Author: Michele Preyde. Originally
published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2000, Vol.
162, pp. 1,815-1,820.
More Research
Back
to Top of Page
|
