Abstract
Objectives
To determine the effectiveness of therapeutic massage (TM) for the symptomatic relief of musculoskeletal pain, and to analyse TM intervention protocols used in studies.
Design
Systematic review of randomised controlled clinical trials and experimental studies on healthy human participants.
Participants
Patients with musculoskeletal pain and healthy participants with post-exercise pain and soreness.
Main outcome measures
Comparisons of TM with: (i) no treatment; (ii) sham interventions; and (iii) active (standard) treatment. Outcome was dichotomised as effective (TM>comparison group) or not effective (TM≤comparison group).
Results
Twenty studies (1341 participants) met the criteria for review. TM was superior to no treatment in five out of 10 comparisons, superior to sham (laser) treatment in one out of two comparisons, and superior to active treatment in seven out of 22 comparisons. TM was superior to comparison groups in six out of 11 studies using patients with musculoskeletal pain, and in three out of seven studies using patients with low back pain. TM was superior to comparison groups in four out of nine studies using healthy participants experiencing post-exercise pain and soreness. There were no relationships between study outcome and the TM regimen used.
Conclusions
The available evidence is inconclusive. A combination of inadequate sample sizes, low methodological quality and insufficient TM dosing is likely to have contributed to the confused evidence base.
Citation
The clinical effectiveness of therapeutic massage for musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review
Mark Lewis, Mark I. Johnson
Physiotherapy - September 2006 (Vol. 92, Issue 3, Pages 146-158, DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2006.02.008)