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Related Experiment Videos

Massage for low back pain.

A D Furlan1, L Brosseau, M Imamura

  • 1Research, Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 2E9. afurlan@iwh.on.ca

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|June 22, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Massage therapy may benefit individuals with subacute and chronic low-back pain, particularly when combined with exercises and education. Acupuncture massage appears more effective than classic massage, though further research is needed to confirm findings and assess long-term cost-effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Rehabilitative medicine
  • Complementary and alternative medicine

Background:

  • Low-back pain is a prevalent and costly musculoskeletal issue.
  • Massage therapy is proposed to alleviate pain, disability, and improve function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of massage therapy for non-specific low-back pain.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized trials up to May 2001.
  • Searched multiple databases and screened references.
  • Qualitative analysis due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Eight randomized trials were included; three had low, five had high methodological quality.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Massage showed superiority over inert treatment (sham laser), especially with exercises/education.
  • Massage was inferior to manipulation and TENS, equal to corsets/exercises, and superior to relaxation therapy, acupuncture, and self-care.

    • Conclusions:

    • Massage may benefit subacute and chronic non-specific low-back pain, particularly when combined with exercises and education.
    • Acupuncture massage may be more effective than classic massage, requiring further confirmation.
    • Additional research is needed to validate findings and assess long-term cost-effectiveness and return-to-work impacts.