Massage for mechanical neck disorders

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Mechanical neck disorders (MND) are prevalent, causing individual hindrance and societal costs.
• Massage is a commonly utilized treatment for MND.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of massage on pain, function, patient satisfaction, perceived effect, adverse events, and cost in adults with neck pain.
• To compare massage outcomes against any control or placebo, from immediate post-treatment to long-term follow-up.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted.
• Searches were performed across multiple databases (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, MANTIS, CINAHL, ICL) up to February 2012.
• Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers, with meta-analysis using random-effects models.

Main Results:

• Fifteen trials were included, all assessed as low or very low GRADE level quality.
• Very low evidence suggests certain massage techniques may improve function and tenderness compared to control/placebo.
• Low evidence indicates massage may be more beneficial than education for short-term pain relief; combination therapies showed potential for pain reduction.

Conclusions:

• The effectiveness of massage for neck pain is uncertain due to significant limitations in study quality and methodology.
• Massage may offer immediate or short-term benefits for pain and tenderness as a standalone treatment.
• Further research is required to assess long-term effects and the impact of repeated treatments.