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Massage therapy for low back pain: a systematic review
1Department of Complementary Medicine, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|January 27, 1999
Summary
Massage therapy shows potential for low back pain (LBP), but current evidence is limited. More rigorous research is needed to confirm its effectiveness for LBP treatment.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Medicine
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition.
- Massage therapy is a frequently used intervention for LBP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the evidence on the efficacy of massage therapy as a monotherapy for LBP.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
- Searched for studies evaluating massage therapy for LBP.
Main Results:
- Four RCTs were identified, all with significant methodological flaws.
- Evidence suggests massage may be superior to no treatment.
- Massage appears comparable in efficacy to spinal manipulation and transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES).
- One study indicated massage was less effective than spinal manipulation.
Conclusions:
- The current body of evidence is insufficient for a reliable evaluation of massage therapy's efficacy in LBP.
- Massage therapy shows potential for LBP management.
- Further high-quality research is urgently required.