| PMC full text: | Published online 2011 Nov 24. doi: 10.1155/2012/953139
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Table 9
Summary of findings of massage for neck pain (only pain and functional outcomes).
| Duration and cause of pain | Outcomes | GRADE* | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massage versus no treatment | |||
|
| |||
| Acute/subacute or mixed (specific, nonspecific) | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Chronic specific | Disability score (NPQ) |
Low
Design: RCT ROB: Medium Consistency: NA (only 1 trial) Directness: yes | In one trial [148] massage was significantly better than “no treatment” immediately after treatment (mean NPQ score: 13.24 ± 11.88 versus 35.64 ± 12.54). |
|
| |||
| Chronic nonspecific | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Unknown specific | No pain or disability outcome reported | NA | One trial [149] reporting PPT. |
|
| |||
| Unknown nonspecific | Pain intensity score (VAS) |
Low
Design: RCT ROB: Medium Consistency: NA (only 1 trial) Directness: yes | In one trial [150] both classical and modified massage techniques (strain/counter-strain) were significantly better than “no treatment” immediately after treatment (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between modified and classical massage (mean difference in VAS score: 0.5, 95% CI: −1.0, 1.1). Classical versus “no treatment” (2.7, 95% CI: 1.6, 3.7). Modified versus “no treatment” (2.6, 95% CI: 1.5, 3.7). |
|
| |||
| Massage versus placebo | |||
|
| |||
| Acute/subacute specific | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Acute/subacute nonspecific | ≥2-point decrease on pain score (NRS-11) |
Low
Design: RCT ROB: Medium Consistency: NA (only 1 trial) Directness: yes | In one trial [151] massage was significantly better than placebo immediately after treatment (OR: 7.4, 95% CI: 1.22, 45.02). |
|
| |||
| Chronic specific | Pain intensity score (VAS) |
Low
Design: RCT ROB: High Consistency: NA (only 1 trial) Directness: yes | In one trial [209] massage was significantly better than placebo (sham laser) immediately or short-term after treatment (VAS: 7.89 versus 17.28, P < 0.05). |
|
| |||
| Chronic nonspecific | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Mixed (specific, nonspecific) | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Unknown specific | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Unknown nonspecific | No pain or disability outcome reported | NA | One trial [152] reporting PPT. |
|
| |||
| Massage versus pain medication | |||
|
| |||
| Acute/subacute, chronic, mixed, or unknown (specific, nonspecific) | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Massage versus mobilization (see Table 7 for mobilization for neck pain) | |||
|
| |||
| Massage versus manipulation (see Table 5 for manipulation for neck pain) | |||
|
| |||
| Massage versus usual care | |||
|
| |||
| Acute/subacute, chronic, mixed, or unknown (specific, nonspecific) | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Massage versus physiotherapy | |||
|
| |||
| Acute/subacute, chronic, mixed, or unknown (specific, nonspecific) | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Massage versus Exercise | |||
|
| |||
| Acute/subacute, mixed, or unknown (specific, nonspecific) | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Chronic specific | Disability score (NPQ) |
Low
Design: RCT ROB: Medium Consistency: NA (only 1 trial) Directness: yes | In one trial [148] massage was significantly better than exercise immediately after treatment (mean NPQ score: 13.24 ± 11.88 versus 20.23 ± 12.06). |
|
| |||
| Chronic nonspecific | NA |
Insufficient
No trial | NA |
|
| |||
| Massage versus acupuncture (see Table 3 for acupuncture for neck pain) | |||
*Precision in formal grading was applied only to pooled results.
VAS: visual analog scale; RMDQ: Roland-Morris disability scale; NHP: Nottingham health profile; MPQ: McGill pain questionnaire; PDI: pain disability index; SF: short form; NPQ: neck pain questionnaire; SF-PQ: short form pain questionnaire; PRI: pain rating index; PPI: present pain intensity; NA: not applicable; NDI: neck disability index; IQR: interquartile. range; PPT: pressure pain threshold; OR: odds ratio; 95% CI: ninety-five percent confidence interval.