Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage on pain, muscle tension and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: a randomized single-blinded pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) versus physical therapy modalities on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, muscle tension, and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS).
Results Summary
TTM showed significant improvements in pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, muscle tension, and anxiety after the first session and at follow-ups, outperforming physical therapy in pain intensity and muscle tension reduction. Both treatments improved outcomes, but TTM had superior effects in most measures.
Population
Twenty patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS).
Effective Dosage
30-minute sessions, 9 sessions over 3 weeks.
Duration
3 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | showed a significant improvement | #1 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | showed a significant improvement | #2 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | muscle tension | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | showed a significant improvement | #3 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | anxiety | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | showed a significant improvement | #4 |
physical therapy modalities (PT: ultrasound therapy and hot pack) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | similar changes were observed | #5 |
physical therapy modalities (PT: ultrasound therapy and hot pack) | decrease | muscle tension | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | similar changes were observed | #6 |
physical therapy modalities (PT: ultrasound therapy and hot pack) | decrease | anxiety | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | similar changes were observed | #7 |
physical therapy modalities (PT: ultrasound therapy and hot pack) | no change | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | except for PPT | #8 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | were significantly lower | #9 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | muscle tension | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | were significantly lower | #10 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | - | were significantly higher | #11 |
The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), muscle tension and anxiety associated with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS). Twenty patients were randomly allocated to receive a 30-min session of either TTM or physical therapy modalities (PT: ultrasound therapy and hot pack) for 9 sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Pain intensity, PPT, muscle tension and anxiety were measured before and immediately after the first treatment session, 1 day after the last treatment session and 2 weeks after the last treatment session. Results indicated that the TTM group showed a significant improvement in all parameters after the first treatment session and at 1 day and 2 weeks after the last treatment session (p < 0.05). For all outcomes, similar changes were observed in the PT group except for PPT (p < 0.05). The adjusted post-test mean values of each assessment time point for pain intensity and muscle tension were significantly lower in the TTM group than those of the PT group (p < 0.01). In addition, the values for PPT were significantly higher in the TTM group (p > 0.05). We therefore suggest that TTM could be an alternative treatment for the patient with SCS.