Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on therapeutic massage for low back pain.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to update evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on the effectiveness of massage therapy for adults with acute, sub-acute, and chronic low back pain compared to control or other treatments.
Results Summary
The study found that massage therapy is effective for pain relief and improving functional status, particularly for sub-acute and chronic low back pain, with short-term benefits. Combining massage with therapeutic exercise and education enhanced its effectiveness.
Population
Adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute, and chronic low back pain.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
massage therapy | decrease | pain relief | adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) | - | effective at providing | #1 |
massage therapy | increase | functional status | adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) | - | effective at improving | #2 |
massage interventions | decrease | sub-acute and chronic LBP symptoms | adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) | - | effective to provide short term improvement of | #3 |
massage interventions | decrease | disability | adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) | - | effective to provide short term improvement by decreasing | #4 |
massage therapy combined with therapeutic exercise and education | decrease | short term relief | adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) | - | effective to provide | #5 |
OBJECTIVE: To update evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (EBCPG) on massage therapy compared to control or other treatment for adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP). METHODS: A literature search was performed for relevant articles between January 1, 1948 and December 31, 2010. Eligibility criteria were then applied focussing on participants, interventions, controls, and outcomes, as well as methodological quality. Recommendations based on this evidence were then assigned a grade (A, B, C, C+, D, D+, D-) based on their strength. RESULTS: A total of 100 recommendations were formulated from 11 eligible articles, including 37 positive recommendations (25 grade A and 12 grade C+) and 63 neutral recommendations (49 grade C, 12 grade D, and 2 grade D+). DISCUSSION: These guidelines indicate that massage therapy is effective at providing pain relief and improving functional status. CONCLUSION: The Ottawa Panel was able to demonstrate that massage interventions are effective to provide short term improvement of sub-acute and chronic LBP symptoms and decreasing disability at immediate post treatment and short term relief when massage therapy is combined with therapeutic exercise and education.