A randomized comparative study of traditional Thai massage and Thai boxing exercise on clinical-based outcomes in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) and Thai boxing exercise (TBE) on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and cervical range of motion in patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS).
Results Summary
Both TTM and TBE significantly improved pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and cervical range of motion post-treatment and at 1-month follow-up, with TTM showing superior effects in pain reduction, pain threshold, and certain cervical movements compared to TBE.
Population
78 patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS).
Effective Dosage
Four-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed).
Duration
4 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with SCS | - | Significant improvements | #1 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | patients with SCS | - | Significant improvements | #2 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | cervical range of motion (CROM) in all directions | patients with SCS | - | Significant improvements | #3 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | cervical range of motion (CROM) in all directions except cervical extension | patients with SCS | - | improvements | #4 |
Thai boxing exercise (TBE) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with SCS | - | significant improvements | #5 |
Thai boxing exercise (TBE) | increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | patients with SCS | - | significant improvements | #6 |
Thai boxing exercise (TBE) | increase | cervical range of motion (CROM) in all directions except cervical flexion | patients with SCS | - | significant improvements | #7 |
Thai boxing exercise (TBE) | increase | cervical range of motion (CROM) in all directions except cervical flexion and PPT | patients with SCS | - | improvements | #8 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with SCS | - | significantly better scores | #9 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | patients with SCS | - | significantly better scores | #10 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | cervical flexion | patients with SCS | - | significantly better scores | #11 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | left lateral flexion | patients with SCS | - | significantly better scores | #12 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | decrease | pain intensity | patients with SCS | - | superior effects | #13 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | patients with SCS | - | superior effects | #14 |
traditional Thai massage (TTM) | increase | left lateral flexion | patients with SCS | - | superior effects | #15 |
Four weeks of TTM and TBE | decrease | pain intensity | patients with SCS | - | reduced | #16 |
Four weeks of TTM and TBE | increase | pain threshold | patients with SCS | - | improved | #17 |
Four weeks of TTM and TBE | increase | cervical movements | patients with SCS | - | improved | #18 |
TTM | decrease | pain intensity | patients with SCS | - | better reductions | #19 |
TTM | increase | pain threshold | patients with SCS | - | better reductions | #20 |
TTM | increase | cervical flexion | patients with SCS | - | better reductions | #21 |
TTM | increase | left lateral flexion | patients with SCS | - | better reductions | #22 |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is no consensus on effective treatment for scapulocostal syndrome (SCS). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) and Thai boxing exercise (TBE) on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and cervical range of motion (CROM) in patients with SCS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with SCS were randomly equally allocated to receive either four-week TTM or TBE. Pain intensity, PPT, and CROM were measured at baseline, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Significant improvements in pain intensity, PPT, and CROM in all directions were evident at posttreatment compared with baseline in the TTM group (p < 0.01); these improvements, except cervical extension, were observed at 1-month follow-up (p < 0.01). Compared to baseline, the TBE showed significant improvements in all outcomes except cervical flexion at posttreatment (p < 0.01); these improvements, except cervical flexion and PPT, were evident at 1-month follow-up (p < 0.001). When comparing the groups, the TTM showed significantly better scores than the TBE in terms of pain intensity, PPT, and cervical flexion and left lateral flexion at posttreatment (p < 0.05). The superior effects of TTM on these outcomes, except cervical flexion, were demonstrated at 1-month follow-up (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Four weeks of TTM and TBE reduced pain intensity and improved pain threshold and cervical movements at posttreatment and 1-month follow-up. TTM provided better reductions in pain intensity, pain threshold, cervical flexion, and left lateral flexion than TBE in patients with SCS.