Massage, laser and shockwave therapy improve pain and scar pruritus after burns: a systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether non-invasive therapies, including massage, improve pain, pruritus, elasticity, and vascularisation in adults with burn scars, and if effects persist beyond the intervention period.
Results Summary
Massage showed a beneficial effect on pain intensity (MD -1.5) and pruritus intensity (MD -0.4) but had negligible or unclear benefits on scar elasticity and vascularisation. The evidence quality was low to moderate.
Population
Adults with burn scars
Effective Dosage
Not available
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
massage | decrease | pain intensity on a 0-to-10 scale | adults with burn scars | MD -1.5, 95% CI -1.8 to -1.1 | beneficial effect | #1 |
shockwave therapy | decrease | pain intensity on a 0-to-10 scale | adults with burn scars | MD -0.8, 95% CI -1.2 to -0.4 | beneficial effect | #2 |
laser | decrease | pain intensity on a 0-to-10 scale | adults with burn scars | MD -4.0, 95% CI -6.0 to -2.0 | beneficial effect | #3 |
massage | decrease | pruritus intensity on a 0-to-10 scale | adults with burn scars | MD -0.4, 95% CI -0.7 to -0.2 | beneficial effect | #4 |
shockwave therapy | decrease | pruritus intensity on a 0-to-10 scale | adults with burn scars | MD -1.3, 95% CI -2.3 to -0.3 | beneficial effect | #5 |
laser | decrease | pruritus intensity on a 0-to-10 scale | adults with burn scars | MD -4.8, 95% CI -6.1 to -3.5 | beneficial effect | #6 |
massage | no change | scar elasticity | adults with burn scars | - | negligible or unclear benefits | #7 |
massage | no change | vascularisation | adults with burn scars | - | negligible or unclear benefits | #8 |
shockwave therapy | no change | scar elasticity | adults with burn scars | - | negligible or unclear benefits | #9 |
shockwave therapy | no change | vascularisation | adults with burn scars | - | negligible or unclear benefits | #10 |
silicone | no change | scar elasticity | adults with burn scars | - | negligible or unclear benefits | #11 |
silicone | no change | vascularisation | adults with burn scars | - | negligible or unclear benefits | #12 |
QUESTIONS: In adults with a burn injury, do non-invasive therapies improve pain and burn scar pruritus, elasticity and vascularisation? Are any effects maintained beyond the intervention period? DESIGN: Systematic review of randomised trials with meta-analyses. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with burn scars. INTERVENTION: The experimental intervention was a non-invasive (ie, non-surgical or non-pharmacological) therapy applied to the burn scar. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain intensity, pruritus intensity, elasticity and vascularisation. RESULTS: Fifteen trials involving 780 participants were included. The results indicated a beneficial effect on pain intensity on a 0-to-10 scale after massage (MD -1.5, 95% CI -1.8 to -1.1), shockwave therapy (MD -0.8, 95% CI -1.2 to -0.4) and laser (MD -4.0, 95% CI -6.0 to -2.0). The results indicated a beneficial effect on pruritus intensity on a 0-to-10 scale after massage (MD -0.4, 95% CI -0.7 to -0.2), shockwave therapy (MD -1.3, 95% CI -2.3 to -0.3) and laser (MD -4.8, 95% CI -6.1 to -3.5). Massage, shockwave therapy and silicone produced negligible or unclear benefits on scar elasticity and vascularisation. The quality of evidence varied from low to moderate. CONCLUSION: Among all commonly used non-invasive therapies for the treatment of burn scars, low-to-moderate quality evidence indicated that massage, laser and shockwave therapy reduce pain and the intensity of scar pruritus. Low-to-moderate quality evidence suggested that massage, shockwave therapy and silicone have negligible or unclear effects for improving scar elasticity and vascularisation. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42021258336).