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Massage, laser and shockwave therapy improve pain and scar pruritus after burns: a systematic review.

Journal of physiotherapy
January 1, 2024
Cintia Helena Santuzzi et al. (5 authors)
Systematic ReviewJournal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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).

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultHumansCicatrix, HypertrophicHigh-Energy Shock WavesPruritusPainLasersBurnsMassageSilicones
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations5
Citations/Year5.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.64
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.65
Normalized Score0.64
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