Therapeutic Massage Helps Alleviate Chronic Low Back Pain

Relaxation massage and structural massage were both effective in the short term.

Back problems are widespread in the U.S., where they constitute one of the most common reasons for seeking complementary and alternative medical therapies. Total national healthcare costs associated with back and neck problems increased 65% from 1997 to 2005 (JAMA 2008; 299:656). Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of massage for back pain. In a trial funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 401 patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to receive either usual care or 10 weekly sessions of relaxation massage or structural massage. Dysfunction was evaluated with the Roland Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) at baseline and at 10, 26, and 52 weeks. The RDQ scale ranges from 0 to 23 points; betwe…

Reviewing Author

Jaime Toro, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsMultiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

Jaime Toro, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsMultiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders