Effectiveness of Massage for Low Back Pain
In the year 2000 research was conducted by the University of Toronto and the College of Massage therapists in Ontario Toronto to determine how effective massage therapy was for low back pain. In the United States back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the physician. 80% of Americans will have back pain in there lifetime and between 58-98% will have returning pain.
The treatments involved in the study involves a Comprehensive Massage Therapy, Soft Tissue Manipulation, exercise and a Sham laser therapy. The measures used to determine how effective the treatments were included Pain relief and ability to function and do activities
The Comprehensive Massage Therapy treatment involved massage (friction, trigger point for muscle spasms, neuromuscular therapy to increase circulation), stretching exercise of the trunk, hip, thigh, progressive strengthening/mobility exercise and postural education.
The Soft Tissue Manipulation involved the same massage techniques as the comprehensive treatment with the exercise and postural education. The exercise treatment group was treated with the same exercises as the comprehensive group without the soft tissue manipulation. The sham laser therapy group was the control so the treatment they received was from an instrument that emitted an ineffective light.
All treatment groups received 6 sessions of treatment in a one month period. After the 6 sessions, a month was allowed to pass and the patients where graded again on there level of pain and ability to function. Results of the Assessment are:
Comprehensive Massage Therapy treatment:
63% reported no pain
Soft Tissue Manipulation:
27% reported no pain
Exercise Treatment:
14% reported no pain
Sham Laser Treatment:
0% reported no pain
The Comprehensive Massage therapy treatment was the most effective in pain relief and the return to functional activities. As a result Massage therapy that is based on physiology and emphasizes the soft-tissue manipulation component of treatment was found to be effective in the management of low-back pain without medication.
Discussion Forum
Tension Headache
What is a tension headache?
Tension headaches, which where renamed tension-type headaches by the International Headache Society in 1988, are the most common kind of primary headaches. The pain can radiate from the neck, back, eyes, or other muscle groups in the body. Tension-type headaches account for nearly 90% of all headaches. Approximately 3% of population suffers from chronic-tension type headache.
Tension-type headache pain is often described as a constant pressure, as if the head were being squeezed in a vise. The pain is usually on both sides of the head at once. Tension type head ache pain is usually mild to moderate but can be severe. In comparison to migraine, the pain does not increase during exercise.
Tension type headaches are cause by sustained contraction of the muscles located in the head and the neck. The continuous contractions of the muscles result in local nutrient deficiency to the lack of blood flow to the area causing trigger points in the muscle. Trigger points are described as irritable spots in skeletal muscle associated with nodules felt in taut bands of muscle fiber. The nodules are said to be small contraction knots and are a common cause of pain. These areas of contraction remain contracted without voluntary movement. Pain arising from tension in the neck can often be identified by comparing any pain caused by coughing or sneezing normally with that which arises while pressing with one's hand against the forehead (which reduces the tension placed on the muscles at the back of the neck). If the pain is less it suggests that muscular tension in the neck is the cause of the headache.
Massage Therapy techniques are known to increase blood flow to tissue and reduce
activity of trigger points. A study was conducted and published in the American Journal of Public Health reporting the results of a Massage Therapy Program and its beneficial affects on the number of tension headaches a patient received a week and the duration of these headaches.
Individuals who where chosen for the study have had at least 2-3 headaches per week in the past 6 months based on the International Headache Society guidelines.
An 8 week study was conducted where the first 4 weeks patients headaches where documented including the number of headaches and how long they lasted. Within The final 4 weeks a 6 phase massage therapy program was administered, 2 sessions a week for 30 minutes each.
Results
-The average number of headaches decreased from 6 to 2 per week
-The average duration of headaches decreased from 8 to 4.5 hours
The results of this study suggest that Massage Therapy is effective in reducing the number of headaches per week in chronic tension headache sufferers. Positive effects of the massage program where immediate, the number of headaches reduced to half in the first week of treatment.
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