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Review
. 2014:2014:204360.
doi: 10.1155/2014/204360. Epub 2014 Feb 20.

Efficacy of massage therapy on pain and dysfunction in patients with neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yong Hong Cheng  1 , Gui Cheng Huang  2
Affiliations
Review

Efficacy of massage therapy on pain and dysfunction in patients with neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yong Hong Cheng et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014.

Abstract

Objective. To systematically evaluate the evidence of whether massage therapy (MT) is effective for neck pain. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through searches of 5 English and Chinese databases (to December 2012). The search terms included neck pain, neck disorders, cervical vertebrae, massage, manual therapy, Tuina, and random. In addition, we performed hand searches at the library of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Two reviewers independently abstracted data and assessed the methodological quality of RCTs by PEDro scale. And the meta-analyses of improvements on pain and neck-related function were conducted. Results. Fifteen RCTs met inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that MT experienced better immediate effects on pain relief compared with inactive therapies (n = 153; standardised mean difference (SMD), 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.09 to 2.50; P = 0.03) and traditional Chinese medicine (n = 125; SMD, 0.73; 95% CI 0.13 to 1.33; P = 0.02). There was no valid evidence of MT on improving dysfunction. With regard to follow-up effects, there was not enough evidence of MT for neck pain. Conclusions. This systematic review found moderate evidence of MT on improving pain in patients with neck pain compared with inactive therapies and limited evidence compared with traditional Chinese medicine. There were no valid lines of evidence of MT on improving dysfunction. High quality RCTs are urgently needed to confirm these results and continue to compare MT with other active therapies for neck pain.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study selection process. RCTs: randomized controlled trials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of the immediate effect of MT on pain. CI: confidence interval; IV: independent variable; Std.: standard.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of the immediate effect of MT on pain versus different active therapies. CI: confidence interval; IV: independent variable; Std.: standard.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of follow-up effects of MT on pain. CI: confidence interval; IV: independent variable; Std.: standard.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot of the immediate effect of MT on dysfunction. CI: confidence interval; IV: independent variable; Std.: standard.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Forest plot of the immediate effect of MT on range of motion. CI: confidence interval; IV: independent variable; Std.: standard.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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