International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB)
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The Effects of Massage on Self-regulatory Difficulties, Tactile and Oral Abnormalities, and Parenting Stress in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textBackground: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that about 1 in every 44 children between the ages of 4 and 8 years old had been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Complementary interventions such as massage are crucial for the improvement of the health outcomes of ASD patients, such as abnormal sensory response; Autism Behavior Checklist; parenting stress, self-regulatory difficulties, social, language, and communication abilities; tactile or oral abnormalities; Vineland daily living skills; Vineland socialization; Childhood Autism Rating Scale; Preschool Language Scale 5th Edition (PLS-5) auditory communica-tion; and PLS-5 expressive communication.
Purpose: We aim to systematically investigate the effects of different types of massage on self-regulatory difficulties, tactile and oral abnormalities, and parenting stress in children with ASD.
Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science were scoured from their inception through November 15, 2022. Research comparing massage efficacy in children with ASD to other methods or a control group was included. For randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we utilized the Cochrane risk of bias tool; and for cohort studies, we used the tool developed by the National Institutes of Health. Meta-analysis was carried out with Review Manager 5.4. For our continuous data, we calculated the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
Results: We included 10 studies with a total number of 485 children with autism. Our analysis showed a significant decrease in the massage group regarding self-regulatory difficulties (MD = −9.15; 95% CI (−13.69 to −4.60), p < 0.0001). Also, the massage group showed a significant decrease in tactile or oral abnormalities compared with the control group (MD = −4.83; 95% CI (−7.86 to −1.80), p = 0.002). Moreover, parenting stress significantly decreased in the massage group compared to the control group (MD = −4.31; 95% CI (−7.02 to −1.61), p = 0.002).
Conclusion: Qigong and traditional Thai massage improved self-regulatory difficulties and decreased tactile or oral abnormalities in children with autism. Moreover, they decreased parenting stress. However, we need more RCTs with larger sample sizes with high quality to assess the different types of massage effects on autistic children and produce more valid results. So, Qigong and traditional Thai massage could be used as a complement to educational and training interventions in children with autism
What is Effective in Massage Therapy? Well, “It Depends…”: a Qualitative Study of Experienced Orthopaedic Massage Therapists
No full textBackground: Massage has been used as a treatment for musculoskeletal pain throughout history and across cultures, and yet most meta-analyses have only shown weak support for the efficacy of massage. There is a recognised need for more research in foundational questions including: how massage treatments are constructed; what therapists actually do within a treatment, including their clinical reasoning; and what role therapists play in determining the effectiveness of a massage treatment.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore what experienced orthopaedic massage therapists consider to be the aspects of their work that contribute to effectiveness.
Setting and Participants: Semi- structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with six experienced orthopaedic massage therapists in Australia.Research Design: The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis, seeking insights that might be practically applied, rather than theory-driven interpretations. Results: The participants focused on the underlying differences between clients, between therapists, and between treatments, and clearly indicated that this concept of “difference” was foundational to their view of their work and was the underlying context for the comments they made. Within that frame of “difference”, three key themes were interpreted from the data: (1) “Everyone is different so every treatment is different”: how they individualised treatment based on these differences; (2) “How therapists cope with difference”: how they managed the challenges of working in this context; and (3) “What makes a difference”: the problem-solving processes they used to target each treatment to meeting the client’s needs.
Conclusions: Participants did not identify specific techniques or modalities as “effective” or not. Rather, a therapist’s ability to provide effective treatment was based on an iterative process of treatment and assessment that allowed them to focus on the individual needs of the client. In this case “effectiveness” could be considered a process rather than a specific massage technique
Comparison of Neuromuscular Joint Facilitation and Quadriceps Strengthening Exercise in Knee Osteoarthritis: a Randomized Controlled Trial
No full textObjectives: To compare the effect of neuromuscular joint facilitation (NJF) and quadriceps strengthening exercises on pain, physical function, static posture, and balance control in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore.
Participants: Subjects diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to the American College of Sports Medicine criteria. The mean age of subjects in the control group was 63.12 ± 8.08 years; in the experimental group was 61.77 ± 8.46 years.
Interventions: The intervention group received NJF treatment twice a week for six weeks, and the control group received quadriceps strengthening exercises. Standard knee exercises were given as a home program to both groups.
Outcome Measures: Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), 30-second chair stand (30s-CST), and single leg stance (SLS) were used to assess physical function, static posture, and balance control, respectively, at the end of the sixth week.
Results: Sixty subjects were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The experimental and control group showed a mean difference of 3.89 and 4.17 in NPRS, 4.19 and 4.17 in 30s-CST, 6.81 and 5.71 in SLS at the end of six weeks. This change was significant within both groups (p value .000) and not significant between groups (NPRS p value .303; 30s-CST p value .09; SLS p value .525) at the end of six weeks.
Conclusions: NJF and quadriceps strengthening exercises effectively reduced pain and improved physical function, static posture, and balance control in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Both groups had the same effect on all clinical variables at six weeks of follow-up. Hence, further studies with long term follow-up are warranted
Applying Scientific Rationale to the Current Perceptions and Explanations of Massage and Miscarriage in the First Trimester
No full textMiscarriage is a relatively common occurrence, impacting 8–15% of clinically recognised pregnancies, and up to 30% of all conceptions. The public perception of the risk factors associated with miscarriage does not match the evidence. Evidence indicates that there are very few modifiable factors to prevent miscarriage, and the majority of the time little could have been done to prevent a spontaneous miscarriage. However, the public perception is that consuming drugs, lifting a heavy object, previous use of an intrauterine device, or massage can all contribute to miscarriage. While misinformation about the causes and risk factors of miscarriage continues to circulate, pregnant women will experience confusion about what activities they can (and cannot) do in early pregnancy, including receiving a massage.
Pregnancy massage is an important component of massage therapy education. The resources that underpin pregnancy massage coursework consist of educational print content that includes direction and caution that massage in the first trimester, if done ‘incorrectly’ or in the ‘wrong’ location, can contribute to adverse outcomes such as miscarriage. The most common statements, perceptions and explanations for massage and miscarriage cover three broad areas: 1) maternal changes from massage affects the embryo/fetus; 2) massage leads to damage of the fetus/placenta; and 3) aspects of the massage treatment in the first trimester initiate contractions.
The goal of this paper is to use scientific rationale to critically consider the validity of the current perceptions and explanations of massage therapy and miscarriage. Whilst direct evidence from clinical trials was lacking, considerations of physiological mechanisms regulating pregnancy and known risk factors associated with miscarriage provide no evidence that massage in pregnancy would increase a patient’s risk of miscarriage. This scientific rationale should be addressed when teaching pregnancy massage courses
Preliminary Study: Short-term Beneficial Effects of Thai Tok Sen Massage on Pain, Pressure Pain Threshold, and Upper Trapezius Muscle Thickness Among People with Shoulder Pain
No full textBackground: Shoulder muscle pain and spasm is the most common problem in people after prolonged working, similar to that resulting from office syndrome. Various medicinal treatments with analgesic drugs, hot packs, therapeutic ultrasound, or deep friction techniques can be clinically applied. Alternatively, traditional Thai massage (TM) with deep compression gentle technique also can help to release that problem. In addition, an traditional Thai treatment with Tok Sen (TS) massage has been generally performed in the Northern part of Thailand without any scientific evidence support. Thus, the aim of this preliminary study was to reveal the scientific value of Tok Sen massage on shoulder muscle pain and upper trapezius muscle thickness among people with shoulder pain.
Materials & Methods: Twenty participants (6 males and 14 females) who suffered from shoulder pain were randomized into TS (n =10, aged 34.2 ± 7.34 yrs) or TM (n=10, aged 32.8 ± 7.24 yrs). Each group received two times 5–10 minutes of treatment, one week apart. At the baseline and after completing two times of each intervention, pain score, pain pressure threshold (PPT), and specific trapezius muscle thickness were evaluated.
Results: Before both TM and TS interventions, pain score, PPT, and muscle thickness were not statistically different between groups. After two times of intervention, pain scores significantly reduced in TM (3.1 ± 0.56; p = .02, 2.3 ± 0.48; p < .001), as same as in TS (2.3 ± 0.67; p = .01, 1.3 ± 0.45; p < .001) when compared to baseline. This was the same as the results of PPT in TM (4.02 ± 0.34; p = .012, 4.55 ± 0.42; p = .001) and TS (5.67 ± 0.56; p = .001, 6.8 ± 0.72; p < .001). However, the trapezius muscle thickness reduced significantly after two interventions by TS (10.42 ± 1.04; p = 0.002 & 9.73 ± 0.94 mm, p < .001), but did not change in TM (p > .05). Moreover, when compared between intereventions at the first and second periods, TS showed a significant difference in pain score (p = .01 & p <.001), muscle thickness (p = .008 & p = .001) as well as PPT (p < .001 & p < .001) when compared to TM.
Conclusion: Tok Sen massage improves upper trapezius thickness from muscle spasms and reduces pain perception and increases the pressure threshold pain among participants who suffer from shoulder pain similar to that of office syndrome
Feasibility and Efficacy of Craniosacral Therapy on Sleep Quality in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: a Pre-Post Pilot Trial
No full textBackground: Sleep disturbance is one of the key symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), which negatively affects the participants’ quality of life. Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle manual technique found to have significant effects on pain and function in chronic pain participants. However, limited evidence exists on its effectiveness on sleep quality in FMS participants.
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of CST on sleep quality in FMS participants.
Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy department of a hospital in Bangalore.
Participants: Participants diagnosed with FMS.
Research Design: A pre/post pilot trial. Intervention: Once weekly, 45-minute sessions of CST for 12 weeks. The participants continued the standard medical care prescribed by the physician.
Main Outcome Measure: The sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline and 12 weeks. The data analysis was carried out using paired t test.
Results: 9 out of 10 included par-ticipants completed the treatment and were included for analysis. The results of the paired t test showed significant improvement in the global PSQI score (p = .001, mean difference = 5.44±3.28, 95% CI = 2.92-7.97), as well as the 5 components of PSQI (p < .05).
Conclusion: CST was feasible to deliver with high retention, acceptability, and minimal adverse events. It significantly improved sleep quality in FMS participants along with standard medical care. However, future studies with larger sample sizes and appropriate control groups are required to confirm the findings
The Effectiveness of Massage in Managing Pregnant Women with Pelvic Girdle Pain: a Randomised Controlled Crossover Feasibility Study
No full textIntroduction: Pelvic girdle pain is a common problem experienced during pregnancy, with high incidence rates and significant impacts on quality of life. Remedial massage might be able to provide some reduction in pain.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of massage in treating pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain to determine its merits and viability for use in a large-scale study.
Methods: A two-arm pilot randomised feasibility crossover-controlled trial. The two treatment phases were a) remedial pregnancy massage, and b) exercise.
Results: Twenty-four women started the study and 19 women completed the study. Data were collected on recruitment and retention rates, crossover study design methodology, participant sub-characteristics, and acceptability of the outcome measures (pain, quality of life, and disability).
Conclusion: Recruiting participants for a pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain study is indeed feasible; however, a crossover study design is not appropriate and future studies should consider a mixed methods study design
Celebrating 15 Years of the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
No full textIn this editorial, Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Amanda Baskwill, celebrates 15 years of publications of the IJTMB
Effects of Therapeutic Calf Massage on Cardiac Autonomic Function in Healthy Volunteers—a Pilot Study
No full textBackground: Calf massage is a therapeutic intervention that improves circulation and relieves us from pain & tightness. The calf massage also improves autonomic performance by modulating the vagal tone of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, the current study was intended to determine therapeutic calf massage on cardio autonomic activity in healthy subjects.
Objective: To assess the immediate effect of a single 20-min session of calf massage on cardiac autonomic modulation through heart rate variability (HRV) measurement.
Materials & Methods: In this study, 26 apparent healthy female participants aged between 18 and 25 years participated. Massage over the calf muscles on both legs for 20 min was performed, and resting cardiovascular parameters and HRV parameters were measured at baseline, immediately after the massage, and during the recovery periods (10 and 30 min after the massage). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed with post hoc analysis.
Results: Immediately after the massage intervention, heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were decreased (p < .01), and the reduction was persisted at 10 min and 30 min of the recovery period (p < .01). In HRV parameters, the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and high-frequency normalized unit (HF n.u.) increased, and low frequency (LF n.u.) decreased after the massage, and at the 10 and 30 min of the recovery period.
Conclusion: The present study reports suggest a significant reduction in heart rate and blood pressure after the massage therapy. A drop in sympathetic tone and raise in parasympathetic tone can also attribute to the therapeutic effect.
Comparative Effectiveness of Gua Sha, Cryostretch, and Positional Release Technique on Tenderness and Function in Subjects with Plantar Fasciitis: a Randomized Clinical Trial
No full textBackground: Plantar fasciitis (PF) can be treated effectively with manual techniques like cryostretch (CS) and the positional release technique (PRT). Although Gua Sha (GS) has been suggested in the literature for PF, its efficacy has not been studied in the research.
Objective: To determine and compare the effectiveness of GS, CS, and PRT in subjects with PF in terms of pain intensity, pain pressure threshold, and foot function.
Methods/Design: Thirty-six patients with PF (n=36) were randomly allocated to three study groups (12 in each group)—group GS, group CS, and group PRT, respectively.
Settings: A randomized clinical trial was conducted at physiotherapy OPD in a tertiary health center.
Participants: Subjects of all genders with plantar fasciitis of the age group 20-60 years. Thirty-six subjects with plantar fasciitis out of whom 12 were males and 24 females. There were no dropouts in this study.
Intervention: The interventions included the Gua Sha technique (1 session), the cryostretch technique with a frozen tennis ball (3 sessions), and the positional release technique (7 sessions), along with common exercises for all three groups.
Outcome Measures: Pain intensity, foot functions, and pain pressure threshold were assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Foot Function Index, and pressure algometer, respectively, on day 1 (pre-intervention) and day 7 (post-intervention).
Results: Between group analyses showed that group GS was more effective than CS and PRT for pain (p=.0001), group CS was more effective than GS and PRT for foot function (p=.0001) whereas group PRT was more effective than GS and CS for pain pressure threshold (p=.0001).
Conclusion: Although all three groups showed improvement, Gua Sha was superior in terms of reducing pain, cryostretch for improving foot functions, and PRT for reducing tenderness. The interventions used in this study are cost-effective and have proved to be simple and safe techniques