Table 3.
Pain syndromes that are improved by massage therapy: reference numbers, trial types, comparison groups and primary results.
| Pain syndromes | Reference | Trial | Comparison | Primary results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle pain | 27 | RCT | exercise | >upper extremity function |
| 28 | RCT | exercise | >range of motion | |
| Labor pain | 29 | RCT | vibration | <pain and shorter labor |
| Foot | 30 | RCT | ultrasound | <pain |
| Knee arthritis pain | 31 | RCT | exercise | <pain and >performance |
| 32 | Single arm | <pain and >gait speed | ||
| 33 | RCT | waitlist | >range of motion | |
| Pelvic pain | 34 | RCT | exercise | <pain intensity |
| Carpal tunnel | 35 | Single arm | <pain and greater function | |
| Hand pain | 36 | RCT | no analgesic | <pain and >grip strength |
| Arthritis upper limbs | 37 | RCT | light pressure | >range of motion |
| Neck pain | 38 | RCT | light pressure | >range of motion |
| 39 | META | <pain | ||
| 40 | META | <pain | ||
| Back pain | 41 | RCT | physical therapy | <pain and <disability |
| 42 | RCT | Thai massage | <pain and <disability | |
| 43 | RCT | usual care | <pain | |
| Different joints | 44 | REVIEW | <pain | |
| Fibromyalgia | 45 | META | <pain & <sleep disturbance | |
| 46 | META | <pain | ||
| Veterans | 48 | Single arm | <pain & <anxiety | |
| Coronary bypass | 49 | RCT | usual care | <pain |
| 50 | RCT | rest | <muscle tension | |
| 51 | RCT | handholding | <muscle tension |