Table 2.

Intervention process of studies of manual therapy on cancer pain.

First author, year, country	Intervention EG	Procedure EG	Intervention CG	Procedure CG
De Groef, 2017, Belgium [14]	18 sessions of a standard physical therapy program of 30 min (week 1–8 twice a week, week 9–12 once a week). 12 sessions of myofascial therapy of 30 min (once a week)	Physical therapy: shoulder mobilization; pectoral muscle stretching; exercise therapy. Myofascial therapy: myofascial release on active myofascial trigger points at the upper body, on myofascial adhesions in the pectoral, axilla, cervical region, diaphragm, and scars	18 sessions of a standard physical therapy program of 30 min (week 1–8 twice a week, week 9–12 once a week). 12 sessions of placebo treatment of 30 min (once a week)	Physical therapy: shoulder mobilization; pectoral muscle stretching; exercise therapy. Placebo: placements of hands up and down the upper body and arm on the affected side and lasted for 10–15 sec at one location
Listing, 2009, Germany [15]	10 sessions of classical massage of 30 min (twice a week)	Classical massage: massage of the back, neck, and head, consisted of Swedish techniques such as stroking, kneading, frictions, pressing on the trigger points, stretching the neck and the lumbar spine area, and depressing the shoulders and the hip area	Medical routine	No intervention, standard care
Rangon, 2017, Brazil [24]	10 sessions of kinesiotherapy of 50 min (twice a week). 10 sessions of ischemic compression of 90 sec (twice a week)	Kinesiotherapy: walk; neck active stretching, anterior and posterior chain of higher trunk; active mobilization of the cervical spine, upper limbs; relaxation exercises. Ischemic compression: pressing bilaterally on the myofascial trigger point centrally located in the upper trapezius muscle	10 sessions of kinesiotherapy of 50 min (twice a week)	Kinesiotherapy: walk; neck active stretching, anterior and posterior chain of higher trunk; active mobilization of the cervical spine, upper limbs; relaxation exercises
Wyatt, 2012, USA [13]	20 sessions of foot reflexology of 30 min (4 times a week)	Foot reflexology: stimulation of the nine essential breast cancer-specific reflexes with reflexology-specific deep thumb-walking pressure	Medical routine	No intervention, standard care
Tsay, 2008, Taiwan [26]	3 sessions of foot reflexotherapy of 20 min (once a day)	Foot reflexology: massage of digestive reflex zones of upper and lower abdomen, liver, spleen, gall bladder, duodenal, intestine, and colon	Medical routine	No intervention, standard care
Beurskens, 2007, Netherlands [25]	9 sessions of physiotherapy (once or twice a week for the first 3 weeks, and thereafter once a fortnight or less). 90 sessions of home exercises of 10 min (once a day)	Physiotherapy: soft tissue massage of the surgical scar; exercise for arm/shoulder, muscular strength, coordination, and improvement of general physical condition. Home exercises: exercises for the arm/shoulder	90 sessions of home exercises of 10 min (once a day)	Home exercises: exercises for the arm/shoulder
Wilkie, 2000, USA [27]	4 sessions of massage therapy of 30–45 min (twice a week)	Massage therapy: massage of head/back/gluteus muscles/four extremities, including effleurage, light petrissage, naive stroke, light compression, vibration, and tapotement	Medical routine	No intervention, standard care
Wilkinson, 2007, UK [28]	40 sessions of aromatherapy massage of 60 min (4 times a week)	Aromatherapy massage: massage with essential oils, massage strokes, timings, and overall style	Usual supportive care	Usual supportive care: psychological support services
Collinge, 2013, USA [29]	12 sessions of massage therapy of 20 min (3 times a week)	Massage therapy: manual techniques for comfort and relaxation of head/neck/shoulders/back/feet/hands, including touching and acupressure	12 sessions of reading therapy of 20 min (3 times a week)	Reading therapy: reading any literature such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and religious
Pyszora, 2017, Poland [30]	6 sessions of physiotherapy programme of 30 min (3 times a week)	Physiotherapy programme: techniques of myofascial release and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation	Medical routine	No intervention, standard care
Arienti, 2018, Italy [31]	4 sessions of osteopathic manipulative treatment of 45 min (once a week). 28 sessions of physiotherapy of 30 min (once a day)	Osteopathic manipulative treatment: dorsal/lumbar soft tissue/rib raising; back/abdominal myofascial release; cervical spine soft tissue/suboccipital decompression; sacroiliac myofascial release; strain-counterstain; and muscle energy technique. Physiotherapy: passive mobilization, active exercises, and walk	28 sessions of physiotherapy of 30 min (once a day)	Physiotherapy: passive mobilization, active exercises, and walk
Qian, 2018, China [32]	28 sessions of massage therapy of 10 min (twice a day)	Massage therapy: pressing and rubbing with oils on Baihui (DU20)/Shenmen (HT7) and other acupoints related to symptoms	Medical routine	No intervention, standard care
Chen, 2019, China [33]	28 sessions of acupressure of 20 min (twice a day)	Acupressure: pressing on Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36)	Medical routine	No intervention, standard care

EG: experiment group; CG: control group.