| Author, Year, Followup,a Pain Duration, Study Quality | Intervention | Population | Function and Pain Outcomes | Other Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ajimsha, 2014175 1 month Duration of pain: 2.3 vs. 2.25 years Fair | A. Myofascial release (n=38) 24 sessions, 3 session/week for 8 weeks B. Sham myofascial release (n=36) | A vs. B Age: 36 vs. 34 years Female: 76% vs. 78% Baseline Quebec Back Disability Scale (0-100): 37.1 vs. 35.3 Baseline pain (0-78 McGill Pain): 23.2 vs. 23.0 | A vs. B 1 month Quebec Back Disability Scale (0-100): 28.7 vs. 32.5, difference −2.02, p<0.005 McGill Pain Questionnaire (0-78): 13.1 vs. 18.3, difference −3.25, p<0.005 | NR |
Arguisuelas, 2017179 3 months Duration of pain: 7.1 to 7.9 years Fair | A. Myofascial release (n=27): Two 40-minute sessions per week for 2 weeks. B. Sham myofascial release (n=27) | A vs. B Age: 47 vs. 46 years Female: 59% vs. 63% Baseline RDQ (0-24, MCID= 3 points): 11.1 vs. 11.1 | A vs. B 3 months RDQ: 8.1 (95% CI 5.4 to 10.9) 11.8 (95% CI 9.1 to 14.5), difference −3.7 (95% CI −7.6 to −0.2), p≤0.05 VAS: 43.0 (95% CI 31.1 to 54.9) 52.0 (95% CI 40.1 to 63.9), difference −9.0 (95% CI −-25.8 to 7.9), p≤0.05 SF-MPQ: 15.28 (95% CI 11.1 to 20.6) vs. 23.7 (95% CI 18.9 to 28.4), difference −7.8 (95% CI −14.5 to −1.1), p≤0.05 RDQ improved ≥3 points: 81.8% vs. 25% Pain (VAS) improved ≥20 points: 50.0% vs. 37.5% SF-MPQ improved ≥5 points: 59.1% vs. 29.1% | A vs. B 3 months FABQ: 48.1 (95% CI 38.1 to 58.1) vs. 61.6 (95% CI 51.7 to 71.6), difference −13.5 (95% CI −27.6 to 0.5), p≤0.05 |
Cherkin, 2001176 10.5 months Duration of pain >1 year: 64% vs. 62% Fair | A. Mixed massage (including Swedish) (n=78) Up to 10 sessions over 10 weeks B. Attention control (self-care education) (n=90) | A vs. B Age: 46 vs. 44 years Female: 69% vs. 56% Baseline modified RDQ (0-23): 11.8 vs. 12.0 Baseline symptom bothersomeness (0-10): 6.2 vs. 6.1 | A vs. B 10.5 months Modified RDQ (0-23): 6.8 vs. 6.4, p=0.03 Symptom bothersomeness (0-10): 3.2 vs. 3.8, p=0.003 | A vs. B 10.5 months Low back pain medication: 2.5 vs. 4.0, p=0.69 SF-12 Mental Component Score: no differences, data not shown |
Cherkin, 2011177 9.5 months Duration of pain ≥1 year: 77% vs. 72% vs. 78% Fair | A. Structural massage (n=132): (myofascial, neuromuscular, and other soft-tissue techniques) 10 sessions for 10 weeks B. Relaxation massage (n=136): 10 sessions for 10 weeks C. Usual care (n=133) | A vs. B vs. C Age: 46 vs. 47 vs. 48 years Female: 66% vs. 65% vs. 62% Symptom bothersomeness (0-10): 5.6 vs. 5.6 vs. 5.8 Modified RDQ (0-23): 10.1 vs. 11.6 vs.10.5 | A vs. B vs. C 9.5 months Symptom bothersomeness (0-10): 4.6 (95% CI 4.2 to 5.0) vs. 3.9 (95% CI 3.5 to 4.3) vs. 4.2 (95% CI 3.8 to 4.6) Modified RDQ (0-23): 7.2 (95% CI 6.4, 7.9) vs. 6.0 (95% CI 5.2 to 6.9) vs. 7.4 (95% CI 6.6 to 8.3), adjusted difference −0.3 (95% CI −1.4 to 0.9) for A vs. C and −1.4 (95% CI −2.6 to −0.2) for B vs. C | A vs. B vs. C 9.5 months SF-12 Mental (0-100): 52.4 (95% CI 50.9 to 53.8) vs. 53.5 (95% CI 52.2 to 54.8) vs. 51.9 (95% CI 50.2 to 53.6) SF-12 Physical (0-100): 37.7 (95% CI 36.8 to 38.7) vs. 37.9 (95% CI 37.0 to 38.7) vs. 37.7 (95% CI 36.8 to 38.6) Opioid use in last week for LBP: 4.8% (95% CI 3.1 to 7.3) vs. 4.9% (95% CI 3.1 to 7.9) vs. 4.9% (95% CI 2.7 to 8.7) Global rating of improvement “much better” or “gone”: 26.1% (95% 19.8 to 34.6) vs. 36.2% (95% CI 29.1 to 45.0) vs. 20.5 (95% CI 14.5 to 29.0), RR 1.3 (95% CI 0.8, 2.0) for A vs. C and RR 1.8 (95% CI 1.2, 2.6) for B vs. C Healthcare costs (median): $38 (range $0 to $1443) vs. $78 (range $0 to $3,764) vs. $25 (range $0 to $8,082) |
Little, 2008189 11.5 months Duration of pain: NR Fair | A. Mixed massage (including Swedish) (n=75), 6 sessions over 6 weeks/ B: Usual care (n=72) C: Exercise (regular exercise) (n=72) 5 times per week | Age: 45-46 years Female: 64-78% Baseline RDQ (0-24): 10.8-11.3 Baseline Deyo troublesome-ness (1-5): 3.3−3.4 | A vs. B 10.5 months RDQ (0-24): NR vs. 9.23 (5.3), difference −0.45 (95% CI −2.3 to 1.39) Von Korff disability (0-10): NR vs. 3.32 (2.25), difference 0.46 (95% CI −0.43 to 1.35) Von Korff pain (0-10): NR vs. 4.74 (2.20), difference 0.29 (95% CI −0.58 to 1.16) A vs. C 10.5 months RDQ: −0.45 (−2.3 to 1.39) vs. −1.65 (−3.62 to 0.31) Von Korff disability: 0.46 (−0.43 to 1.35) vs. 0.05 (−0.92 to 1.02) Von Korff pain: 0.29 (−0.58 to 1.16) vs. −0.31 (−1.26 to 0.63) | A vs. B 10.5 months Von Korff overall (0-10): NR vs. 4.19, difference 0.31 (95% CI −0.52 to 1.14) SF-36 PCS (0-100): NR vs. 56.1 (18.6), difference −1.45 (95% CI −9.04 to 6.15) SF-36 MCS (0-100): NR vs. 64.8 (17.5), difference −2.11 (95% CI −9.37 to 5.16) Deyo troublesomeness scale (1-5): NR vs. 3.05 (0.80), difference 0.04 (−0.25 to 0.33) A vs. C 10.5 months Von Korff overall: 0.31 (−0.52 to 1.14) vs. −0.19 (−1.09 to 0.72) SF-36 Physical Component Score: −1.45 (−9.04 to 6.15) vs. −2.08 (−10.6 to 6.40) SF-36 Mental Component Score: −2.11 (−9.37 to 5.16) vs. 0.72 (−7.38 to 8.81) Deyo troublesomeness scale: 0.04 (−0.25 to 0.33) vs. −0.21 (−0.52 to 0.09) |
Movahedi, 2017180 1 month Duration of pain: NR Poor | A. Acupressure (n=25): Three 14-minute sessions per week for 3 weeks (9 total sessions). B. Sham acupressure (n=25) | A vs. B Age: 37 vs. 37 years Female: 100% vs. 100% Baseline FSS (9-63): 34.9 (12.3) vs. 34.8 (13.4) | A vs. B 1 month FSS: 24.3 vs. 36.6, p<0.001; difference −12.2 (95% CI −18.57 to −5.83) | NR |
Poole, 2007108 4.5 months Duration of pain: 10 vs. 11 vs. 9.5 years Fair | A. Reflexology (n=77) 6 sessions over 6−8 weeks B. Usual care (n=75) | A vs. B Age: 47 vs. 47 years Female: 62% vs. 51% Baseline ODI: 33.0 vs. 36.6 Baseline pain (0-100 VAS): 44.5 vs. 40.6 | A vs. B 4.5 months ODI (0-100): 29.0 (20.2) vs. 32.9 (17.6) Pain (0-100 VAS): 39.8 (29.2) vs. 42.7 (28.4) | A vs. B 4.5 months Beck Depression Inventory (0-63): 11.6 (10.9) vs. 12.8 (9.2) SF-36 Physical Functioning: 57.1 (31.8) vs. 52.2 (29.5) SF-36 Social Functioning: 68.1 (31.8) vs. 61.5 (30.8) SF-36 Physical Limitations: 48.2 (46.4) vs. 37.8 (42.5) SF-36 Emotional Limitations: 55.0 (46.5) vs. 62.0 (44.0) |
Quinn, 2008178 1.5 and 3 months Duration of pain: At least 3 months Fair | A. Reflexology (pressure massage stimulation) (n=7) 6 sessions over 6 weeks B. Sham reflexology (n=8) | A vs. B Age (median): 42 vs. 45 Female: 86% vs. 50% Baseline RDQ: 5 vs. 7.5 Baseline pain (0-10 VAS): 4.7 vs. 3.4 | A vs. B 1.5 months, median (IQR) RDQ: 4 (3 to 4.5) vs. 4.5 (1 to 7) Pain (0-10 VAS): 2.1 (1.5 to 4.9) vs. 4.1 (2.7 to 5.1) McGill Pain Questionnaire (0-77): 11 (6 to 17) vs. 6.5 (5 to 13) 3 months, median (IQR) RDQ: 4 (2 to 5) vs. 3.5 (1.8 to 4.8) VAS: 2.2 (1.6 to 3.2) vs. 3.2 (2.6 to 4.6) McGill Pain Questionnaire (0-77): 6 (4 to 13) vs. 7.5 (3.8 to 9.8) | A vs. B 1.5 months, median (IQR) SF-36 General health: 52.9 (49 to 54) vs. 42.2 (40 to 51) SF-36 Physical functioning: 48.6 (47 to 50) vs. 43.4 (40 to 50) SF-36 Mental health: 47.2 (43 to 56) vs. 47.2 (42 to 53) 3 months, median (IQR) SF-36 General health: 48.2 (46 to 52) vs. 47.0 (38 to 53) SF-36 Physical functioning: 50.7 (44 to 51) vs. 45.5 (44 to 50) SF-36 Mental health: 52.8 (39 to 53) vs. 48.6 (44 to 51) |
Abbreviations: CI = confidence interval; FABQ = Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire; FSS = Fatigue Severity Scale; IQR = interquartile range; LBP = low back pain; NR = not reported; MCS = Mental Component Summary; MCID = minimal clinically important difference; MPQ = McGill Pain Questionnaire; NR = not reported; PCS = Physical Component Summary; ODI = Oswestry Disability Index; RDQ =Roland-Morris disability questionnaire; RR = relative risk; SF-12 = Short-Form 12 questionaire; SF-36 = Short-Form 36 questionnaire; VAS = visual analog scale
Unless otherwise noted, followup time is calculated from the end of the treatment period
From: Results
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