MASSAGE AND BACK PAIN
Back pain can be seen to be a major problem. It represents a burden for the patient, the family,
and increasingly, for the economy of industrialized countries. Within that huge problem, massage,
along with complementary soft tissue and joint treatment methods, have been shown to offer
safe and effective care to assist in recovery and rehabilitation
Cherkin et al (2003)in their research review have compared massage with manipulation and
acupuncture in treating back pain, and have found massage to be safe, and to be superior in
both effectiveness and cost-effectiveness to the other methods:
Initial studies have found massage to be effective for persistent back pain. Spinal
manipulation has small clinical benefits that are equivalent to those of other commonly
used therapies. The effectiveness of acupuncture remains unclear. All of these treatments
seem to be relatively safe. Preliminary evidence suggests that massage, but not
acupuncture or spinal manipulation, may reduce the costs of care after an initial course of
therapy
Back pain can be seen to be a major problem. It represents a burden for the patient, the family,
and increasingly, for the economy of industrialized countries. Within that huge problem, massage,
along with complementary soft tissue and joint treatment methods, have been shown to offer
safe and effective care to assist in recovery and rehabilitation
Cherkin et al (2003)in their research review have compared massage with manipulation and
acupuncture in treating back pain, and have found massage to be safe, and to be superior in
both effectiveness and cost-effectiveness to the other methods:
Initial studies have found massage to be effective for persistent back pain. Spinal
manipulation has small clinical benefits that are equivalent to those of other commonly
used therapies. The effectiveness of acupuncture remains unclear. All of these treatments
seem to be relatively safe. Preliminary evidence suggests that massage, but not
acupuncture or spinal manipulation, may reduce the costs of care after an initial course of
therapy
