Neck pain is a challenging issue that impacts millions of people globally, especially for those with sedentary or screen- and computer-based occupations. Recent research looked at medical massage as a means to help reduce or eliminate that neck pain.
The study, published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, evaluated the “efficacy of medical massage in reducing chronic neck and back pain among diverse occupational groups over a three-year period.” The study looked not only at medical massage as a way to treat neck pain but its value for potential long-term neck pain relief.
Researchers selected 127 participants from various professions throughout North Macedonia, including information technology professionals, accountants, drivers, textile workers, and administrative and business sector employees. The participants, ranging in age from 24 to 60, were given one or two 30-minute massages per month and asked to report their pain intensity before and after. The physiotherapist providing the therapy also used the same massage techniques across all participants, noted the study.
Pain intensity was measured using a numerical rating scale (1–10) at the start and throughout the study. Initially, participants reported an average pain intensity level of seven on the scale. But throughout the study’s three-year period, consistent massage therapy led to a significant reduction in neck pain, with an average pain level of two being reported in the final months of the study.
The study also addressed massage frequency. A subset of participants did not receive massages in the same frequency as the other set did; those who abstained from the treatment approach for approximately four months had an escalation of pain intensity.
This research provides valuable considerations for the potential long-term benefits of massage therapy. According to the researchers, “these findings offer essential guidance to health-care professionals and individuals seeking non-pharmacological interventions for chronic neck pain management.”
Read the full study at https://ijtmb.org/index.php/ijtmb/article/view/993.