Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic massage in patients with neck pain.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of therapeutic massage on the range of motion in patients with neck pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 60 patients aged 37-82 years (mean age: 62.8 ± 9.86 years) treated for neck pain at the Rehabilitation Department of Zamosc University of Management and Administration. The patients were divided into two groups: one (30 persons) received kinesiotherapy and physiotherapy, and the other group (30 persons) additionally received therapeutic massage. The effectiveness of rehabilitation was assessed with a Saunders digital inclinometer, the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Both groups did not differ significantly in terms of NDI and VAS scores at baseline (NDI: p = 0.56, VAS: P = 0.231) and after rehabilitation (NDI: p = 0.203; VAS: P = 0.401). The NDI questionnaire and VAS revealed a significant pain reduction (p <0.001), and improved performance and function (p <0.001) after rehabilitation in both groups. Patients who had received massage demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the range of flexion (p = 0.022), lateral bend to the right (p = 0.018), and lateral bend to the left (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Therapeutic massage increases ranges of motion. 2. The effectiveness of therapeutic massage is comparable to the effectiveness of rehabilitation based only on physical therapy and kinesiotherapy.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of short-term rehabilitation of women with chronic low back pain using the Oswestry and Roland-Morris Disability Scales.

BACKGROUND: 60-80% of the population experience chronic low back pain at some point in their lives [1], with women suffering more frequently [2]. Low back pain-related ailments lead to long-term or recurrent disability [3, 4]. Rehabilitation based on physiotherapy provides a viable alternative and is rightly regarded as safer for patients. However, finding an effective method of rehabilitation is a difficult task [5, 6]. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of rehabilitation in women with chronic low back pain using the Oswestry and Roland-Morris Disability Scales and to identify factors influencing the degree of functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 319 women aged 18-75 years (mean age = 45 years, SD ± 16. 3). The participants were undergoing treatment at the Rehabilitation Centre of Zamosc University of Management and Administration on account of chronic low back pain, following two or more episodes lasting longer than three months. The outcomes of rehabilitation were assessed with ODI and RMDQ. RESULTS: We obtained comparable results with the ODI and RMDQ and found statistically significant improvement in functional status after rehabilitation (ODI: p <0.001, RMDQ: p <0.001). In both cases there was a statistically significant relationship between the degree of functional disability and age (ODI: p <0.001, RMDQ: p <0.001), education (ODI: p <0.004, RMDQ: p <0.004), BMI (ODI: p <0.001, RMDQ : p <0.001), WHR (ODI: p <0.001, RMDQ: p <0.001), and hypertension (ODI: p <0.001, RMDQ: p <0.001). There were no statically significant differences between the degree of disability vs. place of residence (ODI: p <0.5, RMDQ: p <0.867) or the presence of type 2 diabetes (ODI: p <0.321, RMDQ: p <0.06). CONCLUSIONS: 1.The programme for rehabilitation of patients with low back pain proved effective in reducing the degree of disability, as demonstrated both by the Oswestry Disability Index and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. 2. The relationship between the degree of functional disability and age, BMI, WHR, and hypertension was also confirmed by both questionnaires.