81
593
84
↑81
↓593
—84
Evidence suggests Massage maydecreasePain.
447 studies (758 claims)
Moderate consensus
Typical effective dose 25 (14–47.5) %across 3 dosed studies
Study Claims
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Type | Population | Dosage | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aromatherapy massage using a blend of lavender and almond oils | Decreases - positive effect in reducing | pain scores | Human | burn patients | Massage for half an hour using a blend of lavender and almond oils. | Comparing the effects of aromatherapy massage and inhalation aromatherapy on anxiety and pain in burn patients: A single-blind randomized clinical trial.cited 55× |
| massage chair | Increases - is a promising treatment for | pain control | Human | — | Not specified | Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of massage chair therapy versus basic physiotherapy in lower back pain patients: A randomized controlled trial.cited 11× |
| massage chair | Decreases - were both effective for | pain control as assessed with the VAS | Human | participants | Not specified | Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of massage chair therapy versus basic physiotherapy in lower back pain patients: A randomized controlled trial.cited 11× |
| light pressure stroking massage with topical sesame oil | Decreases - was associated with significant reduction | pain severity | Human | patients with limbs trauma | 5-minute massage twice daily with either sesame oil or liquid paraffin (placebo). | Effect of light pressure stroking massage with sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) oil on alleviating acute traumatic limbs pain: A triple-blind controlled trial in emergency department.cited 14× |
| light pressure stroking massage with topical sesame oil | Decreases - Mean changes of pain severity between two groups was significant | pain severity | Human | patients with upper or lower extremities trauma | 5-minute massage twice daily with either sesame oil or liquid paraffin (placebo). | Effect of light pressure stroking massage with sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) oil on alleviating acute traumatic limbs pain: A triple-blind controlled trial in emergency department.cited 14× |
| light pressure stroking massage with topical sesame oil | Decreases - Mean changes of pain severity between two groups was significant | pain severity | Human | patients with upper or lower extremities trauma | 5-minute massage twice daily with either sesame oil or liquid paraffin (placebo). | Effect of light pressure stroking massage with sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) oil on alleviating acute traumatic limbs pain: A triple-blind controlled trial in emergency department.cited 14× |
| abdominal massage | Decreases - decrease the severity of | abdominal pain | Human | patients | Not specified | Experiences of abdominal massage for constipation.cited 31× |
| abdominal massage | No effect - No statistically significant intergroup difference was noted | maximal pain | Human | patients scheduled to undergo intestinal resection and follow an ERAS protocol | Not specified | Abdominal massage to prevent ileus after colorectal surgery. A single-center, prospective, randomized clinical trial: the MATRAC Trial.cited 1× |
| abdominal massage | No effect - had no effect | pain | Human | patients with malignant ascites | 15-minute gentle abdominal massage, twice daily. | The effect of abdominal massage in reducing malignant ascites symptoms.cited 10× |
| abdominal massage | Decreases - reducing | pain | Human | patients who underwent colonoscopy | Not specified | The effect of position change and abdominal massage on anxiety, pain and distension after colonoscopy: A randomized clinical trial. |
| abdominal massage | Decreases - decreased the most | VAS pain scores | Human | patients who underwent colonoscopy | Not specified | The effect of position change and abdominal massage on anxiety, pain and distension after colonoscopy: A randomized clinical trial. |
| abdominal massage | No effect - determine the effect | severity of pain | Human | university students | Not specified | The effect of abdominal massage and stretching exercise on pain and dysmenorrhea symptoms in female university students: A single-blind randomized-controlled clinical trial.cited 5× |
| abdominal massage | Decreases - decrease | the feelings of discomfort and pain that accompany it | Human | constipated patients | Not specified | The use of abdominal massage to treat chronic constipation.cited 78× |
| perineal massage during the second stage of labour | Decreases - significantly lower | mean perineal pain score at 24 h postpartum | Human | nulliparous women undergoing vaginal delivery | Perineal massage during the second stage of labour (specific frequency/duration not detailed). | Effectiveness of Intrapartum Perineal Massage in Preventing Perineal Trauma in Nulliparous Women During the Second Stage of Labour: A Randomised Controlled Trial. |
| perineal massage during the second stage of labour | Decreases - significantly lower | mean perineal pain score at 4 h postpartum | Human | nulliparous women undergoing vaginal delivery | Perineal massage during the second stage of labour (specific frequency/duration not detailed). | Effectiveness of Intrapartum Perineal Massage in Preventing Perineal Trauma in Nulliparous Women During the Second Stage of Labour: A Randomised Controlled Trial. |
| massage gun | Decreases - reducing | pressure pain threshold | Human | patients with pain and latent trigger points at the calf muscle | 12 sessions of either massage gun or myofascial release, with 20 minutes of ice once a week for 12 weeks. | Effectiveness of Massage Gun Versus Myofascial Release Technique for Releasing Latent Trigger Points of the Calf Muscle: A Protocol for Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 1× |
| massage gun | Decreases - reducing | subjective pain | Human | patients with pain and latent trigger points at the calf muscle | 12 sessions of either massage gun or myofascial release, with 20 minutes of ice once a week for 12 weeks. | Effectiveness of Massage Gun Versus Myofascial Release Technique for Releasing Latent Trigger Points of the Calf Muscle: A Protocol for Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 1× |
| massage gun | No effect - effectiveness on | subjective pain, pain pressure threshold and ankle ROM | Human | people with pain and latent trigger points in the calf muscles | 12 sessions of either massage gun or myofascial release, with 20 minutes of ice once a week for 12 weeks. | Effectiveness of Massage Gun Versus Myofascial Release Technique for Releasing Latent Trigger Points of the Calf Muscle: A Protocol for Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 1× |
| massage of both the quadriceps and hamstrings | Decreases - specifically when both the quadriceps and hamstrings were massaged | pain reduction and range of motion increase | Human | elderly with knee osteoarthritis | Moderate pressure massage targeting both quadriceps and hamstrings (specific frequency and duration not detailed). | Knee osteoarthritis pain in the elderly can be reduced by massage therapy, yoga and tai chi: A review.cited 32× |
| massage therapy protocols | Decreases - effective in not only reducing pain but also in increasing range of motion | pain | Human | elderly with knee osteoarthritis | Moderate pressure massage targeting both quadriceps and hamstrings (specific frequency and duration not detailed). | Knee osteoarthritis pain in the elderly can be reduced by massage therapy, yoga and tai chi: A review.cited 32× |
| moderate pressure massage | Decreases - specifically when moderate pressure massage was used | pain reduction and range of motion increase | Human | elderly with knee osteoarthritis | Moderate pressure massage targeting both quadriceps and hamstrings (specific frequency and duration not detailed). | Knee osteoarthritis pain in the elderly can be reduced by massage therapy, yoga and tai chi: A review.cited 32× |
| Fateh massage | Decreases - comparable to those of acupuncture and physiotherapy in reducing | pain and disability | Human | patients with CLBP | 10 sessions of therapy (specific frequency not detailed). | Comparison of an Iranian Traditional Massage (Fateh Method) with Physiotherapy and Acupuncture for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: a Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 3× |
| postoperative massage | Decreases - significantly improved | patients' perception of pain | Human | patients undergoing abdominal colorectal surgery | 20-minute massage on postoperative days 2 and 3. | Effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, relaxation, and tension after colorectal surgery: A randomized study.cited 24× |
| regional massage performed before blood collection | Decreases - reduced | pain | Human | term newborns | 2 minutes of massage on the blood collection region. | The effect of regional massage performed before blood collection on pain and vital signs in newborns. |
| regional massage performed before blood collection | Decreases - lower | pain levels | Human | term newborns | 2 minutes of massage on the blood collection region. | The effect of regional massage performed before blood collection on pain and vital signs in newborns. |
| classical foot massage | Decreases - effective in reducing | pain level | Human | people with colorectal cancer who received chemoradiotherapy | Twice a week for both classical massage and reflexology. | Effects of foot massage applied in two different methods on symptom control in colorectal cancer patients: Randomised control trial.cited 19× |
| Classical foot massage | Decreases - reduces | pain levels | Human | patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma | 3 sessions per week, each lasting 20 minutes. | The Effect of Foot Massage on Peripheral Neuropathy-Related Pain and Sleep Quality in Patients With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.cited 6× |
| interferential current electro-massage | Decreases - achieved a significantly greater improvement | pain | Human | individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain | 20 sessions (twice a week) of massage with interferential current. | Short-term effects of interferential current electro-massage in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.cited 42× |
| mobilization, manipulation, and clinical massage | Decreases - are effective interventions for the management of neck pain | neck pain | Human | — | Not specified | Are manual therapies, passive physical modalities, or acupuncture effective for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders or neck pain and associated disorders? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the OPTIMa collaboration.cited 64× |
| trigger point (TrP) release massage | Increases - interaction effect was significant | pressure-pain threshold (PPT) | Human | Adults with episodic or chronic tension-type headache and an active MTrP in the upper trapezius muscle | Single trigger point release massage session. | Increase in Lactate Without Change in Nutritive Blood Flow or Glucose at Active Trigger Points Following Massage: A Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 10× |
| Massage and human interaction | Decreases - did demonstrate efficacy in reducing | BPSD and pain | Human | — | Not specified | Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Treat Pain and Agitation in Dementia: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials from Long-Term Care with Potential Use in Critical Care.cited 20× |
| massage interventions | Decreases - are effective for relieving | immediate post-treatment neck pain symptoms | Human | adults (>18 years) suffering from sub-acute and chronic neck pain | Not specified | Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on therapeutic massage for neck pain.cited 31× |
| massage | Decreases - can decrease | pain | Human | adults (>18 years) suffering from sub-acute and chronic neck pain | Not specified | Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on therapeutic massage for neck pain.cited 31× |
| massage interventions | No effect - had no significant differences in | perceived pain | Human | — | Not specified | Examination of Self-Myofascial Release vs. Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization Techniques on Vertical and Horizontal Power in Recreational Athletes.cited 11× |
| conventional massage therapy | Decreases - yielded significant decreases | habitual pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic back pain | Not specified | Visually induced analgesia during massage treatment in chronic back pain patients.cited 15× |
| inducing visual induced analgesia during massage treatment | Decreases - can be helpful in alleviating | chronic pain | Human | — | Not specified | Visually induced analgesia during massage treatment in chronic back pain patients.cited 15× |
| massage therapy applied with lavender oil | Decreases - were milder | labor pain perceived | Human | primiparous women | 2 drops of lavender oil per application (inhalation for 3 minutes, massage for 15 minutes). | Determining the effect of inhalation and lavender essential oil massage therapy on the severity of perceived labor pain in primiparous women: A randomized controlled trial.cited 4× |
| massage therapy with lavender oil | Decreases - was more effective | labor pain | Human | primiparous women | 2 drops of lavender oil per application (inhalation for 3 minutes, massage for 15 minutes). | Determining the effect of inhalation and lavender essential oil massage therapy on the severity of perceived labor pain in primiparous women: A randomized controlled trial.cited 4× |
| inhalation and massage therapy applied using lavender essential oil | Decreases - contributed to the alleviation | perceived labor pain | Human | primiparous women | 2 drops of lavender oil per application (inhalation for 3 minutes, massage for 15 minutes). | Determining the effect of inhalation and lavender essential oil massage therapy on the severity of perceived labor pain in primiparous women: A randomized controlled trial.cited 4× |
| Increased massage treatment | Decreases - more effective at alleviating pain | pain | Human | early post-TKA patients | Not specified | Massage for rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. |
| massage | Decreases - more significant pain relief | postoperative pain | Human | postoperative TKA rehabilitation patients | Not specified | Massage for rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. |
| TENS with BMWs plus massage | No effect - no significant differences | pain intensity (NRS) | Human | patients with chronic back pain | Not specified | Pain relief by transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation with bidirectional modulated sine waves in patients with chronic back pain: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study.cited 10× |
| weekly repeated treatments using massage and TENS with BMWs | Decreases - resulted in a decrease | pain intensity (NRS) | Human | patients with chronic back pain | Not specified | Pain relief by transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation with bidirectional modulated sine waves in patients with chronic back pain: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study.cited 10× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - reduce | pain | Human | patients with upper back pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) | One 30-minute session of TTM. | Short-term effects of traditional Thai massage on electromyogram, muscle tension and pain among patients with upper back pain associated with myofascial trigger points.cited 15× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - significant decreases | pain intensity | Human | patients with upper back pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) | One 30-minute session of TTM. | Short-term effects of traditional Thai massage on electromyogram, muscle tension and pain among patients with upper back pain associated with myofascial trigger points.cited 15× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - significant decreases | pain intensity | Human | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | 30-minute session. | Acute effects of traditional Thai massage on electroencephalogram in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 22× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - significantly greater reduction | pain intensity | Human | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | 30-minute session. | Acute effects of traditional Thai massage on electroencephalogram in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 22× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - decrease | pain intensity | Human | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | 30-minute session. | Acute effects of traditional Thai massage on electroencephalogram in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 22× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - significantly greater improvement | pain intensity | Human | young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles | Three 20-minute sessions per week for 9 sessions. | The beneficial effects of traditional Thai massage on young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles: A randomized controlled trial. |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - significant improvement | pain intensity | Human | young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles | Three 20-minute sessions per week for 9 sessions. | The beneficial effects of traditional Thai massage on young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles: A randomized controlled trial. |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Increases - significant improvement | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles | Three 20-minute sessions per week for 9 sessions. | The beneficial effects of traditional Thai massage on young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles: A randomized controlled trial. |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Increases - significantly greater improvement | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles | Three 20-minute sessions per week for 9 sessions. | The beneficial effects of traditional Thai massage on young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles: A randomized controlled trial. |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - showed a significant improvement | pain intensity | Human | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | 30-minute sessions, 9 sessions over 3 weeks. | Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage on pain, muscle tension and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: a randomized single-blinded pilot study.cited 34× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - were significantly lower | pain intensity | Human | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | 30-minute sessions, 9 sessions over 3 weeks. | Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage on pain, muscle tension and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: a randomized single-blinded pilot study.cited 34× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Increases - showed a significant improvement | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | 30-minute sessions, 9 sessions over 3 weeks. | Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage on pain, muscle tension and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: a randomized single-blinded pilot study.cited 34× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Increases - were significantly higher | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) | 30-minute sessions, 9 sessions over 3 weeks. | Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage on pain, muscle tension and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: a randomized single-blinded pilot study.cited 34× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - led to significant improvements | pain intensity | Human | older adults with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions twice a week for five weeks. | The effectiveness of Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil in treating chronic low back pain in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.cited 32× |
| Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil (SMGO) | Decreases - was more effective than TTM in reducing | pain | Human | older adults with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions twice a week for five weeks. | The effectiveness of Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil in treating chronic low back pain in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.cited 32× |
| Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil (SMGO) | Decreases - led to significant improvements | pain intensity | Human | older adults with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions twice a week for five weeks. | The effectiveness of Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil in treating chronic low back pain in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.cited 32× |
| Traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - found a pre- to post-treatment pain reductions | pain intensity | Human | individuals with chronic pain | Not specified. | The efficacy of traditional Thai massage for the treatment of chronic pain: A systematic review.cited 13× |
| Traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - benefits of pain reduction appear to maintain for | pain reduction | Human | — | Not specified. | The efficacy of traditional Thai massage for the treatment of chronic pain: A systematic review.cited 13× |
| Traditional Thai massage (TM) | Decreases - resulted in a significant improvement | pain intensity (PI) | Human | patients with chronic neck pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) | Eight treatment sessions over two weeks. | A comparative study of Thai massage and muscle energy technique for chronic neck pain: A single-blinded randomized clinical trial.cited 9× |
| Traditional Thai massage (TM) | Increases - resulted in a significant improvement | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | patients with chronic neck pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) | Eight treatment sessions over two weeks. | A comparative study of Thai massage and muscle energy technique for chronic neck pain: A single-blinded randomized clinical trial.cited 9× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - significantly better scores | pain intensity | Human | patients with SCS | Four-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | A randomized comparative study of traditional Thai massage and Thai boxing exercise on clinical-based outcomes in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 1× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - superior effects | pain intensity | Human | patients with SCS | Four-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | A randomized comparative study of traditional Thai massage and Thai boxing exercise on clinical-based outcomes in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 1× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Decreases - Significant improvements | pain intensity | Human | patients with SCS | Four-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | A randomized comparative study of traditional Thai massage and Thai boxing exercise on clinical-based outcomes in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 1× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Increases - superior effects | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | patients with SCS | Four-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | A randomized comparative study of traditional Thai massage and Thai boxing exercise on clinical-based outcomes in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 1× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Increases - Significant improvements | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | patients with SCS | Four-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | A randomized comparative study of traditional Thai massage and Thai boxing exercise on clinical-based outcomes in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 1× |
| traditional Thai massage (TTM) | Increases - significantly better scores | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | patients with SCS | Four-week intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | A randomized comparative study of traditional Thai massage and Thai boxing exercise on clinical-based outcomes in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.cited 1× |
| Traditional Thai Massage (TTM) | Decreases - showed a significant reduction | pain intensity | Human | PHP patients with a Myofascial Trigger Point (MTrP) present in the calf | A single 40-minute treatment session. | Randomised control trial to compare the efficacy of traditional Thai massage and ultrasound therapy for treating plantar heel pain. |
| Traditional Thai Massage (TTM) | Decreases - effective | pain relief | Human | patients with PHP | A single 40-minute treatment session. | Randomised control trial to compare the efficacy of traditional Thai massage and ultrasound therapy for treating plantar heel pain. |
| Traditional Thai Massage (TTM) | Increases - showed a significant increase | Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) of the heel | Human | PHP patients with a Myofascial Trigger Point (MTrP) present in the calf | A single 40-minute treatment session. | Randomised control trial to compare the efficacy of traditional Thai massage and ultrasound therapy for treating plantar heel pain. |
| therapeutic breast massage in lactation (TBML) | Decreases - helpful for the reduction | acute breast pain associated with milk stasis | Human | breastfeeding women | Not specified | Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation for the Management of Engorgement, Plugged Ducts, and Mastitis.cited 41× |
| therapeutic breast massage in lactation (TBML) | Decreases - significant improvement | breast pain | Human | breastfeeding women presenting with engorgement, plugged ducts, or mastitis | Not specified | Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation for the Management of Engorgement, Plugged Ducts, and Mastitis.cited 41× |
| therapeutic breast massage in lactation (TBML) | Decreases - significant improvement | nipple pain | Human | breastfeeding women presenting with engorgement, plugged ducts, or mastitis | Not specified | Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation for the Management of Engorgement, Plugged Ducts, and Mastitis.cited 41× |
| therapeutic breast massage in lactation (TBML) | Decreases - immediate improvement | pain level | Human | breastfeeding women presenting with engorgement, plugged ducts, or mastitis | Not specified | Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation for the Management of Engorgement, Plugged Ducts, and Mastitis.cited 41× |
| standard care plus daily massage of the trauma site with sesame oil | Decreases - favourable consequence | acute traumatic limb pain | Human | clients who received standard care plus daily massage of the trauma site with sesame oil | Daily massage of the trauma site with sesame oil (specific amount not provided) | Alleviating severity of limb trauma pain with coadministration of topical sesame oil and standard treatments: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.cited 1× |
| exercise therapy plus massage therapy | No effect - determine the effect | subacute and long-lasting neck pain | Human | study participants with subacute or long-lasting nonspecific neck pain | Not specified | The effect of massage therapy and/or exercise therapy on subacute or long-lasting neck pain--the Stockholm neck trial (STONE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 10× |
| massage therapy | No effect - determine the effect | subacute and long-lasting neck pain | Human | study participants with subacute or long-lasting nonspecific neck pain | Not specified | The effect of massage therapy and/or exercise therapy on subacute or long-lasting neck pain--the Stockholm neck trial (STONE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 10× |
| music-plus-massage | Decreases - showed a decrease | pain intensity | Human | burn patients | Swedish massage for 20 minutes once a day. | The effects of massage and music on pain, anxiety and relaxation in burn patients: Randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 46× |
| music-plus-massage | Decreases - were effective on reducing | pain intensity | Human | burn patients | Swedish massage for 20 minutes once a day. | The effects of massage and music on pain, anxiety and relaxation in burn patients: Randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 46× |
| massage | Decreases - showed a decrease | pain intensity | Human | burn patients | Swedish massage for 20 minutes once a day. | The effects of massage and music on pain, anxiety and relaxation in burn patients: Randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 46× |
| massage | Decreases - were effective on reducing | pain intensity | Human | burn patients | Swedish massage for 20 minutes once a day. | The effects of massage and music on pain, anxiety and relaxation in burn patients: Randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 46× |
| Swedish massage | Decreases - reduced | lower-back pain | Human | nurses | Not specified | Swedish Massage: A Systematic Review of its Physical and Psychological Benefits.cited 12× |
| Swedish massage (SM) | Decreases - significantly lower | mean pain | Human | primiparous women | Two massage techniques (effleurage and petrissage) applied at cervical dilatation of 4 and 8-10 cm. | Comparison the effect of Swedish massage and interferential electrical stimulation on labor pain and childbirth experience in primiparous women: a randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 3× |
| Swedish massage | Decreases - decreased | mean scores of pain | Human | rheumatoid arthritis patients | 30-minute Swedish massage sessions, twice a week for the first four weeks and three times a week for the last four weeks. | The effect of Swedish massage on pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A randomized controlled trial.cited 10× |
| Swedish massage | Decreases - significant differences between the two groups' mean scores | pain | Human | rheumatoid arthritis patients | 30-minute Swedish massage sessions, twice a week for the first four weeks and three times a week for the last four weeks. | The effect of Swedish massage on pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A randomized controlled trial.cited 10× |
| Swedish massage | Decreases - Absolute change in pain | pain | Human | women of occupation age | Eight 30-minute treatments over 4 weeks. | Experimental integrative muscular movement technique enhances cervical range of motion in patients with chronic neck pain: a pilot study.cited 7× |
| Swedish massage | Increases - best improved | pain | Human | people with MS | Not specified | Massage therapy as a complementary and alternative approach for people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.cited 6× |
| Swedish massage | Decreases - demonstrated significantly more pain relief | pain | Human | patients with knee OA | 20-30 minutes per session, 12 sessions. | Effects of Swedish massage on gait spatiotemporal parameters in adult women with medial knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.cited 3× |
| Swedish massage | No effect - no consistent focal areas of improvement | pain on modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) | Human | women with fibromyalgia | 90 minutes weekly for four weeks. | A pilot study of myofascial release therapy compared to Swedish massage in fibromyalgia.cited 12× |
| tuina massage therapy | No effect - change from baseline | back pain and function | Human | CLBP patients | Tuina group: 20-minute sessions, 4-step protocol, 20 sessions over 4 weeks; Drug group: specific daily dose of ibuprofen (exact dosage not specified). | Effectiveness of Chinese massage therapy (Tui Na) for chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 16× |
| tuina massage therapy | No effect - evaluate the comparative effectiveness | chronic low back pain (CLBP) | Human | CLBP patients | Tuina group: 20-minute sessions, 4-step protocol, 20 sessions over 4 weeks; Drug group: specific daily dose of ibuprofen (exact dosage not specified). | Effectiveness of Chinese massage therapy (Tui Na) for chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 16× |
| tuina massage therapy | No effect - secondary outcome measures include | McGill pain questionnaire | Human | CLBP patients | Tuina group: 20-minute sessions, 4-step protocol, 20 sessions over 4 weeks; Drug group: specific daily dose of ibuprofen (exact dosage not specified). | Effectiveness of Chinese massage therapy (Tui Na) for chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 16× |
| Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with thermotherapy and effleurage massage | Decreases - stands out for its effects | intensity and duration of pain | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea | Not specified (few sessions mentioned for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with thermotherapy and effleurage massage). | Treatment of Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea With Manual Therapy and Electrotherapy Techniques: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.cited 2× |
| Post-operative massage intervention | Decreases - can reduce | pain | Human | patients after caesarean delivery | 20-minute foot massage post-surgery. | Postoperative Foot Massage for Patients after Caesarean Delivery.cited 10× |
| foot massage | Decreases - significantly lower | pain intensity score obtained 60 min after the massage | Human | patients after caesarean delivery | 20-minute foot massage post-surgery. | Postoperative Foot Massage for Patients after Caesarean Delivery.cited 10× |
| massage with olive oil | Decreases - potentially effective in reducing | pain severity | Human | patients with trauma to the extremities | 10 drops of olive oil or placebo (liquid paraffin) applied during a 5-minute massage, twice daily. | Effects of light stroking massage with olive oil on acute pain severity and number of taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs among outpatients with extremities trauma: A double-blind, placebo-controlled superiority trial.cited 5× |
| light stroking massage with olive oil | Decreases - significant decrease in the pain severity was found in two groups | pain severity | Human | outpatients who suffered from superficial injury in upper or lower extremities | 10 drops of olive oil or placebo (liquid paraffin) applied during a 5-minute massage, twice daily. | Effects of light stroking massage with olive oil on acute pain severity and number of taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs among outpatients with extremities trauma: A double-blind, placebo-controlled superiority trial.cited 5× |
| soft and prolonged massage with roghan-i-suranjan | Decreases - found effective in reducing the pain | pain | Human | patients of low back pain | Soft and prolonged massage with roghan-i-suranjan (specific dosage not detailed). | Effect of soft and prolonged Graeco-Arabic massage in low back pain - A randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 1× |
| massage combine with combined with cactus and aloe cold compress | Decreases - reduced to greater extents | pain | Human | — | Not specified | Effects of massage treatment combined with topical cactus and aloe on puerperal milk stasis.cited 8× |
| massage treatment with topical cactus and aloe topical | Decreases - effectively improved | pain status | Human | — | Not specified | Effects of massage treatment combined with topical cactus and aloe on puerperal milk stasis.cited 8× |
| back massage | Decreases - may be a more effective pain management approach than | pain during the first stage of labor | Human | — | Not specified (intervention performed at three points). | Effect of Change in Position and Back Massage on Pain Perception during First Stage of Labor.cited 16× |
| back massage | Decreases - may be effective in reducing | pain during the first stage of labor | Human | women | Not specified (intervention performed at three points). | Effect of Change in Position and Back Massage on Pain Perception during First Stage of Labor.cited 16× |
| back massage | No effect - had pain scores | pain perception | Human | 20 women (Group B) | Not specified (intervention performed at three points). | Effect of Change in Position and Back Massage on Pain Perception during First Stage of Labor.cited 16× |
| eye massage only | Decreases - significantly decreased | pain | Human | children receiving dental anesthesia for the first time | Not specified | Reducing children's anxiety and pain in dental environment using an eye massage device combined with natural sounds-a randomized controlled trial. |
| eye massage only | No effect - no significant difference was noted | pain after anesthesia using the WBS | Human | children receiving dental anesthesia for the first time | Not specified | Reducing children's anxiety and pain in dental environment using an eye massage device combined with natural sounds-a randomized controlled trial. |
| eye massage with natural sounds | Decreases - showed a greater decrease | objective pain assessed during injection via the FLACC scale | Human | children receiving dental anesthesia for the first time | Not specified | Reducing children's anxiety and pain in dental environment using an eye massage device combined with natural sounds-a randomized controlled trial. |
| eye massage with natural sounds | Decreases - significantly decreased | pain | Human | children receiving dental anesthesia for the first time | Not specified | Reducing children's anxiety and pain in dental environment using an eye massage device combined with natural sounds-a randomized controlled trial. |
| eye massage with natural sounds | No effect - no significant difference was noted | pain after anesthesia using the WBS | Human | children receiving dental anesthesia for the first time | Not specified | Reducing children's anxiety and pain in dental environment using an eye massage device combined with natural sounds-a randomized controlled trial. |
| eye massage with natural sounds | Decreases - reduce | pain related to anesthesia | Human | children | Not specified | Reducing children's anxiety and pain in dental environment using an eye massage device combined with natural sounds-a randomized controlled trial. |
| needle warming moxibustion (NWM) combined with trigger point massage | Decreases - reduced | pain | Human | elderly patients with frozen shoulder (FS) | Not specified | Impact of needle warming moxibustion combined with trigger point massage on shoulder function and stress responses in elderly patients with frozen shoulder. |
| needle warming moxibustion (NWM) combined with trigger point massage | Decreases - shorter | time to achieve no self-perceived pain | Human | elderly patients with frozen shoulder (FS) | Not specified | Impact of needle warming moxibustion combined with trigger point massage on shoulder function and stress responses in elderly patients with frozen shoulder. |
| lumbar massage | No effect - did not differ significantly | other pain-related outcome measures | Human | women pregnant at ≥ 37 weeks gestation with a single fetus, with spontaneous onset of labour, 4-5cm of cervical dilation, intact ovular membranes, and no use of medication after admission to hospital | 30-minute lumbar massage session. | Massage reduced severity of pain during labour: a randomised trial.cited 42× |
| lumbar massage | Decreases - significantly different | pain severity | Human | women pregnant at ≥ 37 weeks gestation with a single fetus, with spontaneous onset of labour, 4-5cm of cervical dilation, intact ovular membranes, and no use of medication after admission to hospital | 30-minute lumbar massage session. | Massage reduced severity of pain during labour: a randomised trial.cited 42× |
| Clinical Pilates exercises and connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - significant difference was observed | Pain Location Inventory (PLI) | Human | women with Fibromyalgia (FM) | CTM + Clinical Pilates exercises 3 times a week. | Is connective tissue massage effective in individuals with fibromyalgia? |
| Clinical Pilates exercises and connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - the difference was determined only in the PLI in favor of the intervention group | Pain Location Inventory (PLI) | Human | women with Fibromyalgia (FM) | CTM + Clinical Pilates exercises 3 times a week. | Is connective tissue massage effective in individuals with fibromyalgia? |
| reflexology massage and passive music therapy before burn dressing | Decreases - reduced | pain and anxiety level | Human | burn patients | 40-minute sessions before dressing changes for three consecutive days. | The effect of reflexology massage and passive music therapy intervention before burn dressing on pain, anxiety level and sleep quality.cited 12× |
| reflexology massage and passive music therapy | Decreases - showed a significant difference | mean pain scores | Human | patients hospitalized in the Burn Center | 40-minute sessions before dressing changes for three consecutive days. | The effect of reflexology massage and passive music therapy intervention before burn dressing on pain, anxiety level and sleep quality.cited 12× |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - less frequent | low back pain | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) | Massage applied 5 days a week. | Comparison of Connective Tissue Massage and Classic Massage in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - decreased | menstrual pain intensity | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) | Massage applied 5 days a week. | Comparison of Connective Tissue Massage and Classic Massage in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - decreased | pain duration | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) | Massage applied 5 days a week. | Comparison of Connective Tissue Massage and Classic Massage in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - decreased more | pain duration | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) | Massage applied 5 days a week. | Comparison of Connective Tissue Massage and Classic Massage in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - superior in improving | pain duration | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) | Massage applied 5 days a week. | Comparison of Connective Tissue Massage and Classic Massage in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| classic massage (CM) | Decreases - decreased | menstrual pain intensity | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) | Massage applied 5 days a week. | Comparison of Connective Tissue Massage and Classic Massage in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| classic massage (CM) | Decreases - decreased | pain duration | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) | Massage applied 5 days a week. | Comparison of Connective Tissue Massage and Classic Massage in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - A significant improvement with very large effect size was found | McGill Pain Questionnaire | Human | patients with fibromyalgia | CTM was applied 3 days a week, KT was applied 2 days a week, alongside electrotherapy (TENS and infrared treatment) 5 days a week. | Effects of connective tissue massage and kinesiotaping in patients with fibromyalgia. |
| connective tissue massage | Decreases - decreased | pain | Human | primiparous women after unplanned cesarean birth | 20-minute massage session. | Effects of Connective Tissue Massage on Pain in Primiparous Women After Cesarean Birth.cited 12× |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - showed a significant change in | pain | Human | women with migraine | 12 sessions of CTM over 4 weeks. | An investigation of the effects of connective tissue massage in women with migraine: A controlled clinical trial.cited 2× |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - was superior for reducing | pain characteristics | Human | women with migraine | 12 sessions of CTM over 4 weeks. | An investigation of the effects of connective tissue massage in women with migraine: A controlled clinical trial.cited 2× |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - were the lowest | pain intensity | Human | TLH-CTM group | CTM was applied twice postoperatively at the third hour and after 24 hours. | Short-Term Effects of Connective Tissue Massage After Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study. |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - reduced | postoperative pain severity | Human | patients after TAH or TLH | CTM was applied twice postoperatively at the third hour and after 24 hours. | Short-Term Effects of Connective Tissue Massage After Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study. |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic mechanical low back pain | 20 sessions over 4 weeks (frequency not specified). | A comparison of the effects of connective tissue massage and classical massage on chronic mechanical low back pain.cited 3× |
| classical massage (CM) | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic mechanical low back pain | 20 sessions over 4 weeks (frequency not specified). | A comparison of the effects of connective tissue massage and classical massage on chronic mechanical low back pain.cited 3× |
| classical massage (CM) | Decreases - was more effective than CTM | pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic mechanical low back pain | 20 sessions over 4 weeks (frequency not specified). | A comparison of the effects of connective tissue massage and classical massage on chronic mechanical low back pain.cited 3× |
| connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - significant improvements were found | pain intensity; pain-pressure threshold; and tolerance, anxiety, progress, and health-related quality of life | Human | females with fibromyalgia | Three times per week for 4 weeks. | Effects of active/passive interventions on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia: Randomized controlled pilot trial.cited 32× |
| connective tissue massage | Decreases - improved | pain-related outcomes | Human | 40 female patients with a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of chronic migraine with non-aura, aged between 18 and 65 | Interventions were performed 3 times a week for approximately 20 minutes per session. | Physiotherapy Management of Migraine Pain: Facial Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique Versus Connective Tissue Massage.cited 6× |
| pelvic floor training programme that included: daily perineal massage and pelvic floor exercises | Decreases - less | postpartum perineal pain | Human | women (n=466) who were 32 weeks pregnant, having a singleton pregnancy and anticipating a normal birth | Daily perineal massage and pelvic floor exercises. | Influence of a pelvic floor training programme to prevent perineal trauma: A quasi-randomised controlled trial.cited 25× |
| Stretching exercises and massage applied to the SCM-muscle, together with conventional physiotherapy | Decreases - can reduce | pain | Human | individuals with CNP | Treatment sessions were administered three times per week (specific massage duration not detailed). | The effects of combined sternocleidomastoid muscle stretching and massage on pain, disability, endurance, kinesiophobia, and range of motion in individuals with chronic neck pain: A randomized, single-blind study.cited 7× |
| SCM stretching and massage | Decreases - Improvements in pain were found to be greater in the SCM-Group compared to the CG | pain | Human | individuals with CNP | Treatment sessions were administered three times per week (specific massage duration not detailed). | The effects of combined sternocleidomastoid muscle stretching and massage on pain, disability, endurance, kinesiophobia, and range of motion in individuals with chronic neck pain: A randomized, single-blind study.cited 7× |
| Western massage therapies | No effect - were not superior to other active therapies | neck pain | Human | — | Not specified. | Western Massage Therapies in the Management of Neck Pain: A Systematic Review.cited 1× |
| connective tissue massage with exercise | Decreases - improved | pain intensity | Human | — | Not specified. | Western Massage Therapies in the Management of Neck Pain: A Systematic Review.cited 1× |
| connective tissue massage with exercise | Increases - improved | pain threshold | Human | — | Not specified. | Western Massage Therapies in the Management of Neck Pain: A Systematic Review.cited 1× |
| slow-stroke back massage | Decreases - were more effective than the controls | hemiplegic shoulder pain | Human | patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain | Not specified | Interventions for hemiplegic shoulder pain: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.cited 41× |
| slow-stroke back massage (SSBM) | Decreases - significantly reduced | pain | Human | acute leukemia adult patients undergoing chemotherapy | 10 minutes of SSBM, 3 times a week (every other day). | Effects of Slow-Stroke Back Massage on Symptom Cluster in Adult Patients With Acute Leukemia: Supportive Care in Cancer Nursing.cited 39× |
| Oncology Massage (OM) | No effect - was not more effective in yielding | clinically significant pain reduction | Human | patients with severe pretherapy pain | Single session of either HT or OM. | Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.cited 13× |
| Oncology Massage (OM) | Decreases - provided | immediate pain relief | Human | cancer outpatients | Single session of either HT or OM. | Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.cited 13× |
| Oncology Massage (OM) | Decreases - significantly reduced | pain | Human | cancer outpatients | Single session of either HT or OM. | Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.cited 13× |
| Oncology Massage (OM) | Increases - was associated with increased odds of | pain improvement | Human | cancer outpatients | Single session of either HT or OM. | Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.cited 13× |
| polyherbal gel applied with massage | Decreases - reduced pain | pain (NPRS, WOMAC and Global pain relief scales) | Human | musculoskeletal injury patients | Not specified. | Evaluation of polyherbal gel for musculoskeletal injuries in industrial workers.cited 3× |
| simple massage | Decreases - showed a significant effect | pain | Human | children with thalassemia | Not specified | Impact of Foot Reflexology Versus Simple Massage on Vital Signs, Anxiety, and Pain During Blood Transfusion Among Children With Thalassemia. |
| simple massage | Decreases - demonstrated a significant impact | pain | Human | children with thalassemia | Not specified | Impact of Foot Reflexology Versus Simple Massage on Vital Signs, Anxiety, and Pain During Blood Transfusion Among Children With Thalassemia. |
| massage with sesame oil | Decreases - effective in reducing | pain severity | Human | patients with chemotherapy-induced phlebitis | 10 drops of sesame oil applied twice daily during a 5-minute massage. | Effects of topical sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil on the pain severity of chemotherapy-induced phlebitis in patients with colorectal cancer: A randomized controlled trial.cited 17× |
| soft tissue massage | Increases - was effective for producing moderate improvements | active flexion and abduction range of motion, pain and functional scores | Human | participants with non-specific shoulder problems | Not specified | Effectiveness of soft tissue massage and exercise for the treatment of non-specific shoulder pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.cited 36× |
| soft tissue massage | Decreases - appear to have a positive effect | chronic low back pain (CLBP) | Human | — | Not specified | Physiotherapy and lumbar facet joint injections as a combination treatment for chronic low back pain. A narrative review of lumbar facet joint injections, lumbar spinal mobilizations, soft tissue massage and lower back mobility exercises.cited 8× |
| Soft Tissue Massage (STM) | Decreases - a significant reduction | Hemiplegic Shoulder pain (HSP) | Human | stroke patients with HSP | 16 sessions administered on subscapularis, supraspinatus, and posterior deltoid muscles (specific TENS parameters not detailed). | Comparative Efficacy of Soft Tissue Massage and Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation in the Management of Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain. |
| soft tissue massage | No effect - do not offer | shoulder pain of any duration | Human | adults with shoulder pain | Not specified | Noninvasive management of soft tissue disorders of the shoulder: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) collaboration.cited 8× |
| stripping massage (SM) of myofascial trigger points in the lower rhomboid muscle | Decreases - could alleviate | chest pain | Human | patients following thoracoscopic surgery | SM twice daily | Stripping Massage and Literature Review in Post-Thoracoscopic Chest Pain Management.cited 2× |
| physiotherapy intervention consisting of several massage techniques, mobilizations, and local and global exercises | Decreases - greater improvements | BPI pain right now | Human | patients with terminal cancer | Six sessions of 30-35 minutes over 2 weeks. | Effects of physical therapy on pain and mood in patients with terminal cancer: a pilot randomized clinical trial.cited 42× |
| physiotherapy intervention consisting of several massage techniques, mobilizations, and local and global exercises | Decreases - greater improvements | BPI worst pain | Human | patients with terminal cancer | Six sessions of 30-35 minutes over 2 weeks. | Effects of physical therapy on pain and mood in patients with terminal cancer: a pilot randomized clinical trial.cited 42× |
| physiotherapy intervention consisting of several massage techniques, mobilizations, and local and global exercises | No effect - no greater | least pain | Human | patients with terminal cancer | Six sessions of 30-35 minutes over 2 weeks. | Effects of physical therapy on pain and mood in patients with terminal cancer: a pilot randomized clinical trial.cited 42× |
| combination of massage and exercises | Decreases - can reduce | pain | Human | patients with terminal cancer | Six sessions of 30-35 minutes over 2 weeks. | Effects of physical therapy on pain and mood in patients with terminal cancer: a pilot randomized clinical trial.cited 42× |
| massage plus topical analgesic | Decreases - greater decrease | hand pain | Human | 20 adults | Weekly therapist-administered massage and daily self-massage. | Massage therapy plus topical analgesic is more effective than massage alone for hand arthritis pain.cited 9× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - has been effective | lower back pain | Human | — | Weekly therapist-administered massage and daily self-massage. | Massage therapy plus topical analgesic is more effective than massage alone for hand arthritis pain.cited 9× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - has been effective | neck and shoulder pain | Human | — | Weekly therapist-administered massage and daily self-massage. | Massage therapy plus topical analgesic is more effective than massage alone for hand arthritis pain.cited 9× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - has been effective | pain related to upper limb arthritis | Human | — | Weekly therapist-administered massage and daily self-massage. | Massage therapy plus topical analgesic is more effective than massage alone for hand arthritis pain.cited 9× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - has been effective | pain syndromes including migraine headaches | Human | — | Weekly therapist-administered massage and daily self-massage. | Massage therapy plus topical analgesic is more effective than massage alone for hand arthritis pain.cited 9× |
| classical massage therapy | No effect - is not significantly inferior | reduction in pain | Human | patients with chronic back pain | Not specified. | Classical Massage and Acupuncture in Chronic Back Pain - Non-Inferiority Randomised Trial.cited 8× |
| Chinese massage alone | Increases - recurred | nonspecific low back pain | Human | participants with nonspecific low back pain | Not specified | Chinese massage combined with core stability exercises for nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.cited 32× |
| Chinese massage alone | Increases - has a significantly higher recurrence rate | nonspecific low back pain | Human | participants with nonspecific low back pain | Not specified | Chinese massage combined with core stability exercises for nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.cited 32× |
| Chinese massage combined with core stability exercises | Increases - recurred | nonspecific low back pain | Human | participants with nonspecific low back pain | Not specified | Chinese massage combined with core stability exercises for nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.cited 32× |
| high-dose massage | Decreases - suggest offering | persistent (>3 months) neck pain | Human | patients with grades I-II NAD | High-dose massage (specific amount and frequency not detailed). | The Treatment of Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Clinical Practice Guideline.cited 115× |
| classical massage and neuromuscular exercises | Decreases - significantly improved | pain (visual analogue scale-VAS) | Human | patients with mechanical neck pain and accompanying forward head posture (FHP) | Eight treatment sessions (frequency not specified). | Combining targeted instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization applications and neuromuscular exercises can correct forward head posture and improve the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain: a randomized control study.cited 15× |
| classical massage and neuromuscular exercises | Decreases - significantly improved | pain (visual analogue scale-VAS) | Human | patients with mechanical neck pain and accompanying forward head posture (FHP) | Eight treatment sessions (frequency not specified). | Combining targeted instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization applications and neuromuscular exercises can correct forward head posture and improve the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain: a randomized control study.cited 15× |
| 6-week Swedish massage | Decreases - had lower levels | pain | Human | MS patients | Two 50-minute sessions of whole-body Swedish massage per week. | Can a six-week Swedish massage reduce mood disorders and enhance the quality of life in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis? A randomized control clinical trial.cited 1× |
| Massage of the perineum | No effect - likely results in little to no difference | perineal pain | Human | women in the second stage of labour | Not specified | Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma and postpartum complications.cited 1× |
| classic (Swedish) massage | Decreases - Pain decreased | Pain | Human | subjects with chronic shoulder pain symptoms | 10 sessions over 2 weeks, each session lasting 20 minutes. | Comparison of massage based on the tensegrity principle and classic massage in treating chronic shoulder pain.cited 14× |
| classic (Swedish) massage | Decreases - demonstrated improvement | pain outcomes | Human | classic and tensegrity massage groups | 10 sessions over 2 weeks, each session lasting 20 minutes. | Comparison of massage based on the tensegrity principle and classic massage in treating chronic shoulder pain.cited 14× |
| massage based on the tensegrity principle | Decreases - Pain decreased | Pain | Human | subjects with chronic shoulder pain symptoms | 10 sessions over 2 weeks, each session lasting 20 minutes. | Comparison of massage based on the tensegrity principle and classic massage in treating chronic shoulder pain.cited 14× |
| massage based on the tensegrity principle | Decreases - demonstrated improvement | pain outcomes | Human | classic and tensegrity massage groups | 10 sessions over 2 weeks, each session lasting 20 minutes. | Comparison of massage based on the tensegrity principle and classic massage in treating chronic shoulder pain.cited 14× |
| classic massage (CM) | Increases - significantly different | Pressure pain threshold of the sternocleidomastoid muscle | Human | women with chronic neck pain | 1 session of CM or CTM applied to the thoracic spine and neck. | Short term effects of classic massage compared to connective tissue massage on pressure pain threshold and muscle relaxation response in women with chronic neck pain: a preliminary study.cited 26× |
| Percussion massage therapy (PMT) added to a structured exercise program | Decreases - showed superior results compared to the SEG group | pain | Human | individuals who underwent surgery after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury | Not specified (only mentions "PMT" as an adjunct to structured exercise). | Investigating the effects of percussion massage therapy on pain, functionality, muscle diameter, and proprioception in ındividuals with ACL reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial. |
| Friction massage (FM) | Decreases - could significantly improve | pain intensity | Human | individuals with MTrPs | Not specified | The effect of friction massage on pain intensity, PPT, and ROM in individuals with myofascial trigger points: a systematic review. |
| Friction massage (FM) | No effect - no significant superiority for improving | pain intensity | Human | individuals with MTrPs | Not specified | The effect of friction massage on pain intensity, PPT, and ROM in individuals with myofascial trigger points: a systematic review. |
| Friction massage (FM) | Increases - could significantly improve | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | individuals with MTrPs | Not specified | The effect of friction massage on pain intensity, PPT, and ROM in individuals with myofascial trigger points: a systematic review. |
| Friction massage (FM) | No effect - no significant superiority for improving | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | individuals with MTrPs | Not specified | The effect of friction massage on pain intensity, PPT, and ROM in individuals with myofascial trigger points: a systematic review. |
| friction massage | Increases - increased | pain threshold at the trigger points | Human | patients with TTH | 3 sessions during 1 week. | Dry needling versus friction massage to treat tension type headache: A randomized clinical trial.cited 22× |
| cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment without connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - decrease | pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | 12 sessions, 3 days/week. | Cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises with and without connective tissue massage for chronic mechanical neck pain: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.cited 50× |
| cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - decrease | pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | 12 sessions, 3 days/week. | Cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises with and without connective tissue massage for chronic mechanical neck pain: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.cited 50× |
| cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | Decreases - superior in improving | pain intensity at night | Human | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | 12 sessions, 3 days/week. | Cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises with and without connective tissue massage for chronic mechanical neck pain: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.cited 50× |
| cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | Increases - increase | pressure pain threshold | Human | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | 12 sessions, 3 days/week. | Cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises with and without connective tissue massage for chronic mechanical neck pain: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.cited 50× |
| cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercise treatment with connective tissue massage (CTM) | Increases - superior in improving | pressure pain threshold | Human | patients with chronic mechanical neck pain (MNP) | 12 sessions, 3 days/week. | Cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises with and without connective tissue massage for chronic mechanical neck pain: A prospective, randomised controlled trial.cited 50× |
| massage therapy treatment | Decreases - decreased | pain | Human | participants who visited the Filipino squatter community clinic | Two massage therapy sessions (specific duration/frequency not detailed). | The sustainable training, treatment, employment program model: effects of manual therapy on musculoskeletal pain and limitation in a Filipino squatter community.cited 1× |
| combined massage-exercise therapy | Decreases - significantly larger improvement in pain reduction | pain | Human | patients with multiple sclerosis | 15 sessions over five weeks (standard Swedish massage for the massage group, combined strength, stretch, endurance, and balance exercises for the exercise group). | Massage therapy and exercise therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled pilot study.cited 41× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly larger improvement in pain reduction | pain | Human | patients with multiple sclerosis | 15 sessions over five weeks (standard Swedish massage for the massage group, combined strength, stretch, endurance, and balance exercises for the exercise group). | Massage therapy and exercise therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled pilot study.cited 41× |
| aromatherapy massage with frankincense and myyrh essential oils | Decreases - decrease in Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale scores was found to be statistically higher than the other two groups | Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale scores | Human | patients with chronic low back pain | Two sessions of low back massage per week using frankincense and myyrh essential oils. | The effects of massage with frankincense and myrrh oil in chronic low back pain: A three-arm randomised controlled trial.cited 6× |
| aromatherapy massage with frankincense and myyrh essential oils | Decreases - can be integrated to medical treatments to relieve pain | pain | Human | patients with chronic low back pain | Two sessions of low back massage per week using frankincense and myyrh essential oils. | The effects of massage with frankincense and myrrh oil in chronic low back pain: A three-arm randomised controlled trial.cited 6× |
| aromatherapy massage applied in 12 sessions over 4 weeks | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | hemodialysis patients | 12 sessions over 4 weeks (frequency not specified). | The Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Cramp Frequency, Pain Intensity, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients With Muscle Cramps: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Mixed Study. |
| aromatherapy massage applied in 12 sessions over 4 weeks | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | hemodialysis patients | 12 sessions over 4 weeks (frequency not specified). | The Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Cramp Frequency, Pain Intensity, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients With Muscle Cramps: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Mixed Study. |
| foot and lower leg massage with baby oil | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | hemodialysis patients | 12 sessions over 4 weeks (frequency not specified). | The Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Cramp Frequency, Pain Intensity, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients With Muscle Cramps: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Mixed Study. |
| foot and lower leg massage with baby oil | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | hemodialysis patients | 12 sessions over 4 weeks (frequency not specified). | The Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Cramp Frequency, Pain Intensity, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients With Muscle Cramps: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Mixed Study. |
| combined breathing exercises, foot reflexology, and massage (BRM) interventions | Decreases - lowered | labor pain intensity at 60 minutes after intervention after contraction | Human | primigravidae aged 20 to 35 years without any medical complications | Not specified | Effectiveness of Breathing Exercises, Foot Reflexology and Massage (BRM) on Maternal and Newborn Outcomes Among Primigravidae in Saudi Arabia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 13× |
| combined breathing exercises, foot reflexology, and massage (BRM) interventions | Decreases - lowered | labor pain intensity at 60 minutes after intervention during contraction | Human | primigravidae aged 20 to 35 years without any medical complications | Not specified | Effectiveness of Breathing Exercises, Foot Reflexology and Massage (BRM) on Maternal and Newborn Outcomes Among Primigravidae in Saudi Arabia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 13× |
| meridian massage | Decreases - can effectively relieve | low back pain | Human | patients with lumbar disc herniation | Not specified (meridian massage applied based on routine treatment). | [Study on the clinical effect of meridian massage in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation]. |
| percussion massage therapy | Increases - positive response | pain and ROM | Human | the majority of the field athletes | Not specified (used Caresmith Massage Gun). | The Immediate Effect of Percussive Massage Therapy on Iliotibial Band Tightness in Field Athletes. |
| percussive massage therapy | Decreases - significant decrease | post-treatment pain | Human | field athletes | Not specified (used Caresmith Massage Gun). | The Immediate Effect of Percussive Massage Therapy on Iliotibial Band Tightness in Field Athletes. |
| Thai traditional massage (TTM) | Increases - showed a significant increase | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | patients with chronic tension-type and migraine headaches | Nine sessions over 3 weeks. | Effects of Thai traditional massage on pressure pain threshold and headache intensity in patients with chronic tension-type and migraine headaches.cited 18× |
| massage focused on MTrPs | Decreases - greater reduction | HA pain | Human | patients with TTH | 12 sessions over 6 weeks. | Myofascial trigger point-focused head and neck massage for recurrent tension-type headache: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.cited 62× |
| massage focused on MTrPs | Increases - improved | pressure-pain threshold at MTrPs in the upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles | Human | patients with TTH | 12 sessions over 6 weeks. | Myofascial trigger point-focused head and neck massage for recurrent tension-type headache: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.cited 62× |
| partner-delivered home-based cupping massage | Decreases - showed significantly less pain | current neck pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | Twice weekly for 12 weeks. | Effectiveness of home-based cupping massage compared to progressive muscle relaxation in patients with chronic neck pain--a randomized controlled trial.cited 51× |
| cupping massage | No effect - no more effective than progressive muscle relaxation | chronic non-specific neck pain | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | Twice weekly for 12 weeks. | Effectiveness of home-based cupping massage compared to progressive muscle relaxation in patients with chronic neck pain--a randomized controlled trial.cited 51× |
| cupping massage | Decreases - better than PMR in decreasing | pressure pain sensitivity | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | Twice weekly for 12 weeks. | Effectiveness of home-based cupping massage compared to progressive muscle relaxation in patients with chronic neck pain--a randomized controlled trial.cited 51× |
| cupping massage | Increases - significant effects in favor | pressure pain thresholds | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | Twice weekly for 12 weeks. | Effectiveness of home-based cupping massage compared to progressive muscle relaxation in patients with chronic neck pain--a randomized controlled trial.cited 51× |
| prenatal perineal massage | Decreases - can reduce the incidence | long-term pain | Human | — | Not specified | Effect of Prenatal Perineal Massage on Postpartum Perineal Injury and Postpartum Complications: A Meta-Analysis.cited 3× |
| oil massage without essential oil | Decreases - revealed similar short-term pain reductions after intervention | physical pain | Human | patients under FDP | 10 minutes of massage per session (frequency not specified). | Effects of aromatherapy massage on face-down posture-related pain after vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| oil massage without essential oil | No effect - neither group experienced significant effects until the second day | physical pain | Human | patients under FDP | 10 minutes of massage per session (frequency not specified). | Effects of aromatherapy massage on face-down posture-related pain after vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| oil massage without essential oil | Decreases - simple oil massage is an effective strategy for immediate pain reduction | physical pain | Human | patients undergoing FDP | 10 minutes of massage per session (frequency not specified). | Effects of aromatherapy massage on face-down posture-related pain after vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| aromatherapy massage with essential oil | Decreases - revealed similar short-term pain reductions after intervention | physical pain | Human | patients under FDP | 10 minutes of massage per session (frequency not specified). | Effects of aromatherapy massage on face-down posture-related pain after vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| aromatherapy massage with essential oil | No effect - neither group experienced significant effects until the second day | physical pain | Human | patients under FDP | 10 minutes of massage per session (frequency not specified). | Effects of aromatherapy massage on face-down posture-related pain after vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| aromatherapy massage with essential oil | Decreases - Significantly more pain reduction compared with usual care occurred on the third day, mainly in the AT group | physical pain | Human | patients under FDP | 10 minutes of massage per session (frequency not specified). | Effects of aromatherapy massage on face-down posture-related pain after vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| aromatherapy massage with essential oil | Decreases - aromatherapy may have a long-term effect on pain reduction | physical pain | Human | patients undergoing FDP | 10 minutes of massage per session (frequency not specified). | Effects of aromatherapy massage on face-down posture-related pain after vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| sedative massage | Decreases - reduced | pain VAS score | Human | subjects with chronic nonspecific neck pain | Not specified (12 treatments total). | Joint mobilization vs massage for chronic mechanical neck pain: a pilot study to assess recruitment strategies and estimate outcome measure variability.cited 21× |
| heavy rolling massage on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Ipsi-R) | Increases - demonstrated higher PPT values | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles | Not specified (interventions included heavy rolling massage, light stroking, and manual massage). | Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.cited 137× |
| heavy rolling massage on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Ipsi-R) | Increases - PPT was higher | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles | Not specified (interventions included heavy rolling massage, light stroking, and manual massage). | Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.cited 137× |
| manual massage on the calf that exhibited the higher tenderness (Ipsi-M) | Increases - PPT was higher | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles | Not specified (interventions included heavy rolling massage, light stroking, and manual massage). | Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.cited 137× |
| heavy rolling massage on the contralateral calf (Contra-R) | Increases - demonstrated higher PPT values | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles | Not specified (interventions included heavy rolling massage, light stroking, and manual massage). | Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.cited 137× |
| heavy rolling massage on the contralateral calf (Contra-R) | Increases - PPT was higher | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles | Not specified (interventions included heavy rolling massage, light stroking, and manual massage). | Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.cited 137× |
| rolling massage over a tender spot | Decreases - reduces | pain perception | Human | individuals with tender spots in their plantar flexor muscles | Not specified (interventions included heavy rolling massage, light stroking, and manual massage). | Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage.cited 137× |
| guided imagery and hand massage | Decreases - had an immediate positive effect | pain | Human | palliative care patients | One session of guided imagery and hand massage. | The effects of guided imagery and hand massage on wellbeing and pain in palliative care: Evaluation of a pilot study.cited 2× |
| guided imagery and hand massage | Decreases - elicited a statistically significant improvement | self-reported levels of pain | Human | adult palliative care patients | One session of guided imagery and hand massage. | The effects of guided imagery and hand massage on wellbeing and pain in palliative care: Evaluation of a pilot study.cited 2× |
| sacral massage | Decreases - significantly decreased | labor pain intensity | Human | pregnant women during labor | Not specified | Effectiveness of sacral massage during labor in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. |
| sacral massage | Decreases - significantly lower | mean pain score | Human | primiparous pregnant women (cervix dilated to 6-7 cm) | Sacral massage applied at 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm cervical dilation (specific duration/frequency not detailed). | Massage and heat application on labor pain and comfort: A quasi-randomized controlled experimental study.cited 9× |
| heat application and massage | Decreases - reduce | perception of pain | Human | pregnant women | Sacral massage applied at 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm cervical dilation (specific duration/frequency not detailed). | Massage and heat application on labor pain and comfort: A quasi-randomized controlled experimental study.cited 9× |
| mechanical massage using an electric massage chair | Decreases - significantly reduced | labor pain scores (0-10 numerical rating scale) | Human | nulliparous women in labor | 30 minutes of mechanical massage followed by 30 minutes without (or vice versa). | Electric massage chairs reduce labor pain in nulliparous patients: a randomized crossover trial.cited 1× |
| mechanical massage using an electric massage chair | Decreases - a significant reduction | labor pain scores | Human | nulliparous women in labor | 30 minutes of mechanical massage followed by 30 minutes without (or vice versa). | Electric massage chairs reduce labor pain in nulliparous patients: a randomized crossover trial.cited 1× |
| Deep friction massage (DFM) | Decreases - induces an immediate reduction | pain intensity upon palpation | Human | athletes with patellar tendinopathy | DFM applied at mean pressure and mean pressure ± 25% (individualized for each participant). | Deep Friction Massage in the Management of Patellar Tendinopathy in Athletes: Short-Term Clinical Outcomes.cited 7× |
| classical massage | Decreases - successfully prevented | chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain | Human | female breast cancer patients | Applied before each paclitaxel infusion (frequency not specified). | Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with classical massage in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.cited 27× |
| classical massage | Decreases - was lower | peripheral neuropathic pain | Human | female breast cancer patients | Applied before each paclitaxel infusion (frequency not specified). | Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with classical massage in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.cited 27× |
| low back massage | Decreases - has a significant impact on reducing | labor pain | Human | pregnant women | Massage was applied at three phases during labor (cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm, 5-7 cm, and 8-10 cm). | Effects of low back massage on perceived birth pain and satisfaction.cited 17× |
| self-knee massage with ginger oil | Decreases - significantly lower | VAS Pain scores | Human | patients with knee osteoarthritis | Self-knee massage with ginger oil twice a week. | Effects of Self-Knee Massage With Ginger Oil in Patients With Osteoarthritis: An Experimental Study.cited 11× |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - reduced | knee pain scores | Human | patients with osteoarthritis | Not specified | The Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Knee Pain and Functional Status in Participants with Osteoarthritis.cited 24× |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - significantly lower | mean VAS pain scores | Human | patients with arteriovenous fistulas undergoing hemodialysis | 12 sessions (3 times per week for 4 weeks). | Aromatherapy Massage for Pain and Xerosis After Repeated Needle Insertion Into a Fistula Arm in Hemodialysis.cited 2× |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - significantly lower | mean VAS scores for acute pain | Human | patients with arteriovenous fistulas undergoing hemodialysis | 12 sessions (3 times per week for 4 weeks). | Aromatherapy Massage for Pain and Xerosis After Repeated Needle Insertion Into a Fistula Arm in Hemodialysis.cited 2× |
| olive-oil massage | Decreases - significantly lower | mean VAS scores for acute pain | Human | patients with arteriovenous fistulas undergoing hemodialysis | 12 sessions (3 times per week for 4 weeks). | Aromatherapy Massage for Pain and Xerosis After Repeated Needle Insertion Into a Fistula Arm in Hemodialysis.cited 2× |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - had an effect on | migraine pain | Human | patients diagnosed with migraine | 15-minute massage with aromatic oil mixture applied to the temple and neck root, frequency not specified. | The Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on the Pain Severity and Quality of Life in Acute Migraine Attacks: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - significantly decreased | Neuropathic pain scores | Human | patients suffering from painful diabetic neuropathy | Not specified for chamomile individually (used in combination with rosemary, geranium, lavender, and eucalyptus). | Aromatherapy Massage for Neuropathic Pain and Quality of Life in Diabetic Patients.cited 40× |
| aromatherapy massage | No effect - had no significant effect | pain | Human | patients after colorectal cancer surgery | Not specified (blend included sweet almond oil, lavender, chamomile, and ginger oil). | The effects of aromatherapy massage given to patients after colorectal cancer surgery on symptom management: A randomized controlled study. |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - had significant effects on pain reduction | pain | Human | — | Not specified. | Effect of aromatherapy with Damask rose on alleviating adults' acute pain severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.cited 14× |
| aromatherapy massage | No effect - no statistically significant differences were found | pain levels | Human | rheumatoid arthritis patients | 5% compound essential oils, applied via self-aromatherapy hand massage for 10 minutes, 3 times a week. | The Effects of Self-Aromatherapy Massage on Pain and Sleep Quality in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 1× |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - significantly decreased | pain scores | Human | patients with rheumatoid arthritis | Aromatherapy massage (30 minutes, both knees) and reflexology (40 minutes, both feet) administered weekly. | The Effects of Aromatherapy Massage and Reflexology on Pain and Fatigue in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 50× |
| aromatherapy massage | Decreases - significantly lower | rate of neuropathic pain | Human | patients receiving oxaliplatin | 3 times a week for 6 weeks. | Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathic Pain and Fatigue in Patients Receiving Oxaliplatin: An Open Label Quasi-Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.cited 24× |
| deep transverse friction massage (DTFM) | Increases - substantially improved | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | men with active TrPs of upper trapezius muscle | Not specified | The immediate effects of deep transverse friction massage, high- power pain threshold ultrasound and whole body vibration on active myofascial trigger points.cited 1× |
| roller massage (RM) | Increases - can be painful and induce muscle activity | pain and muscle activity | Human | — | Four 30-second bouts of RM with 30-second rest intervals, applied at ~70% of maximum tolerable load. | The Addition of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation with Roller Massage Alone or in Combination Did Not Increase Pain Tolerance or Range of Motion.cited 5× |
| roller massage (RM) | Increases - Acute increases | pain pressure threshold (PPT) and range of motion (ROM) | Human | — | Four 30-second bouts of RM with 30-second rest intervals, applied at ~70% of maximum tolerable load. | The Addition of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation with Roller Massage Alone or in Combination Did Not Increase Pain Tolerance or Range of Motion.cited 5× |
| massage protocol | Decreases - was only effective in reducing | interference of pain in walking | Human | children hospitalized with cancer | Three sessions of 20-30 minutes on alternate days over one week. | Massage in children with cancer: effectiveness of a protocol.cited 23× |
| massage protocol | Decreases - contributed to relieve | pain and its impact on the children's activities | Human | children hospitalized with cancer | Three sessions of 20-30 minutes on alternate days over one week. | Massage in children with cancer: effectiveness of a protocol.cited 23× |
| massage session | Decreases - decreased | intensity of the pain experienced by the child | Human | children hospitalized with cancer | Three sessions of 20-30 minutes on alternate days over one week. | Massage in children with cancer: effectiveness of a protocol.cited 23× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - appears to be a useful intervention in reducing | pain | Human | children with cancer | Three sessions of 20-30 minutes on alternate days over one week. | Massage in children with cancer: effectiveness of a protocol.cited 23× |
| foot reflexology massage | Decreases - reduced | pain | Human | pregnant women | Not specified | Effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.cited 4× |
| foot reflexology massage | Decreases - showed that pain anxiety had a significant difference | pain anxiety | Human | patients hospitalized in the burn ICU | 20 minutes of foot reflexology massage for 3 days (on days 3, 4, and 5 of hospitalization) and 15 minutes before wound dressing changes. | The effect of foot reflexology massage on burn-specific pain anxiety and sleep quality and quantity of patients hospitalized in the burn intensive care unit (ICU).cited 32× |
| foot reflexology massage | Decreases - The effect size was=0.82 for pain anxiety between group after the intervention | pain anxiety | Human | patients hospitalized in the burn ICU | 20 minutes of foot reflexology massage for 3 days (on days 3, 4, and 5 of hospitalization) and 15 minutes before wound dressing changes. | The effect of foot reflexology massage on burn-specific pain anxiety and sleep quality and quantity of patients hospitalized in the burn intensive care unit (ICU).cited 32× |
| foot reflexology massage | Decreases - can effectively reduce | pain anxiety levels | Human | patients with burn injuries | 20 minutes of foot reflexology massage for 3 days (on days 3, 4, and 5 of hospitalization) and 15 minutes before wound dressing changes. | The effect of foot reflexology massage on burn-specific pain anxiety and sleep quality and quantity of patients hospitalized in the burn intensive care unit (ICU).cited 32× |
| foot reflexology massage | No effect - there were significant differences between the two groups at different times in terms of the above variables | pain anxiety, sleep latency, duration of the last day's sleep, satisfaction of the last night sleep | Human | patients hospitalized in the burn ICU | 20 minutes of foot reflexology massage for 3 days (on days 3, 4, and 5 of hospitalization) and 15 minutes before wound dressing changes. | The effect of foot reflexology massage on burn-specific pain anxiety and sleep quality and quantity of patients hospitalized in the burn intensive care unit (ICU).cited 32× |
| foot reflexology massage | Decreases - was lower | pain intensity | Human | patients undergoing cardiac surgery | 15 minutes per foot, for two consecutive days. | The effect of foot reflexology massage on delirium and sleep quality following cardiac surgery: A randomized clinical trial.cited 17× |
| pectoralis major myofascial release massage (MRM) | Decreases - effectively reduced | breast pain | Human | breastfeeding mothers | Two MRM sessions: the first administered shortly after delivery and the second 48 hours later. | A randomized controlled trial of pectoralis major myofascial release massage for breastfeeding mothers: breast pain, engorgement, and newborns' breast milk intake and sleeping patterns. |
| self-administered tennis ball massage therapy | Decreases - is significantly effective | low back pain | Human | community-dwelling elderly individuals aged 60 years and above | Not specified (self-administered tennis ball massage). | Effectiveness of Self-Tennis Ball Massage Therapy on Low Back Pain Among Geriatric Individuals. |
| self-administered tennis ball massage therapy | Decreases - effective in reducing | low back pain | Human | geriatric individuals | Not specified (self-administered tennis ball massage). | Effectiveness of Self-Tennis Ball Massage Therapy on Low Back Pain Among Geriatric Individuals. |
| abdominal massage and in-bed ROM exercise | Decreases - reducing | pain level | Human | intensive care patients receiving enteral nutrition | Abdominal massage and in-bed ROM exercises were administered every morning before enteral feeding. | The effect of abdominal massage and in-bed ROM exercise on gastrointestinal complications and comfort in intensive care unit patients receiving enteral nutrition: A randomized controlled trial.cited 1× |
| clinical massage | Decreases - showed an immediate and significant reduction | self-reported pain | Human | inpatients on 2 floors of a progressive care unit | 15-minute daily clinical massage. | Beneficial Effects of Guided Imagery or Clinical Massage on the Status of Patients in a Progressive Care Unit.cited 8× |
| high force (HF, ≥2 kg) massage | Decreases - exhibited significantly lower VAS than did the LF group | pain intensity (visual analog scale (VAS)) | Human | 56 female patients with nonspecific LBP | 30-minute massage sessions (20 min general, 10 min focal) with high force (≥2 kg) or low force (≤1 kg), totaling six sessions over 3 weeks. | The Effect of Massage Force on Relieving Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 7× |
| high force (HF, ≥2 kg) massage | Decreases - exerted superior effects on pain relief | pain relief | Human | female patients with nonspecific LBP | 30-minute massage sessions (20 min general, 10 min focal) with high force (≥2 kg) or low force (≤1 kg), totaling six sessions over 3 weeks. | The Effect of Massage Force on Relieving Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 7× |
| Shujing Tongdu massage therapy | Decreases - exhibited decrease | pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic lesions or spinal disorders | Twice weekly for 12 weeks. | Evaluating the role of Shujing Tongdu massage in enhancing wound recovery and alleviating spinal disease symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.cited 1× |
| antenatal perineal massage | Decreases - less | perineal pain | Human | antenatal perineal massage group | Not specified | Antenatal perineal massage benefits in reducing perineal trauma and postpartum morbidities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.cited 24× |
| Individual home-based progressive muscle relaxation exercises; unsupervised water exercises plus information using handbooks/videos/music; group multimodal exercises plus home exercises and information/education; and partner massage plus information using booklets/photographs | Decreases - reduced | pain intensity | Human | pregnant women with low back pain | Not specified | Minimal-contact physical interventions for pregnant women with musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of randomised and non-randomised clinical trials.cited 1× |
| moxibustion-cum-massage intervention | No effect - maintenance effects were not significant | pain level, sleep quality, depression, subjective well-being | Human | older adults in the community | Two moxa sticks per day for five consecutive days. | A self-administered moxibustion-cum-massage intervention for older adults with chronic pain in the community: A randomized controlled trial.cited 2× |
| moxibustion-cum-massage intervention | Decreases - significantly reduced | subjective pain level | Human | older adults in the community | Two moxa sticks per day for five consecutive days. | A self-administered moxibustion-cum-massage intervention for older adults with chronic pain in the community: A randomized controlled trial.cited 2× |
| Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, massage or exercises | Decreases - can be provide to reduce | pain | Human | patients with dementia | Not specified | Dysfunctions associated with dementia and their treatment. |
| massage in combination with other therapies | Decreases - Moderate recommendations were made for the treatment | chronic neck pain | Human | adults | Not specified | Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain.cited 76× |
| massage chairs | Decreases - could have benefits on | pain reduction | Human | — | Not specified | Utilization of massage chairs for promoting overall health and wellness: A rapid scoping review.cited 1× |
| complementary therapies including acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and massage | Decreases - have been found to have some efficacy | pain and anxiety | Human | older population | Not specified | Guidance on the management of pain in older people.cited 487× |
| Hoku point ice massage | Decreases - significantly lower | labor pain intensity | Human | primiparous women expecting normal childbirth | Not specified (intervention applied at cervical dilations of 4, 6, and 8 cm). | Complementary and alternative therapies to relieve labor pain: A comparative study between music therapy and Hoku point ice massage.cited 27× |
| Hoku point ice massage | Decreases - similar effect | relieving labor pain | Human | primiparous women expecting normal childbirth | Not specified (intervention applied at cervical dilations of 4, 6, and 8 cm). | Complementary and alternative therapies to relieve labor pain: A comparative study between music therapy and Hoku point ice massage.cited 27× |
| 'M' technique massage with or without mandarin oil | No effect - Results do not support a benefit | pain and distress | Human | young postoperative patients | Not specified | Does postoperative 'M' technique massage with or without mandarin oil reduce infants' distress after major craniofacial surgery?cited 18× |
| Hegu point ice massage | Decreases - effective methods for reducing pain | pain | Human | students with dysmenorrhea | Intervention performed on the first and second days of menstruation. | Comparative Effectiveness of Hegu Point Ice Massage Versus Music for Dysmenorrhea-Related Pain and Comfort Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| Hegu point ice massage | Decreases - were lower | pain levels | Human | students with dysmenorrhea | Intervention performed on the first and second days of menstruation. | Comparative Effectiveness of Hegu Point Ice Massage Versus Music for Dysmenorrhea-Related Pain and Comfort Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| Hegu point ice massage | Decreases - were lower | pain levels | Human | students with dysmenorrhea | Intervention performed on the first and second days of menstruation. | Comparative Effectiveness of Hegu Point Ice Massage Versus Music for Dysmenorrhea-Related Pain and Comfort Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| Hegu point ice massage | Decreases - significant difference | pain levels | Human | students with dysmenorrhea | Intervention performed on the first and second days of menstruation. | Comparative Effectiveness of Hegu Point Ice Massage Versus Music for Dysmenorrhea-Related Pain and Comfort Levels: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| Swedish massage without chamomile oil | Decreases - significantly lower | intensity of labor pain | Human | women referred to 22 Bahman Hospital in Masjid Sulaiman City | Not specified | Investigating the effect of Swedish massage with chamomile oil on labor pain and anxiety of primiparous women: A clinical trial.cited 4× |
| Swedish massage without chamomile oil | Decreases - led to a decrease | pain intensity | Human | pregnant mothers | Not specified | Investigating the effect of Swedish massage with chamomile oil on labor pain and anxiety of primiparous women: A clinical trial.cited 4× |
| Swedish massage with chamomile oil | Decreases - significantly lower | intensity of labor pain | Human | women referred to 22 Bahman Hospital in Masjid Sulaiman City | Not specified | Investigating the effect of Swedish massage with chamomile oil on labor pain and anxiety of primiparous women: A clinical trial.cited 4× |
| Swedish massage with chamomile oil | Decreases - led to a decrease | pain intensity | Human | pregnant mothers | Not specified | Investigating the effect of Swedish massage with chamomile oil on labor pain and anxiety of primiparous women: A clinical trial.cited 4× |
| birthing ball exercises and sacral massage | Decreases - decrease | pain perception | Human | primigravidae | Not specified | A Correlation Study of Birthing Ball Technique and Sacral Massage on Maternal and Fetal Well-being Among Parturient Women: A Non-Randomized Clinical Trail. |
| weekly massage therapy by a massage therapist plus daily self-massages | Decreases - showed significant short-term reductions | ROM-associated pain | Human | Staff and faculty members at a medical school who had neck arthritis pain | Weekly moderate-pressure massages by a therapist plus daily self-massages. | Neck arthritis pain is reduced and range of motion is increased by massage therapy.cited 16× |
| weekly massage therapy by a massage therapist plus daily self-massages | Decreases - significantly different changes including reduced | ROM-associated pain | Human | massage group | Weekly moderate-pressure massages by a therapist plus daily self-massages. | Neck arthritis pain is reduced and range of motion is increased by massage therapy.cited 16× |
| weekly massage therapy by a massage therapist plus daily self-massages | Decreases - showed significant short-term reductions | self-reported pain | Human | Staff and faculty members at a medical school who had neck arthritis pain | Weekly moderate-pressure massages by a therapist plus daily self-massages. | Neck arthritis pain is reduced and range of motion is increased by massage therapy.cited 16× |
| acupressure massage on the sanyinjiao (SP6), ciliao (BL32), and taichong (Liver 3) acupoints | Decreases - reported moderate to high levels of | low back pain (LBP) relief | Human | participants in the experimental group | 30-minute acupressure sessions three times a week on specific acupoints (SP6, BL32, Liver 3). | Effects of acupressure on menstrual distress and low back pain in dysmenorrheic young adult women: an experimental study.cited 23× |
| acupressure massage on the sanyinjiao (SP6), ciliao (BL32), and taichong (Liver 3) acupoints | Decreases - had significantly lower | low back pain (LBP) scores | Human | dysmenorrheic young adult women | 30-minute acupressure sessions three times a week on specific acupoints (SP6, BL32, Liver 3). | Effects of acupressure on menstrual distress and low back pain in dysmenorrheic young adult women: an experimental study.cited 23× |
| single and multiple massage treatments | Increases - increase | pressure-pain threshold (PPT) at myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) | Human | people with myofascial pain syndrome expressed as tension-type headache | 12 twice-weekly 45-minute massage sessions. | Responsiveness of Myofascial Trigger Points to Single and Multiple Trigger Point Release Massages: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial.cited 37× |
| segmental massage | Decreases - decreased | pain during migraine attacks (VAS) | Human | females suffering from migraine | Reflexology group: 10 treatments, 2 times per week; Segmental massage group: 15 treatments, 3 times per week. | Effects of feet reflexology versus segmental massage in reducing pain and its intensity, frequency and duration of the attacks in females with migraine: a pilot study.cited 12× |
| back massage (BM) intervention | Decreases - experienced significantly less | lower back pain (LBP) | Human | post-partum women | Back massage for 5 consecutive days. | Back massage intervention for relieving lower back pain in puerperal women: A randomized control trial study.cited 5× |
| light massage | Decreases - persisted longer | leukemia-related pain and fatigue | Human | adult patients with acute leukemia | 15-minute sessions, thrice weekly for 4 weeks. | Slow-Stroke Back Massage Compared With Music Therapy for Leukemia-Related Pain and Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 11× |
| light massage | Decreases - decreased significantly | pain intensity | Human | adult patients with acute leukemia | 15-minute sessions, thrice weekly for 4 weeks. | Slow-Stroke Back Massage Compared With Music Therapy for Leukemia-Related Pain and Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 11× |
| light massage | Decreases - decreased more | pain intensity | Human | adult patients with acute leukemia | 15-minute sessions, thrice weekly for 4 weeks. | Slow-Stroke Back Massage Compared With Music Therapy for Leukemia-Related Pain and Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 11× |
| light massage | Decreases - had the strongest effects on | pain outcomes | Human | participants with chronic cervicogenic headache | 8 or 16 sessions | A preliminary path analysis of expectancy and patient-provider encounter in an open-label randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache.cited 13× |
| moderate pressure massage therapy | Decreases - had less pain | pain | Human | adults with rheumatoid arthritis in the upper limbs | Therapist-administered massage once a week and self-massage once daily. | Rheumatoid arthritis in upper limbs benefits from moderate pressure massage therapy.cited 28× |
| hand massage practiced using baby oil with lavender | Decreases - reduced | pain | Human | women with brachytherapy | Three sessions of 10-minute hand massages (5 minutes per hand) using baby oil with lavender. | The effect of the hand massage using baby oil with lavender application on the procedural pain and state anxiety of women undergoing brachytherapy: A parallel-group randomized controlled study. |
| hand massage practiced using baby oil with lavender | Decreases - were determined to be lower than the control group's | pain scores | Human | women with brachytherapy | Three sessions of 10-minute hand massages (5 minutes per hand) using baby oil with lavender. | The effect of the hand massage using baby oil with lavender application on the procedural pain and state anxiety of women undergoing brachytherapy: A parallel-group randomized controlled study. |
| foot and hand massage | Decreases - are influential in decreasing | pain and anxiety levels | Human | patients who undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | Efficacy of Hand and Foot Massage in Anxiety and Pain Management Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Controlled Randomized Study.cited 9× |
| hand massage | Decreases - were less than in the control group | pain intensity | Human | patients who receive laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | Efficacy of Hand and Foot Massage in Anxiety and Pain Management Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Controlled Randomized Study.cited 9× |
| hand massage | Increases - A significant positive relationship was found | pain intensity and state anxiety levels | Human | patients who receive laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | Efficacy of Hand and Foot Massage in Anxiety and Pain Management Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Controlled Randomized Study.cited 9× |
| foot massage | Decreases - were less than in the control group | pain intensity | Human | patients who receive laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | Efficacy of Hand and Foot Massage in Anxiety and Pain Management Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Controlled Randomized Study.cited 9× |
| foot massage | Increases - A significant positive relationship was found | pain intensity and state anxiety levels | Human | patients who receive laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | Efficacy of Hand and Foot Massage in Anxiety and Pain Management Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Controlled Randomized Study.cited 9× |
| foot and hand massage | Decreases - reduction in pain intensity was significantly meaningful | pain intensity | Human | patients who had cesarean operation | Not specified | Effectiveness of foot and hand massage in postcesarean pain control in a group of Turkish pregnant women.cited 29× |
| foot and hand massage | Decreases - reducing | postoperative pain | Human | patients who had cesarean operation | Not specified | Effectiveness of foot and hand massage in postcesarean pain control in a group of Turkish pregnant women.cited 29× |
| foot and hand massage | Decreases - proved useful as an effective nursing intervention in controlling | postoperative pain | Human | patients who had cesarean operation | Not specified | Effectiveness of foot and hand massage in postcesarean pain control in a group of Turkish pregnant women.cited 29× |
| foot and hand massage | Decreases - reduce | pain of cesarean section | Human | — | 5 minutes of foot and hand massage. | Effect of foot and hand massage in post-cesarean section pain control: a randomized control trial.cited 30× |
| hand and foot massage | Decreases - significant difference | pain intensity | Human | pregnant women who had an elective cesarean section | 5 minutes of foot and hand massage. | Effect of foot and hand massage in post-cesarean section pain control: a randomized control trial.cited 30× |
| hand and foot massage | Decreases - reduced | post-cesarean section pain intensity | Human | pregnant women who had an elective cesarean section | 5 minutes of foot and hand massage. | Effect of foot and hand massage in post-cesarean section pain control: a randomized control trial.cited 30× |
| aromatherapy M technique hand massage | Decreases - significantly decreased | chronic pain intensity | Human | older adults with chronic pain living in long-term care facilities | Twice weekly sessions for 4 weeks. | Aromatherapy hand massage for older adults with chronic pain living in long-term care.cited 14× |
| aromatherapy M technique hand massage | Decreases - had a significant effect on | Geriatric Multidimensional Pain Inventory Pain and Suffering scores | Human | older adults with chronic pain living in long-term care facilities | Twice weekly sessions for 4 weeks. | Aromatherapy hand massage for older adults with chronic pain living in long-term care.cited 14× |
| aromatherapy M technique hand massage | Decreases - differed significantly within groups | Iowa Pain Thermometer scores | Human | older adults with chronic pain living in long-term care facilities | Twice weekly sessions for 4 weeks. | Aromatherapy hand massage for older adults with chronic pain living in long-term care.cited 14× |
| massage application | Decreases - more effective in reducing | labor pain | Human | pregnant women | 3 minutes of acupressure to the LI 4 point at the same dilation intervals when contractions were most intense. | The effect of acupressure and massage on labor pain and birth satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial.cited 2× |
| massage application | Decreases - more effective than acupressure in reducing | labor pain | Human | pregnant women | 3 minutes of acupressure to the LI 4 point at the same dilation intervals when contractions were most intense. | The effect of acupressure and massage on labor pain and birth satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial.cited 2× |
| Trigger point massage and injections | Decreases - relieves | pain | Human | some patients | Not specified | Pelvic floor spasm as a cause of voiding dysfunction.cited 20× |
| global therapeutic massage | No effect - occurring at similar rates | pain | Human | women with newly symptomatic interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome | 10 scheduled treatments (frequency not specified). | Randomized multicenter clinical trial of myofascial physical therapy in women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and pelvic floor tenderness.cited 152× |
| heat massage | No effect - was not superior to | improving lower back pain and pain-related disability | Human | patients with subacute lower back pain | — | Substantiating the Therapeutic Effects of Simultaneous Heat Massage Combined with Conventional Physical Therapy for Treatment of Lower Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial. |
| simultaneous heat massage therapy | Decreases - improved | pain numeric rating scale (PNRS) scores | Human | patients with subacute lower back pain | — | Substantiating the Therapeutic Effects of Simultaneous Heat Massage Combined with Conventional Physical Therapy for Treatment of Lower Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial. |
| simultaneous heat massage therapy | Decreases - improved | short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores | Human | patients with subacute lower back pain | — | Substantiating the Therapeutic Effects of Simultaneous Heat Massage Combined with Conventional Physical Therapy for Treatment of Lower Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial. |
| analgesic administration with massage | Decreases - decreased | pain scores | Human | postoperative orthopaedic patients | 5-minute hand and arm massage administered once per pain episode. | Effect of a Brief Massage on Pain, Anxiety, and Satisfaction With Pain Management in Postoperative Orthopaedic Patients.cited 15× |
| analgesic administration with massage | Increases - significantly increased | patient satisfaction with pain management | Human | postoperative orthopaedic patients | 5-minute hand and arm massage administered once per pain episode. | Effect of a Brief Massage on Pain, Anxiety, and Satisfaction With Pain Management in Postoperative Orthopaedic Patients.cited 15× |
| rhythmical massage (Anthroposophic Medicine) | Decreases - significant difference | mean pain intensity | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea | Rhythmical massage once a week. | Efficacy of rhythmical massage in comparison to heart rate variability biofeedback in patients with dysmenorrhea-A randomized, controlled trial.cited 14× |
| rhythmical massage (Anthroposophic Medicine) | No effect - no significant differences | mean pain intensity | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea | Rhythmical massage once a week. | Efficacy of rhythmical massage in comparison to heart rate variability biofeedback in patients with dysmenorrhea-A randomized, controlled trial.cited 14× |
| rhythmical massage (Anthroposophic Medicine) | Decreases - might improve | pain intensity | Human | women with primary dysmenorrhea | Rhythmical massage once a week. | Efficacy of rhythmical massage in comparison to heart rate variability biofeedback in patients with dysmenorrhea-A randomized, controlled trial.cited 14× |
| manual therapy - massage and therapeutic exercises (T5) | Decreases - led to complete resolution of pain | pain | Human | 186 women (T) with the Ib disorder diagnosed in DC/TMD | Not specified (therapy administered for 10 days). | Surface electromyography evaluation of selected manual and physical therapy interventions in women with temporomandibular joint pain and limited mobility. Randomized controlled trial (RCT).cited 5× |
| ice massage | Decreases - significantly lower | pain | Human | patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | Cold air therapy at -30°C and ice massage (specific duration/frequency not detailed). | Local Cryotherapy, Comparison of Cold Air and Ice Massage on Pain and Handgrip Strength in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.cited 4× |
| ice massage | No effect - no significant difference | pain alleviation | Human | patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | Cold air therapy at -30°C and ice massage (specific duration/frequency not detailed). | Local Cryotherapy, Comparison of Cold Air and Ice Massage on Pain and Handgrip Strength in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.cited 4× |
| ice massage | Decreases - reduced | pain during labor | Human | pregnant women | Not specified (intervention applied at the Hegu point). | Comparing the effects of ice massage and acupressure on labor pain reduction.cited 30× |
| ice massage | Decreases - provided more persistent pain relief | pain during labor | Human | pregnant women | Not specified (intervention applied at the Hegu point). | Comparing the effects of ice massage and acupressure on labor pain reduction.cited 30× |
| ice massage | Decreases - showed a significant difference | pain intensity | Human | pregnant women | Not specified (intervention applied at the Hegu point). | Comparing the effects of ice massage and acupressure on labor pain reduction.cited 30× |
| ice massage | Increases - was the highest | post-exercise pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | male MMA fighters | Interventions were applied during 1-minute breaks between five sets of jumps to exhaustion. | Immediate effect of ice and dry massage during rest breaks on recovery in MMA fighters : a randomized crossover clinical trial study. |
| electroacupuncture + massage + blocking therapy | Decreases - had lower pain intensity | pain intensity | Human | patients with external humeral epicondylitis | Massage was given once a day for 10 treatments per course, with a 1-week interval before the next course. | Therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture, massage, and blocking therapy on external humeral epicondylitis.cited 10× |
| whole body massage therapy | No effect - had similar effects | pain scores during venipuncture | Human | Newborns in NICUs with gestational age ≥34 weeks | 10% dextrose (specific frequency not mentioned). | Effect of whole body massage on pain scores of neonates during venous puncture and comparison with oral dextrose and Kangaroo care, a randomized controlled evaluator-blind clinical study. |
| hand and foot massage | Decreases - A significant reduction was observed | intensity of pain | Human | primiparous women undergone elective cesarean section | Not specified (hand and foot massage or foot massage only). | Massage as adjuvant therapy in the management of post-cesarean pain and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial.cited 38× |
| hand and foot massage | Decreases - significantly reduce | pain | Human | women after a cesarean section | Not specified | Hand and Foot Massage on Pain Management After Cesarean Section: A Meta-Analysis. |
| hand and foot massage | Decreases - significantly reduce | pain | Human | women after a cesarean section | Not specified | Hand and Foot Massage on Pain Management After Cesarean Section: A Meta-Analysis. |
| hand and foot massage | Decreases - significantly reduce | pain | Human | women after a cesarean section | Not specified | Hand and Foot Massage on Pain Management After Cesarean Section: A Meta-Analysis. |
| hand and foot massage | Decreases - are beneficial for | pain and anxiety management | Human | women following a cesarean section | Not specified | Hand and Foot Massage on Pain Management After Cesarean Section: A Meta-Analysis. |
| massage therapy to the quadriceps | Decreases - significantly lower scores | pain intensity | Human | runners after sporting activity (10-km run) | 10 minutes of massage to the quadriceps. | Massage therapy slightly decreased pain intensity after habitual running, but had no effect on fatigue, mood or physical performance: a randomised trial.cited 10× |
| spinal thermal massage bed (STMB) and intermittent pneumatic calf compression | Decreases - significant reductions | pain intensity | Human | participants aged 65-80 years with chronic low back pain | Eight sessions (2 per week) using the STMB device. | Pain Reduction and Posture Alignment Improvement in Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Novel Approach Using Spinal Thermal Massage Bed and Calf Pneumatic Cell Compression. |
| abdominal massage used with laxatives | Decreases - reduced | abdominal pain | Human | people with constipation | 15 minutes of abdominal and hand massage per day, five days a week. | Using massage to ease constipation.cited 3× |
| massage-only | Decreases - were lower than the control group | pain severity | Human | female students with primary dysmenorrhea | Acupressure + massage and massage-only interventions were applied during the first 3 days of three consecutive menstrual cycles. | The Effects of Acupressure and Massage on Pain, Menstrual Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| acupressure + massage | Decreases - were lower than the control group | pain severity | Human | female students with primary dysmenorrhea | Acupressure + massage and massage-only interventions were applied during the first 3 days of three consecutive menstrual cycles. | The Effects of Acupressure and Massage on Pain, Menstrual Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| analgesics and encouraged to massage the affected finger | Decreases - gradually improved | pain | Human | 69-year-old woman | Not specified | Acute calcific periarthritis of the proximal phalangeal joint on the fifth finger: A case report and literature review.cited 8× |
| combination of electrotherapy, deep friction massage and stabilization exercise | Decreases - had positive effect for improving pain | pain | Human | patients diagnosed as LHNP and suffering from pain at least 8 weeks | Fifteen sessions of combined electrotherapy, deep friction massage, and stabilization exercise. | Regression of lumbar disc herniation by physiotherapy. Does non-surgical spinal decompression therapy make a difference? Double-blind randomized controlled trial.cited 30× |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine breast massage | No effect - were reported | breast pain | Human | clinical trials regarding stasis acute mastitis | Not specified | Heterogeneity of Outcomes Reporting in Trials Evaluating Traditional Chinese Medicine Breast Massage for Stasis Acute Mastitis: A Methodological Review.cited 1× |
| Kinesitherapy with massage | No effect - were not significantly different | mean values of pain intensity | Human | adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders | Not specified | Physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders.cited 3× |
| Kinesitherapy with massage | Decreases - differed significantly | pain intensity | Human | adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders | Not specified | Physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders.cited 3× |
| massage therapy with duration ≥ 5 weeks | Decreases - significantly improved | pain | Human | patients with FM | Not specified (duration ≥5 weeks mentioned). | Massage therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.cited 49× |
| Percussive massage therapy (PT) | Decreases - alleviated | pain | Human | firefighters with chronic non-specific low back pain | Not specified (intervention included PT and core stability exercise). | Effects of percussive massage therapy on fascia echo intensity and fascia thickness in firefighters with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.cited 1× |
| shoe orthotic plus chiropractic manipulation, hot or cold packs, and manual soft tissue massage | No effect - no significant difference | pain | Human | Adult subjects with symptomatic low back pain of ≥3 months | Not specified (manual soft tissue massage was part of a combined intervention). | Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 14× |
| Ultrasound combined with ice massage contrast | No effect - was not statistically different from ice massage alone | participant-rated pain relief | Human | participants with patellofemoral pain syndrome | Not specified | WITHDRAWN: Therapeutic ultrasound for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome.cited 3× |
| ice massage alone | Increases - reported improved pain relief | pain relief | Human | participants with patellofemoral pain syndrome | Not specified | WITHDRAWN: Therapeutic ultrasound for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome.cited 3× |
| Ultrasound and ice massage | Increases - reported improved pain relief | pain relief | Human | participants with patellofemoral pain syndrome | Not specified | WITHDRAWN: Therapeutic ultrasound for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome.cited 3× |
| massage groups (SM and DM) | Decreases - evidence of worsening of the perceptions of | pain | Human | 19 male and female competitive swimmers between 12 and 20 years old | Three 12-minute interventions per week (superficial or deep massage). | Repeated Massage Improves Swimmers' Perceptions during Training Sessions but Not Sprint and Functional Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 2× |
| massage therapy, as a stand-alone treatment | Decreases - reduces | pain | Human | individuals with medial KOA | Six-week massage intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | The effectiveness of massage on pain, external knee adduction moment, and muscle Co-contraction in individuals with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. |
| massage therapy | Decreases - decreases | pain | Human | individuals with medial KOA | Six-week massage intervention (specific frequency not detailed). | The effectiveness of massage on pain, external knee adduction moment, and muscle Co-contraction in individuals with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. |
| massage | No effect | acute low back pain | Human | — | Not specified | Low back pain (acute).cited 34× |
| massage | Decreases - administered to reduce acute pain | acute pain | Human | adult victims of trauma | Not specified | Non-pharmacological interventions for acute pain management in adult trauma victims: a scoping review.cited 8× |
| massage | Decreases - lower | adjusted pain scores | Human | infants with CCHD | Daily 30-minute massage. | Effects of Massage on Postoperative Pain in Infants With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.cited 12× |
| massage | Decreases - lower | daily pain scores | Human | infants with CCHD | Daily 30-minute massage. | Effects of Massage on Postoperative Pain in Infants With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.cited 12× |
| massage | Decreases - reduce | pain | Human | infants with congenital heart disease | Daily 30-minute massage. | Effects of Massage on Postoperative Pain in Infants With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.cited 12× |
| massage | Decreases - reduced | self-reported postoperative pain | Human | adults with heart disease | Daily 30-minute massage. | Effects of Massage on Postoperative Pain in Infants With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.cited 12× |
| Massage | Decreases - was significantly better than physical therapy in improving | back pain | Human | — | Not specified | Complementary and alternative therapies for back pain II.cited 43× |
| Massage | Decreases - was superior to placebo or no treatment in reducing | pain | Human | subjects with acute/sub-acute low back pain | Not specified | Complementary and alternative therapies for back pain II.cited 43× |
| Massage | Decreases - was better than no treatment, placebo, or exercise in improving | pain | Human | subjects with neck pain | Not specified | Complementary and alternative therapies for back pain II.cited 43× |
| massage | Increases - clinically improved | Bodily Pain Domain | Human | primary care patients with chronic low back pain | 10 massage sessions (frequency not specified). | Real-World Massage Therapy Produces Meaningful Effectiveness Signal for Primary Care Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Repeated Measures Cohort Study.cited 8× |
| massage | Increases - clinically improved | Bodily Pain Domain | Human | primary care patients with chronic low back pain | 10 massage sessions (frequency not specified). | Real-World Massage Therapy Produces Meaningful Effectiveness Signal for Primary Care Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Repeated Measures Cohort Study.cited 8× |
| massage | Increases - had better outcomes | pain | Human | adults older than age 49 years | 10 massage sessions (frequency not specified). | Real-World Massage Therapy Produces Meaningful Effectiveness Signal for Primary Care Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Repeated Measures Cohort Study.cited 8× |
| massage | Increases - improved | SF-36v2's Bodily Pain Domain | Human | primary care patients with chronic low back pain | 10 massage sessions (frequency not specified). | Real-World Massage Therapy Produces Meaningful Effectiveness Signal for Primary Care Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Repeated Measures Cohort Study.cited 8× |
| massage | Decreases - reduced | Brief Pain Inventory worst pain score | Human | patients with advanced cancer | Weekly sessions for 10 weeks, with monthly booster sessions up to 26 weeks. | Acupuncture vs Massage for Pain in Patients Living With Advanced Cancer: The IMPACT Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 17× |
| massage | Decreases - is effective for the relief | cancer pain | Human | cancer patients | Not specified | Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy on Cancer Pain.cited 84× |
| massage | Decreases - beneficial effect | relief of cancer pain | Human | cancer patients | Not specified | Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy on Cancer Pain.cited 84× |
| massage | Decreases - is effective for the relief | surgery-related pain | Human | cancer patients | Not specified | Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy on Cancer Pain.cited 84× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - observed reduction | cancer pain | Human | cancer patients experiencing pain | Not specified | Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy on Cancer Pain.cited 84× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly reduced | cancer pain | Human | cancer patients experiencing pain | Not specified | Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy on Cancer Pain.cited 84× |
| massage | Decreases - effective | cancer pain | Human | patients with cancer and cancer survivors | Not Assessed | Patient-Reported Outcomes of Pain and Related Symptoms in Integrative Oncology Practice and Clinical Research: Evidence and Recommendations.cited 14× |
| massage | Decreases - improve | cancer-related pain | Human | breast cancer patients | Not specified | Effect of complementary and alternative medicine interventions on cancer related pain among breast cancer patients: A systematic review.cited 23× |
| massage | No effect - primary treatment option | chronic low back and neck pain without serious pathology | Human | patients with spinal disorders in low-income communities | Not specified | The Global Spine Care Initiative: applying evidence-based guidelines on the non-invasive management of back and neck pain to low- and middle-income communities.cited 92× |
| massage | Decreases - effective | chronic low back pain | Human | — | Not specified | Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline.cited 524× |
| massage | Decreases - optimal number of weeks of treatment | chronic neck pain | Human | persons with chronic neck pain | 2 or 3 sessions per week of 30 minutes, or 1, 2, or 3 sessions per week of 60 minutes. | Dosing study of massage for chronic neck pain: protocol for the dose response evaluation and analysis of massage [DREAM] trial.cited 9× |
| massage | Decreases - optimal combination of number of treatments per week and length of individual treatment session | chronic neck pain | Human | persons with chronic neck pain | 2 or 3 sessions per week of 30 minutes, or 1, 2, or 3 sessions per week of 60 minutes. | Dosing study of massage for chronic neck pain: protocol for the dose response evaluation and analysis of massage [DREAM] trial.cited 9× |
| massage | No effect - poor quality of research | effectiveness for treating neck pain | Human | — | 2 or 3 sessions per week of 30 minutes, or 1, 2, or 3 sessions per week of 60 minutes. | Dosing study of massage for chronic neck pain: protocol for the dose response evaluation and analysis of massage [DREAM] trial.cited 9× |
| massage | No effect - effectiveness for treating neck pain remains unclear | neck pain | Human | persons with chronic neck pain | 2 or 3 sessions per week of 30 minutes, or 1, 2, or 3 sessions per week of 60 minutes. | Dosing study of massage for chronic neck pain: protocol for the dose response evaluation and analysis of massage [DREAM] trial.cited 9× |
| massage | No effect - primary outcomes | neck-related dysfunction and pain | Human | persons with chronic non-specific neck pain | 2 or 3 sessions per week of 30 minutes, or 1, 2, or 3 sessions per week of 60 minutes. | Dosing study of massage for chronic neck pain: protocol for the dose response evaluation and analysis of massage [DREAM] trial.cited 9× |
| massage | No effect - weak positive evidence was found | chronic pain | Human | — | Not specified | Using Integrative Medicine in Pain Management: An Evaluation of Current Evidence.cited 44× |
| massage | No effect - support the use of | chronic pain syndromes | Human | patients with one or more of these chronic pain syndromes | Not specified | Integrative Health Strategies to Manage Chronic Pain.cited 3× |
| massage | No effect - are necessary | comprehensive pain management | Human | transgender patient | Not available | Optimal Perioperative Pain Management of the Transgender Patient for Gender Affirming Surgery: A Scoping Review.cited 1× |
| massage | No effect - is widely used | cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort symptoms | Human | adult women | Not specified | A critical review of complementary and alternative medicine use by women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: a focus upon prevalence, patterns and applications of use and users' motivations, information seeking and self-perceived efficacy.cited 10× |
| massage | Decreases - have beneficial effects | DOMS-related pain | Human | Healthy participants | Not specified | Physical therapy interventions for the treatment of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS): Systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 19× |
| massage | No effect - most frequent method for handling pain other than consultation with doctors | handling pain | Human | nursing staff in Thailand | Not available | A comparison of chronic pain prevalence in Japan, Thailand, and myanmar.cited 25× |
| massage | Decreases - play important part in helping to recover | heel pain condition | Human | patients with heel pain | Not specified | Heel pain: A systematic review.cited 34× |
| massage | No effect - no significant difference was observed | intensity of post laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) | Human | patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Massage was performed three consecutive times after patients regained consciousness. | Comparing the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and massage therapy on post laparoscopic shoulder pain: a randomized clinical trial.cited 3× |
| massage plus conventional pharmacological treatment | Decreases - led to a significant reduction | intensity of post laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) | Human | patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Massage was performed three consecutive times after patients regained consciousness. | Comparing the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and massage therapy on post laparoscopic shoulder pain: a randomized clinical trial.cited 3× |
| massage | Decreases - labour pain was reduced | labour pain | Human | women | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 49× |
| massage | Decreases - may have a role in reducing pain | pain | Human | women | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 49× |
| massage | Decreases - Less pain during labour was reported | pain during labour | Human | women | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 49× |
| massage | Decreases - should select | low back pain | Human | patients with acute or subacute low back pain | Not specified | Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians.cited 1,852× |
| massage | Decreases - consideration be given to the use of | lower back pain | Human | patients who do not improve | Not available | Pharmacological management of chronic lower back pain: a review of cost effectiveness.cited 8× |
| massage | Decreases - management | mechanical low back pain | Human | patients with mechanical low back pain | Not specified | Spine Conditions: Mechanical and Inflammatory Low Back Pain.cited 12× |
| massage | Decreases - may be promising | multiple types of chronic pain | Human | — | Not specified | Synthesizing the Strength of the Evidence of Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies for Pain.cited 19× |
| therapeutic massage | Decreases - statistically significant positive effects | some types of pain | Human | — | Not specified | Synthesizing the Strength of the Evidence of Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies for Pain.cited 19× |
| massage | Decreases - resulted in lower | muscle pain and soreness ratings | Human | runners who finished the race and completed the study | 20-minute postrace session. | A Randomized Controlled Trial of Massage and Pneumatic Compression for Ultramarathon Recovery.cited 20× |
| massage | Decreases - include | myofascial pain syndrome | Human | patients with myofascial pain syndrome | Not specified | Myofascial low back pain: a review.cited 42× |
| massage | Decreases - may offer relief | myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) | Human | some patients with MPS | Not specified | A Comprehensive Review of the Treatment and Management of Myofascial Pain Syndrome.cited 69× |
| massage | Decreases - represent reasonable complementary and alternative medicine methods | neck pain | Human | patients with neck pain | Not Assessed | Complementary and alternative treatment for neck pain: chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS, massage, yoga, Tai Chi, and Feldenkrais.cited 23× |
| massage | Decreases - weaker evidence supporting | neck pain | Human | — | Not specified | Advances in the diagnosis and management of neck pain.cited 198× |
| massage (30 minutes 2x/wk) | No effect - no observed differences | neck-related dysfunction and pain | Human | persons with chronic nonspecific neck pain | Primary groups received 30 minutes 2x or 3x/week or 60 minutes 1x, 2x, or 3x/week for 4 weeks; booster groups received an additional six 60-minute massages 1x/week. | Randomized clinical trial assessing whether additional massage treatments for chronic neck pain improve 12- and 26-week outcomes.cited 18× |
| massage (30 minutes 3x/wk) | No effect - no observed differences | neck-related dysfunction and pain | Human | persons with chronic nonspecific neck pain | Primary groups received 30 minutes 2x or 3x/week or 60 minutes 1x, 2x, or 3x/week for 4 weeks; booster groups received an additional six 60-minute massages 1x/week. | Randomized clinical trial assessing whether additional massage treatments for chronic neck pain improve 12- and 26-week outcomes.cited 18× |
| massage (60 minutes 1x/wk) | No effect - no observed differences | neck-related dysfunction and pain | Human | persons with chronic nonspecific neck pain | Primary groups received 30 minutes 2x or 3x/week or 60 minutes 1x, 2x, or 3x/week for 4 weeks; booster groups received an additional six 60-minute massages 1x/week. | Randomized clinical trial assessing whether additional massage treatments for chronic neck pain improve 12- and 26-week outcomes.cited 18× |
| massage (60 minutes 2x/wk) | No effect - no observed differences | neck-related dysfunction and pain | Human | persons with chronic nonspecific neck pain | Primary groups received 30 minutes 2x or 3x/week or 60 minutes 1x, 2x, or 3x/week for 4 weeks; booster groups received an additional six 60-minute massages 1x/week. | Randomized clinical trial assessing whether additional massage treatments for chronic neck pain improve 12- and 26-week outcomes.cited 18× |
| massage (60 minutes 3x/wk) | No effect - no observed differences | neck-related dysfunction and pain | Human | persons with chronic nonspecific neck pain | Primary groups received 30 minutes 2x or 3x/week or 60 minutes 1x, 2x, or 3x/week for 4 weeks; booster groups received an additional six 60-minute massages 1x/week. | Randomized clinical trial assessing whether additional massage treatments for chronic neck pain improve 12- and 26-week outcomes.cited 18× |
| massage | Decreases - rated helpful | neuropathic pain | Human | individuals with spinal cord injury | Not specified | Treatments perceived to be helpful for neuropathic pain after traumatic spinal cord injury: A multicenter cross-sectional survey study.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - significant improvements were found | Numerical Pain Rating Scale scores | Human | nursing team employees | Seven to eight massage sessions after work periods. | Massage application for occupational low back pain in nursing staff.cited 9× |
| massage | Decreases - was effective in reducing | occupational low back pain | Human | nursing team employees | Seven to eight massage sessions after work periods. | Massage application for occupational low back pain in nursing staff.cited 9× |
| Massage | Decreases - decreasing | pain | Human | women | Not specified | The side effects and mother or child related physical harm from massage during pregnancy and the postpartum period: An observational study.cited 16× |
| massage | Decreases - were effective in reducing | pain | Human | neonates | 2 minutes of massage before the procedure. | The effects of acupressure and foot massage on pain during heel lancing in neonates: A randomized controlled trial.cited 19× |
| massage | No effect - no statistically significant difference between | pain reduction | Human | neonates | 2 minutes of massage before the procedure. | The effects of acupressure and foot massage on pain during heel lancing in neonates: A randomized controlled trial.cited 19× |
| massage | Decreases - relieve | pain | Human | RA patients | Not specified | Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a general review.cited 77× |
| massage | Decreases - reduction in pain | pain | Human | — | Not specified | Effects of massage on pain, mood status, relaxation, and sleep in Taiwanese patients with metastatic bone pain: a randomized clinical trial.cited 57× |
| massage | Decreases - reported pain reduction | pain | Human | children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) | Not available | Non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A scoping review.cited 6× |
| massage | Decreases - can have | pain-relieving effects | Human | children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) | Not available | Non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatment of pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A scoping review.cited 6× |
| massage | Decreases - reduced pain | pain | Human | adults with subacute-chronic neck pain | Not specified | Massage for neck pain contrasted against standard (non-surgical) treatment: A systematic review update. |
| massage | No effect - demonstrating no effect | pain | Human | children with cancer | Not available | Development of an evidence-based decision aid on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and pain for parents of children with cancer.cited 15× |
| massage | Decreases - significant reduction | pain | Human | critical care patients | Not specified | Guided Imagery and Other Complementary Pain Control Approaches for Critical Care Patients. |
| massage | No effect - evidence on the effectiveness was inconclusive | pain | Human | people with palliative care needs | Not specified | The effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs: A systematic review.cited 32× |
| massage | Decreases - may reduce | pain | Human | participants with postburn pruritus | Not specified | Interventions for postburn pruritus.cited 6× |
| massage | Decreases - had lower pain state | pain | Human | primiparous women with term pregnancy | Firm and rhythmic massage during labor in three phases, with evaluations after 30 minutes of massage at each stage. | Effects of massage therapy and presence of attendant on pain, anxiety and satisfaction during labor.cited 34× |
| massage | No effect - no significant differences | pain | Human | patients with breast cancer | Not specified | Massage interventions and treatment-related side effects of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 46× |
| massage | No effect - addressed | pain | Human | palliative care patients | Not available | Characteristics of Provider-Focused Research on Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Palliative Care: A Scoping Review.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - effective in reducing | pain | Human | hemodialysis patients | Not specified | Effect of Complementary and Integrative Treatments on Fatigue Symptoms in Hemodialysis Patients: A Systematic Review.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - evaluate the long-term effectiveness | pain | Human | patients with diverse types of advanced cancer | Weekly massage treatments for 10 weeks, followed by monthly booster sessions up to 26 weeks. | Acupuncture versus massage for pain in patients living with advanced cancer: a protocol for the IMPACT randomised clinical trial.cited 3× |
| massage | Decreases - associated with a greater reduction | pain | Human | patients with diverse types of advanced cancer | Weekly massage treatments for 10 weeks, followed by monthly booster sessions up to 26 weeks. | Acupuncture versus massage for pain in patients living with advanced cancer: a protocol for the IMPACT randomised clinical trial.cited 3× |
| massage | Decreases - was more effective in pain-alleviating compared with acupuncture | pain | Human | CIPN patients | Not available | Non-pharmacological therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - was more effective in pain-alleviating compared with vitamin and gabapentin | pain | Human | CIPN patients | Not available | Non-pharmacological therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - was more effective in pain-alleviating compared with usual care and placebo | pain | Human | CIPN patients | Not available | Non-pharmacological therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.cited 4× |
| massage | No effect - probably results in little to no difference | pain | Human | adults with subacute-chronic neck pain | High dose: ≥8 sessions over four weeks for ≥30 minutes duration. | Massage for neck pain.cited 5× |
| massage | Decreases - improved | pain | Human | adults with subacute-chronic neck pain | High dose: ≥8 sessions over four weeks for ≥30 minutes duration. | Massage for neck pain.cited 5× |
| massage | Decreases - may aid in the management | pain | Human | people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) | Not specified | Pain and the Non-Pharmacological Management of Pain in People with Parkinson's Disease.cited 1× |
| massage | Decreases - reducing | pain | Human | ICU patients | Not specified | Clinicians' opinion on massage in the intensive care unit patients. |
| massage | Decreases - effectiveness in reducing | pain and anxiety arising from intrathecal therapy or bone marrow aspiration | Human | children | — | Effects of massage therapy on pain and anxiety arising from intrathecal therapy or bone marrow aspiration in children with cancer.cited 25× |
| massage therapy | No effect - no statistically significant difference was found | pain and anxiety levels | Human | children with cancer | — | Effects of massage therapy on pain and anxiety arising from intrathecal therapy or bone marrow aspiration in children with cancer.cited 25× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - decreased significantly | pain and anxiety levels | Human | children with cancer | — | Effects of massage therapy on pain and anxiety arising from intrathecal therapy or bone marrow aspiration in children with cancer.cited 25× |
| massage | Decreases - provide an immediate or short-term effectiveness or both in | pain and tenderness | Human | adults with mechanical neck disorders | Not specified. | Massage for mechanical neck disorders.cited 51× |
| massage | Decreases - may have been more beneficial than education in the short term for | pain bothersomeness | Human | adults with neck pain | Not specified. | Massage for mechanical neck disorders.cited 51× |
| massage | Decreases - supports | pain control | Human | patients with inflammatory arthritis | Not specified | Nonpharmacologic Pain Management in Inflammatory Arthritis.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - decreased | pain days per month | Human | patients with 'highly likely' LAS | 9 sessions (frequency not specified) | Biofeedback is superior to electrogalvanic stimulation and massage for treatment of levator ani syndrome.cited 78× |
| massage | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | patients with 'highly likely' LAS | 9 sessions (frequency not specified) | Biofeedback is superior to electrogalvanic stimulation and massage for treatment of levator ani syndrome.cited 78× |
| massage | Decreases - positive outcome for reduction | pain in labor | Human | — | Not specified | Non-pharmacological therapies applied in pregnancy and labor: an integrative review.cited 16× |
| perineal massage | Decreases - positive outcome for reduction | pain in labor | Human | — | Not specified | Non-pharmacological therapies applied in pregnancy and labor: an integrative review.cited 16× |
| massage | Decreases - provided a greater reduction in pain intensity | pain intensity | Human | women during the first stage of labour | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 97× |
| massage | Decreases - evidence of a reduction in pain scores | pain intensity | Human | women during the second stage of labour | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 97× |
| massage | Decreases - evidence of a reduction in pain scores | pain intensity | Human | women during the third stage of labour | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 97× |
| massage | Decreases - reduced pain intensity | pain intensity | Human | women during labour | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 97× |
| massage | No effect - showing no clear benefit | pharmacological pain relief | Human | women | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 97× |
| massage | No effect - no evidence of benefit for reduced use | pharmacological pain relief | Human | women | Not specified | Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.cited 97× |
| massage | Decreases - decreased significantly | pain intensity | Human | older hospitalized patients with chronic pain | Not specified | Hypnosis can reduce pain in hospitalized older patients: a randomized controlled study.cited 21× |
| massage | No effect - no effect | pain relief | Human | older hospitalized patients with chronic pain | Not specified | Hypnosis can reduce pain in hospitalized older patients: a randomized controlled study.cited 21× |
| massage | Decreases - effectively decreased | pain intensity | Human | nulliparous pregnant women | Massage performed three times (at 5 cm, 7 cm, and 9 cm cervical dilatation) for 20 minutes each session. | The most appropriate cervical dilatation for massage to reduce labor pain and anxiety: a randomized clinical trial.cited 3× |
| massage | Decreases - had an analgesic effect | pain intensity | Human | female patients with pain, increased masseter muscle tension and limited mandibular mobility (G1 group) | Not specified (therapy administered over 10 days). | Evaluation of the efficacy of manual soft tissue therapy and therapeutic exercises in patients with pain and limited mobility TMJ: a randomized control trial (RCT).cited 12× |
| Massage | Decreases - effective in alleviating | pain intensity | Human | postoperative patients | Not specified | Evidence-based interventions to improve sleep quality after thoracic surgery:A retrospective analysis of clinical studies.cited 2× |
| massage | No effect - no group differences | pain intensity | Human | 96 healthy women | 15-minute massage session. | Massage on experimental pain in healthy females: a randomized controlled trial.cited 8× |
| massage | No effect - no group differences | pain threshold | Human | 96 healthy women | 15-minute massage session. | Massage on experimental pain in healthy females: a randomized controlled trial.cited 8× |
| massage | No effect - no group differences | pain tolerance | Human | 96 healthy women | 15-minute massage session. | Massage on experimental pain in healthy females: a randomized controlled trial.cited 8× |
| massage | Decreases - decreased | pain unpleasantness | Human | 96 healthy women | 15-minute massage session. | Massage on experimental pain in healthy females: a randomized controlled trial.cited 8× |
| massage | Decreases - beneficial effect | pain intensity on a 0-to-10 scale | Human | adults with burn scars | Not available | Massage, laser and shockwave therapy improve pain and scar pruritus after burns: a systematic review.cited 5× |
| massage | No effect - was the most common intervention | pain management | Human | patients with dementia | Not specified | Non-pharmacological interventions for pain management in patients with dementia: A mixed-methods systematic review.cited 10× |
| massage | Decreases - showed pain-reducing effects | pain outcomes | Human | older adults with dementia | Not specified | Pain-Reducing Effects of Physical Therapist-Delivered Interventions: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials Among Older Adults With Dementia.cited 5× |
| massage | Decreases - significantly reduced | pain perception | Human | nonspecific chronic low back pain (cLBP) individuals | 30-minute massage session | Effect of Massage on Clinical and Physiological Variables During Muscle Fatigue Task in Participants With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Crossover Study.cited 4× |
| massage | No effect - did not seem to influence | pain score increases occurring after the Sorensen protocol | Human | nonspecific chronic low back pain (cLBP) individuals | 30-minute massage session | Effect of Massage on Clinical and Physiological Variables During Muscle Fatigue Task in Participants With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Crossover Study.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - may have a positive effect on | pain relief | Human | neonate | Not specified | The effectiveness of massage interventions on procedural pain in neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - could effectively improve | pain response | Human | neonates | Not specified | The effectiveness of massage interventions on procedural pain in neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 4× |
| massage | Decreases - significantly better | pain score | Human | patients ready to receive PCI | Not specified | Effects of massage on the anxiety of patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.cited 16× |
| massage | Decreases - Pain scores were significantly lower | Pain scores | Human | patients | Not specified | Effectiveness of physical stimulation for reducing injection pain in adults receiving intramuscular injections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 3× |
| massage | Decreases - improved | pain WOMAC subscale scores | Human | adults with knee osteoarthritis | 60 minutes of full-body massage or light-touch, eight weekly treatments followed by biweekly intervention or usual care. | Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 41× |
| massage | Decreases - improved | pain WOMAC subscale scores | Human | adults with knee osteoarthritis | 60 minutes of full-body massage or light-touch, eight weekly treatments followed by biweekly intervention or usual care. | Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 41× |
| massage | Decreases - effective | pediatric postoperative pain | Human | children | Not available | A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Non-Pharmacological Therapies Used by Nurses in Children Undergoing Surgery.cited 2× |
| massage | No effect - ineffective | pediatric postoperative pain | Human | children | Not available | A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Non-Pharmacological Therapies Used by Nurses in Children Undergoing Surgery.cited 2× |
| Massage | Decreases - identified as significant nonpharmacological interventions | persistent pain | Human | elder residents living in long-term care facilities | Not available | Nonpharmacological interventions for persistent, noncancer pain in elders residing in long-term care facilities: An integrative review of the literature.cited 9× |
| massage | Decreases - significant reductions | physical pain | Human | veterans | Instruction in simple massage techniques (DVD), frequency not specified. | Promoting reintegration of National Guard veterans and their partners using a self-directed program of integrative therapies: a pilot study.cited 20× |
| massage | No effect - was prescribed | physiotherapy for low back pain | Human | patients complaining of low back pain | Not specified | Management of low back pain in general practice - is it of acceptable quality: an observational study among 25 general practices in South Tyrol (Italy).cited 31× |
| massage | Decreases - concomitant with the improvement | post-operative pain | Human | — | 10-20 minutes per session (specific frequency not detailed). | The effectiveness of massage on peri-operative anxiety in adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials.cited 10× |
| massage | Increases - increased | pressure pain threshold (PPT) | Human | Twenty healthy female volunteers | 10 minutes of massage or 10 minutes of active exercise (shoulder shrugs 10 × 10 reps with increasing elastic resistance). | Acute effects of massage or active exercise in relieving muscle soreness: randomized controlled trial.cited 29× |
| massage | Increases - utilized | prevalence in pediatric pain clinics (PPCs) offering IM | Human | pediatric pain clinics (PPCs) offering IM | Not available | A cross-sectional review of the prevalence of integrative medicine in pediatric pain clinics across the United States.cited 6× |
| massage | Decreases - was greater | Short-term pain (Present Pain Intensity-Visual Analogue Scale) | Human | people with cancer | Not specified | Massage with or without aromatherapy for symptom relief in people with cancer.cited 59× |
| massage with aromatherapy | Decreases - was greater | long-term pain | Human | people with cancer | Not specified | Massage with or without aromatherapy for symptom relief in people with cancer.cited 59× |
| massage with aromatherapy | Decreases - was greater | medium-term pain | Human | people with cancer | Not specified | Massage with or without aromatherapy for symptom relief in people with cancer.cited 59× |
| Massage | No effect - can be used to treat | sub-acute low back pain | Human | patients with sub-acute low back pain | Not specified | Physical therapy for acute and sub-acute low back pain: A systematic review and expert consensus.cited 2× |
| massage | Decreases - showed impact | subjective pain intensity | Human | women in first stage of labor | Not specified | Labor Analgesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Non-Pharmacological Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Pain during First Stage of Labor.cited 7× |
| massage | Decreases - potentially capable of reducing | unpleasant pain sensations | Human | — | Not specified | The immediate effect of traditional Malay massage on substance P, inflammatory mediators, pain scale and functional outcome among patients with low back pain: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.cited 7× |
| traditional Malay massage | Decreases - helps to relieve | back pain | Human | — | Not specified | The immediate effect of traditional Malay massage on substance P, inflammatory mediators, pain scale and functional outcome among patients with low back pain: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.cited 7× |
| traditional Malay massage | Decreases - expected to give rise to new knowledge underlying the mechanisms for | pain and inflammation relief | Human | — | Not specified | The immediate effect of traditional Malay massage on substance P, inflammatory mediators, pain scale and functional outcome among patients with low back pain: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.cited 7× |
| massage | Decreases - may be addressed using | wound pain | Human | patients with chronic wounds | Not specified | An overview of integrative care options for patients with chronic wounds.cited 9× |
| Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes | Decreases - had a better effect | cancer pain | Human | — | Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes. | Massage therapy can effectively relieve cancer pain: A meta-analysis.cited 12× |
| Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes | Decreases - could significantly relieve | pain | Human | — | Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes. | Massage therapy can effectively relieve cancer pain: A meta-analysis.cited 12× |
| Massage therapy | Decreases - had a better effect | cancer pain | Human | patients in the perioperative period | Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes. | Massage therapy can effectively relieve cancer pain: A meta-analysis.cited 12× |
| Massage therapy | Decreases - had a better effect | cancer pain | Human | patients with hematological malignancies | Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes. | Massage therapy can effectively relieve cancer pain: A meta-analysis.cited 12× |
| Massage therapy | Decreases - could significantly relieve | cancer pain | Human | patients | Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes. | Massage therapy can effectively relieve cancer pain: A meta-analysis.cited 12× |
| therapeutic massage | Decreases - showed decreased | behavioral and physiologic pain responses | Human | newborns | Not specified | Non-pharmacological management of neonatal pain: a systematic review.cited 7× |
| therapeutic massage | Decreases - presented statistically significant results for the management | cluster pain-anxiety-worry-dyspnea | Human | children and adolescents with cancer undergoing palliative care | Not specified | Effectiveness of complementary therapies for the management of symptom clusters in palliative care in pediatric oncology: a systematic review.cited 16× |
| therapeutic massage | Decreases - Statistically significant differences were noted | Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index | Human | 26 patient aged from 60 to 75 years with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions daily for 10 days. | A comparison of the effects of deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage on chronic low back pain.cited 9× |
| therapeutic massage | Decreases - Statistically significant differences were noted | Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale | Human | 26 patient aged from 60 to 75 years with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions daily for 10 days. | A comparison of the effects of deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage on chronic low back pain.cited 9× |
| deep tissue massage | Decreases - Statistically significant differences were noted | Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index | Human | 26 patient aged from 60 to 75 years with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions daily for 10 days. | A comparison of the effects of deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage on chronic low back pain.cited 9× |
| deep tissue massage | Decreases - was statistically significant better therapy than therapeutic massage | Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index | Human | 26 patient aged from 60 to 75 years with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions daily for 10 days. | A comparison of the effects of deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage on chronic low back pain.cited 9× |
| deep tissue massage | Decreases - Statistically significant differences were noted | Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale | Human | 26 patient aged from 60 to 75 years with chronic low back pain | 30-minute sessions daily for 10 days. | A comparison of the effects of deep tissue massage and therapeutic massage on chronic low back pain.cited 9× |
| therapeutic massage | Decreases - revealed a significant pain reduction | pain | Human | patients with neck pain | Not specified | Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic massage in patients with neck pain.cited 10× |
| therapeutic massage | Decreases - obtaining benefits in the symptoms present during the illness | pain | Human | children with cancer (between 1 and 18 years old) | Not specified | Effects of the application of therapeutic massage in children with cancer: a systematic review.cited 10× |
| therapeutic massage (TM) | Decreases - effective in treatment of pain | pain | Human | participants with upper trapezius pain and a trigger point | Not specified | Positional release therapy and therapeutic massage reduce muscle trigger and tender points.cited 7× |
| deep transverse friction massage combined with therapeutic ultrasound and placebo ointment | No effect - No statistically significant differences were reported | mean change in pain on a 0 to 100 visual analog scale (VAS) | Human | participants with lateral elbow tendinitis | Not specified | Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis.cited 36× |
| deep transverse friction massage combined with therapeutic ultrasound and placebo ointment | No effect - No statistically significant differences were reported | pain-free function index measured as the number of painfree items | Human | participants with lateral elbow tendinitis | Not specified | Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis.cited 36× |
| deep transverse friction massage and phonophoresis | No effect - no statistically significant differences were found | pain | Human | participants with lateral elbow tendinitis | Not specified | Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis.cited 36× |
| deep transverse friction massage with physical therapy intervention | No effect - showed no statistically significant differences | daily pain on a 0 to 10 VAS | Human | participants with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis) | Not specified | Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis.cited 36× |
| deep transverse friction massage with physical therapy intervention | No effect - showed no statistically significant differences | pain while running (scale from 0 to 150) | Human | participants with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis) | Not specified | Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis.cited 36× |
| deep transverse friction massage with physical therapy intervention | No effect - showed no statistically significant differences | percentage of maximum pain while running | Human | participants with iliotibial band friction syndrome (knee tendinitis) | Not specified | Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis.cited 36× |
| moderate pressure massage | Decreases - reduced | pain | Human | different syndromes including fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis | Not specified | Massage therapy research review.cited 136× |
| Hugo's point massage | No effect - did not show a statistically significant difference | IV-line placement pain | Human | hospitalized children aged 3-6 years | Not specified | Comparison of the Effects of Hugo's Point Massage and Play on IV-Line Placement Pain in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 2× |
| 20-minute hand massage | Decreases - significantly lower | pain intensity | Human | Adult patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery | Two 20-minute hand massages. | Effects of Massage in Reducing the Pain and Anxiety of the Cardiac Surgery Critically Ill-a Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| 20-minute hand massage | Decreases - significantly lower | pain unpleasantness | Human | Adult patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery | Two 20-minute hand massages. | Effects of Massage in Reducing the Pain and Anxiety of the Cardiac Surgery Critically Ill-a Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| hand massage | Decreases - lower, with a statistical significance | mean scores of pain intensity | Human | liver transplant patients | Not specified | Effect of hand massage on pain and anxiety in patients after liver transplantation: A randomised controlled trial.cited 12× |
| hand massage | Decreases - positively affected and decreased | severity of pain | Human | liver transplant patients | Not specified | Effect of hand massage on pain and anxiety in patients after liver transplantation: A randomised controlled trial.cited 12× |
| hand massage | No effect - no significant difference | pain and emotional manifestation scores | Human | children after abdominal surgery | 10-minute hand massage administered once, 3 hours after surgery. | Effect of hand massage after abdominal surgery on pain, emotional symptoms and physiological parameters among children. |
| hand massage | Decreases - significantly lower | pain scores | Human | children after abdominal surgery | 10-minute hand massage administered once, 3 hours after surgery. | Effect of hand massage after abdominal surgery on pain, emotional symptoms and physiological parameters among children. |
| hand massage | Decreases - decreased | pain intensity | Human | adults admitted to the intensive care unit after undergoing elective cardiac surgery | 15-minute hand massage, administered 2-3 times within 24 hours post-surgery. | Evaluation of the preliminary effectiveness of hand massage therapy on postoperative pain of adults in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial.cited 28× |
| hand massage | No effect - no significant difference | postoperative pain scores | Human | 7-year-old to 11-year-old children after circumcision | Not specified | The Effect of Music Therapy, Hand Massage, and Kaleidoscope Usage on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, Pain, Fear, and Stress in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 21× |
| 60-minute massage doses | Increases - more effective | pain-fatigue-sleep symptom cluster | Human | adults with cancer | 15-, 30-, or 60-min sessions; 2× or 3×/week. | Determining massage dose-response to improve cancer-related symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance: A 7-arm randomized trial in palliative cancer care.cited 15× |
| massage dose-escalation | Increases - increases the efficacy | pain-fatigue-sleep symptom cluster | Human | adults with cancer | 15-, 30-, or 60-min sessions; 2× or 3×/week. | Determining massage dose-response to improve cancer-related symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance: A 7-arm randomized trial in palliative cancer care.cited 15× |
| integrated breast massage (IBM) | Decreases - with significantly less pain | pain score | Human | women presenting with acute plugged milk duct | Not specified (massage techniques compared, but exact frequency/duration per session not detailed). | Integrated breast massage versus traditional breast massage for treatment of plugged milk duct in lactating women: a randomized controlled trial.cited 1× |
| lumbar tender point deep tissue massage plus lumbar traction | Decreases - produced better improvement | pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic non-specific low back pain | Not specified | Therapeutic evaluation of lumbar tender point deep massage for chronic non-specific low back pain.cited 34× |
| lumbar tender point deep tissue massage plus lumbar traction | Increases - produced better improvement | pressure pain threshold | Human | patients with chronic non-specific low back pain | Not specified | Therapeutic evaluation of lumbar tender point deep massage for chronic non-specific low back pain.cited 34× |
| breast massage | Decreases - reported a reduction in pain | pain | Human | — | Not specified | Effectiveness of breast massage for the treatment of women with breastfeeding problems: a systematic review.cited 28× |
| breast massage | Decreases - led to less pain | pain | Human | women with breastfeeding problems | Not specified | Effectiveness of breast massage for the treatment of women with breastfeeding problems: a systematic review.cited 28× |
| breast massage | Decreases - may relieve pain | pain | Human | — | Not specified | Effectiveness of breast massage for the treatment of women with breastfeeding problems: a systematic review.cited 28× |
| different types of breast massage | Decreases - were reported as effective in reducing immediate pain | immediate pain | Human | the participants | Not specified | Effectiveness of breast massage for the treatment of women with breastfeeding problems: a systematic review.cited 28× |
| varying types of breast massage | Decreases - were helpful in reducing immediate pain | immediate pain | Human | — | Not specified | Effectiveness of breast massage for the treatment of women with breastfeeding problems: a systematic review.cited 28× |
| manual hand massage | Decreases - was more effective than machine-based hand massage in reducing | pain intensity | Human | patients following laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified (massage administered at 0, 4, and 8 hours postoperatively). | The Effects of Machine-Based and Manual Hand Massage on Pain, Anxiety, and Gastrointestinal Function Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. |
| manual hand massage | Decreases - decreased statistically significantly | severity of pain | Human | patients following laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified (massage administered at 0, 4, and 8 hours postoperatively). | The Effects of Machine-Based and Manual Hand Massage on Pain, Anxiety, and Gastrointestinal Function Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. |
| postoperative massage therapy | Decreases - significant improvement | pain | Human | patients undergoing cardiac surgery | Not specified (varied widely between studies). | Can postoperative massage therapy reduce pain and anxiety in cardiac surgery patients?cited 6× |
| postoperative massage therapy | No effect - no significant difference | pain and anxiety | Human | patients undergoing cardiac surgery | Not specified (varied widely between studies). | Can postoperative massage therapy reduce pain and anxiety in cardiac surgery patients?cited 6× |
| hand massage and music therapy | Decreases - were more effective than standard care at reducing pain and fear levels during blood drawing | pain and fear levels | Human | 12-18-year-old adolescents in the PICU | Not specified. | Impact of music therapy and hand massage in the pediatric intensive care unit on pain, fear and stress: Randomized controlled trial.cited 3× |
| deep massage therapy to posterior calf muscles and neural mobilization with a self-stretch exercise program (DMS) | Increases - was significantly more effective | treating plantar heel pain syndrome (PHPS) | Human | Patients with plantar heel pain syndrome (PHPS) | 8 treatments over 4-6 weeks. | Deep massage to posterior calf muscles in combination with neural mobilization exercises as a treatment for heel pain: a pilot randomized clinical trial.cited 28× |
| lidocaine injection with deep friction massage | Decreases - significant improvement | VAS pain score | Human | patients with lateral epicondylitis | Not specified (deep friction massage with lidocaine injection). | Deep Friction Massage Versus Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis.cited 18× |
| lidocaine injection with deep friction massage | Decreases - significant improvement | VAS pain score | Human | patients with lateral epicondylitis | Not specified (deep friction massage with lidocaine injection). | Deep Friction Massage Versus Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis.cited 18× |
| deep tissue massage | Decreases - Favorable outcomes may result | pain | Human | pain populations | Not specified | Deep tissue massage: What are we talking about?cited 13× |
| deep tissue massage (DTM) | Decreases - had a positive effect on reducing pain | pain | Human | patients with chronic low back pain | Not specified (2 weeks of DTM in the treatment group, 2 weeks of DTM + NSAID in the control group). | Deep tissue massage and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for low back pain: a prospective randomized trial.cited 23× |
| deep tissue massage (DTM) | Decreases - a significant pain reduction and function improvement were observed | pain and function | Human | patients with chronic low back pain | Not specified (2 weeks of DTM in the treatment group, 2 weeks of DTM + NSAID in the control group). | Deep tissue massage and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for low back pain: a prospective randomized trial.cited 23× |
| deep tissue massage | Decreases - improvement in pain intensity favouring massage compared to advice | pain intensity | Human | adults with subacute or persistent neck pain | Not specified | Effectiveness of deep tissue massage therapy, and supervised strengthening and stretching exercises for subacute or persistent disabling neck pain. The Stockholm Neck (STONE) randomized controlled trial.cited 18× |
| deep tissue massage | Decreases - improvement in pain intensity favouring massage compared to advice | pain intensity | Human | adults with subacute or persistent neck pain | Not specified | Effectiveness of deep tissue massage therapy, and supervised strengthening and stretching exercises for subacute or persistent disabling neck pain. The Stockholm Neck (STONE) randomized controlled trial.cited 18× |
| lumbosacral massage at 5 to 6cm dilation | Decreases - significantly lower pain severity immediately after | pain severity | Human | women in labour at the end of a low-risk pregnancy | Lumbosacral massage applied at 5 to 6cm cervical dilation for up to 40 minutes. | Sequential application of non-pharmacological interventions reduces the severity of labour pain, delays use of pharmacological analgesia, and improves some obstetric outcomes: a randomised trial.cited 32× |
| knee massage with black cumin oil | Decreases - effectively reduced | pain severity | Human | elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis | Not specified (interventions administered for 6 weeks). | The Effect of Foot Reflexology and Knee Massage With Black Cumin Seed Oil on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms. |
| reflexology massage | Decreases - difference between the groups after the application was statistically significant | mean pain scale score | Human | patients who received NTG | Two 20-minute sessions at a 3-hour interval. | Effect of applying reflexology massage on nitroglycerin-induced migraine-type headache: A placebo-controlled clinical trial.cited 7× |
| reflexology massage | No effect - No baseline differences existed among the three groups | mean pain scale score | Human | patients who received NTG | Two 20-minute sessions at a 3-hour interval. | Effect of applying reflexology massage on nitroglycerin-induced migraine-type headache: A placebo-controlled clinical trial.cited 7× |
| reflexology massage | Decreases - was effective for reducing | pain after appendectomy surgery | Human | patients after appendectomy | Pressure on a defined area of the right foot for about 10 minutes and the Shen Men point of the ear for 1 minute. | Evaluation of the Effect of Reflexology on Pain Control and Analgesic Consumption After Appendectomy.cited 12× |
| exercise therapy in conjunction with TCM massage | Increases - may lead to more satisfactory results | pain management, active functional muscle activation patterns and proprioception | Human | patients with knee osteoarthritis | Not specified | Effects of traditional Chinese medicine massage therapy on pain, functional activity, muscle activation patterns and proprioception in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial protocol. |
| Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) massage | Decreases - can effectively address these deficiencies | pain and muscle fatigue associated with exercise | Human | patients with knee osteoarthritis | Not specified | Effects of traditional Chinese medicine massage therapy on pain, functional activity, muscle activation patterns and proprioception in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial protocol. |
| Chinese massage therapy | Decreases - statistically significant mean differences in | knee pain relief | Human | patients with knee osteoarthritis | Three times per week. | Gait analysis of patients with knee osteoarthritis before and after Chinese massage treatment.cited 16× |
| Massage or cranial still point induction | Increases - Statistically significant improvement | pain and comfort | Human | patients with chronic pain | Not specified | A comparison of still point induction to massage therapy in reducing pain and increasing comfort in chronic pain.cited 4× |
| reflexology hand massage | Decreases - significantly reduced | pain scores | Human | patients in the immediate postoperative period after CABG | 20-minute hand-reflexology massage. | The Effect of Hand Reflexology Massage on Pain and Anxiety After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.cited 5× |
| ice massage postexercise | Decreases - may result in a hypoalgesic effect | pain perception | Human | recreational athletes | 15 minutes of ice massage post-exercise. | Effects of ice massage on pressure pain thresholds and electromyography activity postexercise: a randomized controlled crossover study.cited 12× |
| ice massage postexercise | No effect - no significant interaction | pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the rectus femoris (RF) muscle | Human | recreational athletes | 15 minutes of ice massage post-exercise. | Effects of ice massage on pressure pain thresholds and electromyography activity postexercise: a randomized controlled crossover study.cited 12× |
| ice massage postexercise | Increases - produced an immediate increase | pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle | Human | recreational athletes | 15 minutes of ice massage post-exercise. | Effects of ice massage on pressure pain thresholds and electromyography activity postexercise: a randomized controlled crossover study.cited 12× |
| ice massage postexercise | Increases - produced an immediate increase | pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the vastus medialis (VM) muscle | Human | recreational athletes | 15 minutes of ice massage post-exercise. | Effects of ice massage on pressure pain thresholds and electromyography activity postexercise: a randomized controlled crossover study.cited 12× |
| 8-week multidimensional physical therapy program, including strengthening exercises and recovery massage | Decreases - showed an estimated improvement | neck pain | Human | breast cancer survivors | 12 hours of physical therapy recovery (stretching, massage) interventions (3 times/wk, 90 min) | Effectiveness of a multidimensional physical therapy program on pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and trigger points in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 43× |
| 8-week multidimensional physical therapy program, including strengthening exercises and recovery massage | Increases - improvements were also noted | pressure pain thresholds over the C5-C6 zygapophyseal joints | Human | breast cancer survivors | 12 hours of physical therapy recovery (stretching, massage) interventions (3 times/wk, 90 min) | Effectiveness of a multidimensional physical therapy program on pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and trigger points in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 43× |
| 8-week multidimensional physical therapy program, including strengthening exercises and recovery massage | Increases - improvements were also noted | pressure pain thresholds over the deltoid muscles | Human | breast cancer survivors | 12 hours of physical therapy recovery (stretching, massage) interventions (3 times/wk, 90 min) | Effectiveness of a multidimensional physical therapy program on pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and trigger points in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 43× |
| 8-week multidimensional physical therapy program, including strengthening exercises and recovery massage | Increases - improvements were also noted | pressure pain thresholds over the second metacarpal | Human | breast cancer survivors | 12 hours of physical therapy recovery (stretching, massage) interventions (3 times/wk, 90 min) | Effectiveness of a multidimensional physical therapy program on pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and trigger points in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 43× |
| 8-week multidimensional physical therapy program, including strengthening exercises and recovery massage | Increases - improvements were also noted | pressure pain thresholds over the tibialis anterior muscles | Human | breast cancer survivors | 12 hours of physical therapy recovery (stretching, massage) interventions (3 times/wk, 90 min) | Effectiveness of a multidimensional physical therapy program on pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and trigger points in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 43× |
| 8-week multidimensional physical therapy program, including strengthening exercises and recovery massage | Decreases - showed an estimated improvement | shoulder/axillary pain | Human | breast cancer survivors | 12 hours of physical therapy recovery (stretching, massage) interventions (3 times/wk, 90 min) | Effectiveness of a multidimensional physical therapy program on pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and trigger points in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 43× |
| multimodal integrative intervention incorporating relaxation, guided imagery and moderate pressure touch massage | No effect - will be assessed | pain scores | Human | patients with Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC): 0-3 recruited from two academic intensive care units (ICUs) | Not specified | Relaxation for Critically ill Patient Outcomes andcited 1× |
| massage of acupoints | Decreases - significant differences | pain scores | Human | patients admitted to a hospital in Khorramabad, Iran | Not specified | The Effect of Acupressure on Pain and Anxiety Caused by Venipuncture.cited 12× |
| tactile massage (TM) | Decreases - reduced | number of rescue doses for pain | Human | palliative care patients | Average of three treatments per patient (frequency not specified). | Tactile massage reduces rescue doses for pain and anxiety: an observational study.cited 12× |
| tactile massage (TM) | Decreases - reduced the need for administration of | rescue doses for pain and anxiety | Human | palliative care patients | Average of three treatments per patient (frequency not specified). | Tactile massage reduces rescue doses for pain and anxiety: an observational study.cited 12× |
| tactile massage (TM) | Decreases - resulted in improvement of | self-assessed pain | Human | palliative care patients | Average of three treatments per patient (frequency not specified). | Tactile massage reduces rescue doses for pain and anxiety: an observational study.cited 12× |
| tactile massage | Decreases - tendency to perceive less | pain | Human | adolescents aged 15-17 and previously diagnosed with ADHD | Not specified | Positive effects of tactile massage for adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - A small scale study. |
| healing touch massage | Decreases - positive effects | pain | Human | patients with tumors | Not specified | The complementary medicine (CAM) for the treatment of chronic pain: scientific evidence regarding the effects of healing touch massage.cited 6× |
| massage with 2.5 cc of 3% lavender oil | Decreases - significantly reduced | pain scores in short-term and long-term | Human | diabetic neuropathic patients | 2.5 cc of 3% lavender oil applied as a gentle foot massage for 10 minutes every night. | The effects of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on neuropathic pain and quality of life in diabetic patients: A randomized clinical trial.cited 17× |
| aromatherapy massage with lavender oil | Decreases - helped reduce | neuropathic pain | Human | diabetic neuropathic patients | 2.5 cc of 3% lavender oil applied as a gentle foot massage for 10 minutes every night. | The effects of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on neuropathic pain and quality of life in diabetic patients: A randomized clinical trial.cited 17× |
| Swedish massage with chamomile oil | Decreases - significantly reduced | labor pain score | Human | primiparous pregnant women | Not specified (chamomile oil used as part of massage). | A comparison of the effect of Swedish massage with and without chamomile oil on labor outcomes and maternal satisfaction of the childbirth process: a randomized controlled trial.cited 6× |
| 30-minute massage treatments (2 or 3 times weekly for 4 weeks) | No effect - were not significantly better than the wait list control condition | clinically meaningful improvement in pain intensity | Human | individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain | 30-minute visits 2 or 3 times weekly, or 60-minute visits 1, 2, or 3 times weekly. | Five-week outcomes from a dosing trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain.cited 38× |
| 60-minute massage treatments (2 times weekly for 4 weeks) | Increases - significantly increased the likelihood of improvement | clinically meaningful improvement in pain intensity | Human | individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain | 30-minute visits 2 or 3 times weekly, or 60-minute visits 1, 2, or 3 times weekly. | Five-week outcomes from a dosing trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain.cited 38× |
| 60-minute massage treatments (3 times weekly for 4 weeks) | Increases - significantly increased the likelihood of improvement | clinically meaningful improvement in pain intensity | Human | individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain | 30-minute visits 2 or 3 times weekly, or 60-minute visits 1, 2, or 3 times weekly. | Five-week outcomes from a dosing trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain.cited 38× |
| hand massage applied before cataract surgery | Decreases - reduced | pain levels | Human | patients who had cataract surgery | 10-minute hand massage before surgery. | The Effect of Hand Massage Applied Before Cataract Surgery on Anxiety, Surgical Fear, Pain and Physiological Parameters.cited 2× |
| perineal massage | Decreases - suggests the potential role | hemorrhage and long-term postpartum perineal pain | Human | primiparous women | Not specified | Effects of perineal massage during childbirth on maternal and neonatal outcomes in primiparous women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 7× |
| perineal massage | Decreases - lower rate | perineal pain | Human | healthy pregnant women | Not specified | Systematic review of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy.cited 28× |
| breathing exercises, foot reflexology and back massage (BRM) | No effect - measured | labour pain | Human | primigravidae | Not specified (intervention involves BRM delivered by a trained massage therapist). | Effectiveness of breathing exercises, foot reflexology and back massage (BRM) on labour pain, anxiety, duration, satisfaction, stress hormones and newborn outcomes among primigravidae during the first stage of labour in Saudi Arabia: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.cited 13× |
| court-type traditional Thai massage (CTTM) | Decreases - significantly lower | pain | Human | patient subjects with myofascial pain syndrome in the upper trapezius muscle | Not specified | Myofascial Pain Syndrome Focused on the Upper Trapezius Muscle: A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial of the Court-Type Traditional Thai Massage versus the Thai Hermit.cited 6× |
| court-type traditional Thai massage (CTTM) | Decreases - provides a better way of reducing pain | pain level measured by VAS | Human | — | Not specified | Myofascial Pain Syndrome Focused on the Upper Trapezius Muscle: A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial of the Court-Type Traditional Thai Massage versus the Thai Hermit.cited 6× |
| aromatherapy massage with Bergamot essential oil (BEO) | Decreases - was found to be more effective on pain | pain | Human | menopausal women with knee OA | Twice a week for 4 weeks. | The effects of aromatherapy massage in menopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled study. |
| position change and back massage (PCBM) | Decreases - had a lower frequency | severe lower back pain | Human | patients undergoing TFCA | Not specified (intervention involved position change and back massage). | Association of position change and back massage and early ambulation with post-transfemoral coronary angiography complications.cited 2× |
| passive mobilization combined with massage | No effect - had no beneficial effects | pain and impaired range of motion (ROM) | Human | patients after treatment for breast cancer | Not specified | Effectiveness of postoperative physical therapy for upper-limb impairments after breast cancer treatment: a systematic review.cited 130× |
| scar massage | Decreases - may be effective | pain | Human | hypertrophic burns scaring | Not specified | Scar massage for hypertrophic burns scarring-A systematic review.cited 48× |
| scar massage | Decreases - was effective | pain as measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) | Human | human participants and animal subjects who received scar massage following a thermal injury resulting in hypertrophic scarring | Not specified | Scar massage for hypertrophic burns scarring-A systematic review.cited 48× |
| scar massage | Decreases - may be benefits | pain | Human | participants with postsurgical cutaneous scars | Varied from a single session to three treatments daily. | Is massage an effective intervention in the management of post-operative scarring? A scoping review.cited 9× |
| scar massage | Decreases - decreased | pain levels | Human | burn patients | 5-30 minutes per session, 1-3 times per week. | Effects of scar massage on burn scars: A systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 8× |
| upper limb massage | Decreases - may be effective in decreasing | infants' venipuncture pain perception | Human | infants | 2-minute massage before venipuncture. | The Effect of Upper Limb Massage on Infants' Venipuncture Pain.cited 24× |
| upper limb massage | Decreases - significantly lower | mean pain scores (Premature Infant Pain Profile) | Human | infants undergoing venipuncture in Hong Kong | 2-minute massage before venipuncture. | The Effect of Upper Limb Massage on Infants' Venipuncture Pain.cited 24× |
| upper limb massage | Decreases - significantly lower | mean pain scores (Premature Infant Pain Profile) | Human | infants undergoing venipuncture in Hong Kong | 2-minute massage before venipuncture. | The Effect of Upper Limb Massage on Infants' Venipuncture Pain.cited 24× |
| upper limb massage | Decreases - significantly lower | pain score | Human | infants | 2-minute massage before venipuncture. | The Effect of Upper Limb Massage on Infants' Venipuncture Pain.cited 24× |
| upper limb massage | Decreases - significantly lower | pain score | Human | infants | 2-minute massage before venipuncture. | The Effect of Upper Limb Massage on Infants' Venipuncture Pain.cited 24× |
| Acupoint massage | Decreases - probably reduces the risk of | breast pain | Human | breastfeeding women post-childbirth | Not specified. | Interventions for preventing mastitis after childbirth.cited 18× |
| Acupoint massage | Decreases - demonstrated reliable clinical outcomes | pain management | Human | — | Not specified | Acupoint massage: a comprehensive descriptive review of its forms, applications, and underlying mechanisms. |
| Pilates training combined with fascial massage | Decreases - demonstrated a more significant effect in improving | pain | Human | patients with UCS | 12 weeks of Pilates training combined with fascial massage (specific frequency not detailed). | Effects of Pilates Training Combined with Fascial Massage on Upper Cross Syndrome in Office Workers. |
| Pilates training combined with fascial massage | Decreases - were significantly lower than those of the pre-intervention group | pain level (VAS) | Human | office workers with upper crossed syndrome (UCS) | 12 weeks of Pilates training combined with fascial massage (specific frequency not detailed). | Effects of Pilates Training Combined with Fascial Massage on Upper Cross Syndrome in Office Workers. |
| Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, acupressure, music and massage | Decreases - were effective for pain relief | pain relief after cardiac surgery | Human | patients after cardiac surgery | Not specified | Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in pain relief and opioid consumption after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.cited 7× |
| Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, acupressure, music and massage | Decreases - may effectively alleviate postoperative cardiac pain | postoperative cardiac pain | Human | patients after cardiac surgery | Not specified | Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in pain relief and opioid consumption after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.cited 7× |
| massage and stretching exercises | No effect - will be compared | pain | Human | individuals with bruxism | Not specified | Effectiveness of two physical therapy interventions, relative to dental treatment in individuals with bruxism: study protocol of a randomized clinical trial.cited 5× |
| aromatherapy with light Thai massage | Decreases - significantly lower | symptom severity scores for pain | Human | patients with colorectal cancer who have received chemotherapy | Three massage sessions with ginger and coconut oil over one week (specific oil dosage not detailed). | Effectiveness of aromatherapy with light thai massage for cellular immunity improvement in colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.cited 27× |
| cupping massage | Decreases - significantly less | neck pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis. | The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| cupping massage | Decreases - significantly less | neck pain intensity | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis. | The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| cupping massage | Decreases - appears to be effective in reducing | pain | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis. | The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| cupping massage | Decreases - significant group differences in favour of the intervention | pain on movement | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis. | The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| cupping massage | Decreases - changes were also found | pressure pain sensitivity at the site of maximal pain | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis. | The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| cupping massage | Increases - significant group differences in favour of the intervention | quality-of-life subscale pain | Human | patients with chronic non-specific neck pain | 5 cupping massages on a twice-weekly basis. | The Effects of Cupping Massage in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain - A Randomised Controlled Trial.cited 30× |
| Traditional Chinese medicine encapsulation combined with Chinese massage therapy | Decreases - significantly reducing | pain levels | Human | patients with cervical spondylosis | Not specified | Effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine combined with Chinese massage therapy for enhancing cervical function in cervical spondylosis: a meta-analysis. |
| shiatsu massage | Decreases - significant reduction | labour pain scores | Human | nulliparous pregnant women | Not specified (standard protocols followed by certified midwives). | The Impact of Shiatsu Massage on Labour Pain and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 2× |
| shiatsu massage | Decreases - effective and safe for relieving pain and reducing anxiety | pain and anxiety during childbirth | Human | nulliparous women | Not specified (standard protocols followed by certified midwives). | The Impact of Shiatsu Massage on Labour Pain and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 2× |
| Shiatsu massage | Decreases - presented statistically significant differences for the change scores | pain intensity | Human | adult patients with primary fibromyalgia | Full-body Shiatsu twice a week. | Effects of shiatsu in the management of fibromyalgia symptoms: a controlled pilot study.cited 14× |
| Shiatsu massage | Increases - presented statistically significant differences for the change scores | pressure pain threshold | Human | adult patients with primary fibromyalgia | Full-body Shiatsu twice a week. | Effects of shiatsu in the management of fibromyalgia symptoms: a controlled pilot study.cited 14× |
| MET plus soft tissue massage (MET+STM) | No effect - no differences between | pain and disability | Human | participants 40 years or older with SIS | Once a week for 15 minutes, 4 consecutive weeks. | Thoracic Manual Therapy Improves Pain and Disability in Individuals With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Compared With Placebo: A Randomized Controlled Trial With 1-Year Follow-up.cited 7× |
| perineal massage during the second stage of labor | Decreases - reduced | perineal pain | Human | primigravid women in the immediate postpartum period | Not specified. | Effects of perineal massage at different stages on perineal and postpartum pelvic floor function in primiparous women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 4× |
| massage-like LV of low frequency and low intensity | Decreases - may interfere with pain | pain perception | Human | — | High-frequency LV (100-250 Hz) and low-frequency, low-intensity massage-like LV. | The analgesic effect of localized vibration: a systematic review. Part 1: the neurophysiological basis.cited 11× |
| massage therapy plus cactus and aloe compress | Decreases - may be more effective | breast pain | Human | breastfeeding women | Not specified | Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation.cited 23× |
| Thiele massage | Decreases - significant improvements | pain assessment | Human | patients with CPP | Not specified | Physiotherapy management of patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP): A systematic review.cited 32× |
| Thiele massage | Decreases - optimize and guarantee the reduction | pain intensity | Human | patients with dyspareunia | Not specified | Effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in women with dyspareunia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 11× |
| traditional Chinese massage | Decreases - effective treatments | chronic neck pain | Human | patients with CNP | 15-minute sessions, three times a week. | Efficacy of tuina in patients with chronic neck pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| traditional Chinese massage | No effect - compare the effects | pain and disability | Human | patients with CNP | 15-minute sessions, three times a week. | Efficacy of tuina in patients with chronic neck pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 9× |
| care ally-assisted massage (CA-M) | Decreases - led to greater reductions | chronic neck pain (CNP) with disability | Human | participants | Three 30-minute massage sessions weekly. | Care ally-assisted massage for Veterans with chronic neck pain: TOMCATT results. |
| care ally-assisted massage (CA-M) | Decreases - led to greater reductions | pain severity | Human | participants | Three 30-minute massage sessions weekly. | Care ally-assisted massage for Veterans with chronic neck pain: TOMCATT results. |
| effleurage massage using coconut oil | Decreases - is effective in reducing | leg pain | Human | chronic renal failure (CRF) patients undergoing hemodialysis | Not specified | Evaluating the Effectiveness of Virgin Coconut Oil Effleurage in Alleviating Pain in Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Study in an Urban Tertiary Care Center in South India. |
| effleurage massage using coconut oil | Decreases - reduced | leg pain | Human | chronic renal failure (CRF) patients undergoing hemodialysis | Not specified | Evaluating the Effectiveness of Virgin Coconut Oil Effleurage in Alleviating Pain in Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Study in an Urban Tertiary Care Center in South India. |
| foot massage | Decreases - More significant relief | neck pain visual analog pain scale (NP-VAS) | Human | patients with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) | 10-minute foot massage daily using sweet almond oil. | Effects of foot massage on relieving pain, anxiety and improving quality of life of patients undergone a cervical spine surgery.cited 7× |
| foot massage | Decreases - effective in alleviating | pain | Human | patients undergone ACDF | 10-minute foot massage daily using sweet almond oil. | Effects of foot massage on relieving pain, anxiety and improving quality of life of patients undergone a cervical spine surgery.cited 7× |
| foot massage | Increases - improvement | pain relief | Human | patients with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) | 10-minute foot massage daily using sweet almond oil. | Effects of foot massage on relieving pain, anxiety and improving quality of life of patients undergone a cervical spine surgery.cited 7× |
| foot massage | Decreases - experienced less pain | pain | Human | primiparous women | 20 minutes of classic foot massage on each foot at 3 different times (cervical dilatation of 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm), totaling 60 minutes. | Effect of Foot Massage on Labor Pain in Parturient Women.cited 3× |
| foot massage | Decreases - decreased | pain severity | Human | primiparous women during labor | 20 minutes of classic foot massage on each foot at 3 different times (cervical dilatation of 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm), totaling 60 minutes. | Effect of Foot Massage on Labor Pain in Parturient Women.cited 3× |
| foot massage | Decreases - was less than in the control group | pain intensity | Human | patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery | Not specified | The Effect of Foot Massage on Postoperative Pain and Anxiety Levels in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Experimental Study.cited 21× |
| foot massage | Decreases - decreased | postoperative pain and anxiety levels | Human | patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery | Not specified | The Effect of Foot Massage on Postoperative Pain and Anxiety Levels in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Experimental Study.cited 21× |
| foot massage | No effect - demonstrated no obvious effect on | pain scores at 10 to 30 minutes | Human | patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | The Efficacy of Foot Massage for Pain Relief of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Meta-analysis Study. |
| foot massage | Decreases - was associated with significantly lower | pain scores at 120 to 150 minutes | Human | patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | The Efficacy of Foot Massage for Pain Relief of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Meta-analysis Study. |
| foot massage | Decreases - was associated with significantly lower | pain scores at 60 minutes | Human | patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | The Efficacy of Foot Massage for Pain Relief of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Meta-analysis Study. |
| foot massage | Decreases - was associated with significantly lower | pain scores at 90 minutes | Human | patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Not specified | The Efficacy of Foot Massage for Pain Relief of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Meta-analysis Study. |
| ear acupressure and massage therapy | Decreases - showed better results than the control group | pain | Human | elders with dementia institutionalized in residential homes | Not specified | The effects of ear acupressure, massage therapy and no therapy on symptoms of dementia: a randomized controlled trial.cited 37× |
| pain inducing massage | Decreases - resulted in comparable experimental pain sensitivity changes as | experimental pain sensitivity | Human | healthy participants | Not specified | A psychophysical study comparing massage to conditioned pain modulation: A single blind randomized controlled trial in healthy participants.cited 10× |
| pain inducing massage | Increases - results in greater pain inhibition than | pain inhibition | Human | — | Not specified | A psychophysical study comparing massage to conditioned pain modulation: A single blind randomized controlled trial in healthy participants.cited 10× |
| pain inducing massage | Decreases - produces similar magnitude of reduction in pain sensitivity as | pain sensitivity | Human | — | Not specified | A psychophysical study comparing massage to conditioned pain modulation: A single blind randomized controlled trial in healthy participants.cited 10× |
| pain inducing massage | Increases - displayed greater increases in | pressure pain threshold | Human | individuals with an efficient CPM at baseline | Not specified | A psychophysical study comparing massage to conditioned pain modulation: A single blind randomized controlled trial in healthy participants.cited 10× |
| pain inducing massage | Decreases - resulted in less self-reported pain than | self-reported pain | Human | — | Not specified | A psychophysical study comparing massage to conditioned pain modulation: A single blind randomized controlled trial in healthy participants.cited 10× |
| pain-inducing massage | No effect - produces changes in | pain sensitivity | Human | — | Not specified | Expectations affect pain sensitivity changes during massage.cited 4× |
| massage modalities-including Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, and foot reflexology | Decreases - can reduce | pain | Human | patients with rheumatoid arthritis | Not specified. | Massage therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. |
| standardized Swedish massage regimen (60-minute doses) | Increases - demonstrated significant improvements | visual analog pain scale | Human | adults with OA of the knee | 30 or 60 minutes weekly or biweekly. | Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial.cited 69× |
| standardized Swedish massage regimen (60-minute doses) | Increases - demonstrated significant improvements | WOMAC subscales of pain and functionality | Human | adults with OA of the knee | 30 or 60 minutes weekly or biweekly. | Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial.cited 69× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly relieved | agonizing, or most severe, labor pain | Human | primigravidae hospitalized for vaginal delivery | Not specified | Comparison between massage and music therapies to relieve the severity of labor pain.cited 40× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - was an effective method for reducing and relieving labor pain compared with music therapy | labor pain | Human | primigravidae hospitalized for vaginal delivery | Not specified | Comparison between massage and music therapies to relieve the severity of labor pain.cited 40× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had a lower level of pain compared with those in the music therapy group | pain | Human | primigravidae hospitalized for vaginal delivery | Not specified | Comparison between massage and music therapies to relieve the severity of labor pain.cited 40× |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - well-established and statistically larger beneficial effects | anxiety, depression, and pain | Human | — | Not specified | Does massage therapy reduce cortisol? A comprehensive quantitative review.cited 48× |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - relief from | anxiety, depression, and pain | Human | — | Not specified | Does massage therapy reduce cortisol? A comprehensive quantitative review.cited 48× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had a greater decrease | back and leg pain scales | Human | prenatally depressed women | Twice weekly 20-minute sessions. | Yoga and massage therapy reduce prenatal depression and prematurity.cited 101× |
| massage therapy | No effect - commonly used | back pain | Human | back pain sufferers | Not available | An integrative review of complementary and alternative medicine use for back pain: a focus on prevalence, reasons for use, influential factors, self-perceived effectiveness, and communication.cited 51× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - reduced | cancer pain | Human | cancer patients | Not specified | A literature review about effectiveness of massage therapy for cancer pain.cited 8× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - demonstrated significant benefits | cancer pain | Human | adult patients with cancer in palliative care | Not specified | Efficacy of the complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review.cited 29× |
| Massage therapy | No effect - significant main effects | changes in pain | Human | adults with advanced cancer | Not specified | Associations between psychological symptoms and treatment outcomes of a massage therapy intervention: Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial.cited 6× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - may be effective | chronic back pain | Human | persons 20 to 65 years of age with nonspecific chronic low back pain | Not specified (intervention details not quantified). | A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial.cited 86× |
| massage therapy | Increases - supports the efficacies | chronic low back pain | Human | — | Not specified | Evidence-informed massage therapy - an Australian practitioner perspective.cited 7× |
| massage therapy (MT) (Swedish massage to upper body) | Decreases - significantly reduced | chronic pain | Human | people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) | 30 minutes once a week for 5 consecutive weeks. | Managing pain and fatigue in people with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial feasibility study examining the efficacy of massage therapy.cited 14× |
| massage therapy (MT) (Swedish massage to upper body) | Decreases - reduced significantly over time | pain scores | Human | people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) | 30 minutes once a week for 5 consecutive weeks. | Managing pain and fatigue in people with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial feasibility study examining the efficacy of massage therapy.cited 14× |
| massage therapy | Increases - session length (10 or 20 minutes) was predictive of short-term improvements | distress and pain | Human | hospitalized adult patients receiving palliative care consultation | Arm I: 10-min massage daily × 3 days; Arm II: 20-min massage daily × 3 days; Arm III: single 20-min massage. | Massage Therapy for Hospitalized Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 3× |
| massage therapy (all study arms) | Decreases - demonstrated time to predict immediate improvement | pain | Human | hospitalized adult patients receiving palliative care consultation | Arm I: 10-min massage daily × 3 days; Arm II: 20-min massage daily × 3 days; Arm III: single 20-min massage. | Massage Therapy for Hospitalized Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 3× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - may play a role in the management | fatigue and pain | Human | cancer survivors | Not specified | Integrative medicine in cancer survivors.cited 27× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - effective | immediate pain during invasive procedures | Human | preterm newborns | Not specified | Preterm newborn pain research review.cited 36× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had significant positive effects on alleviating | labour pain | Human | low-risk pregnant women | Not available | Efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological interventions for labour pain management: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.cited 20× |
| massage therapy | No effect - have been utilized | neuropathic pain management | Human | — | Not available | Neuropathic Pain.cited 38× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - was associated with immediate neuropathy and CIPN pain relief | neuropathy and CIPN pain | Human | cancer patients with CIPN | 1 session | A Retrospective Cohort Study on the Preliminary Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Cancer Patients. |
| massage therapy | Decreases - statistically significant pre-post differences for pain | pain scores | Human | patients with CIPN | 1 session | A Retrospective Cohort Study on the Preliminary Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Cancer Patients. |
| massage therapy | Decreases - decreased the percentage of patients reporting moderate-to-severe pain | percentage of patients reporting moderate-to-severe pain | Human | patients with CIPN | 1 session | A Retrospective Cohort Study on the Preliminary Efficacy of Massage Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Among Cancer Patients. |
| massage therapy | Decreases - is effective for treating | pain | Human | cancer populations | Not specified | The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part II, Cancer Pain Populations.cited 57× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - is effective for treating | pain | Human | cancer populations | Not specified | The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part II, Cancer Pain Populations.cited 57× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - can effectively relieve | pain | Human | patients with SD | Not specified | Evaluation of a New Exercise Program in the Treatment of Scapular Dyskinesis.cited 6× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly reduced | pain levels on the visual analog scale (VAS) | Human | patients with scapular dyskinesis (SD) | Not specified | Evaluation of a New Exercise Program in the Treatment of Scapular Dyskinesis.cited 6× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly decreased | pain | Human | patients after cardiovascular surgery | Not specified. | Effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, and tension after cardiac surgery: a randomized study.cited 104× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - could significantly reduce | pain | Human | older population | Not specified for massage alone (integrated program involved two 1-hour sessions per week). | Peer volunteers in an integrative pain management program for frail older adults with chronic pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.cited 6× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - reduction | pain | Human | adult critically ill patients | Not specified. | Effects of massage on outcomes of adult intensive care unit patients: a systematic review.cited 31× |
| massage therapy | No effect - may not reduce | pain | Human | cancer patients | Not specified | Integrative Medicine Therapies for Pain Management in Cancer Patients.cited 82× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - is superior to nonactive therapies in reducing | pain | Human | those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis | Not specified | Massage Therapy for Pain and Function in Patients With Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.cited 33× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - reduced | pain | Human | burned adolescents | Not specified | Itching, pain, and anxiety levels are reduced with massage therapy in burned adolescents.cited 36× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - decreasing | pain | Human | patients with advanced cancer in palliative care/hospice settings | Not specified | Methodological challenges in conducting a multi-site randomized clinical trial of massage therapy in hospice.cited 27× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had less pain | pain | Human | adults with hand pain | Therapist-administered massage once weekly and self-massage once daily. | Hand pain is reduced by massage therapy.cited 8× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had a greater decrease in pain | pain | Human | adults with hand pain | Therapist-administered massage once weekly and self-massage once daily. | Hand pain is reduced by massage therapy.cited 8× |
| massage therapy | No effect - supported further research | pain | Human | cardiac catheterization laboratory staff | 5 or 10 weekly 30-minute massages. | Feasibility and effectiveness of massage therapy for symptom relief in cardiac catheter laboratory staff: a pilot study.cited 7× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - produced a significantly greater reduction | pain | Human | elective cardiac surgery patients | Not specified | Massage therapy for cardiac surgery patients--a randomized trial.cited 55× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly reduced | pain | Human | elective cardiac surgery patients | Not specified | Massage therapy for cardiac surgery patients--a randomized trial.cited 55× |
| massage therapy | Increases - trends toward improvement | pain | Human | patients with metastatic cancer | Mean of 2.8 massage therapy sessions per patient. | Massage therapy for patients with metastatic cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial.cited 33× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - Positive short-term (≤6 months) effects in the form of reduced | pain | Human | — | Not specified | Complementary therapies for osteoarthritis: are they effective?cited 25× |
| massage therapy | No effect - GDV measure is correlated with | pain | Human | 23 healthy adults | Single 50-minute full-body relaxation massage | Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes.cited 2× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significant differences were found | pain | Human | 23 healthy adults | Single 50-minute full-body relaxation massage | Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes.cited 2× |
| Massage therapy | Decreases - reduces | pain | Human | people with shoulder pain and osteoarthritis of the knee | Not specified | Massage therapy has short-term benefits for people with common musculoskeletal disorders compared to no treatment: a systematic review.cited 69× |
| Massage therapy | No effect - no clear benefits | pain | Human | people with low back pain or neck pain | Not specified | Massage therapy has short-term benefits for people with common musculoskeletal disorders compared to no treatment: a systematic review.cited 69× |
| Massage therapy | No effect - no clear benefits | pain and function | Human | people with fibromyalgia, low back pain and general musculoskeletal pain | Not specified | Massage therapy has short-term benefits for people with common musculoskeletal disorders compared to no treatment: a systematic review.cited 69× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - was found to be better than inactive controls for pain | pain | Human | people with acute low-back pain | Not specified (massage was performed using hands or mechanical devices, but frequency/duration details are not provided). | Massage for low-back pain.cited 151× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - was better than inactive controls for pain | pain | Human | people with sub-acute and chronic low-back pain | Not specified (massage was performed using hands or mechanical devices, but frequency/duration details are not provided). | Massage for low-back pain.cited 151× |
| massage therapy | No effect - was not better than inactive controls for pain in the long-term | pain | Human | people with sub-acute and chronic low-back pain | Not specified (massage was performed using hands or mechanical devices, but frequency/duration details are not provided). | Massage for low-back pain.cited 151× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - was better than active controls for pain | pain | Human | people with sub-acute and chronic low-back pain | Not specified (massage was performed using hands or mechanical devices, but frequency/duration details are not provided). | Massage for low-back pain.cited 151× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - was better than active controls for pain in the long-term | pain | Human | people with sub-acute and chronic low-back pain | Not specified (massage was performed using hands or mechanical devices, but frequency/duration details are not provided). | Massage for low-back pain.cited 151× |
| massage therapy | Increases - Increased pain intensity was the most common adverse event | pain intensity | Human | participants | Not specified (massage was performed using hands or mechanical devices, but frequency/duration details are not provided). | Massage for low-back pain.cited 151× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly lower scores | pain | Human | triathlon athletes who completed an entire Ironman triathlon race and whose main complaint was pain in the anterior portion of the thigh | Not specified | Massage therapy decreases pain and perceived fatigue after long-distance Ironman triathlon: a randomised trial.cited 22× |
| massage therapy | No effect - no significant between-group differences | pressure pain threshold | Human | triathlon athletes who completed an entire Ironman triathlon race and whose main complaint was pain in the anterior portion of the thigh | Not specified | Massage therapy decreases pain and perceived fatigue after long-distance Ironman triathlon: a randomised trial.cited 22× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - is effective for treating | pain | Human | surgical pain populations | Not specified | The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part III, Surgical Pain Populations.cited 29× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - weak recommendations are suggested for | pain intensity/severity | Human | patients undergoing surgical procedures | Not specified | The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part III, Surgical Pain Populations.cited 29× |
| massage therapy | No effect - used | pain | Human | participants with primary dysmenorrhea | Not specified | Efficacy of Physiotherapy Treatment in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.cited 31× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had a beneficial associations with | pain | Human | adult health conditions | Not specified | Use of Massage Therapy for Pain, 2018-2023: A Systematic Review. |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had the most potential benefits | pain | Human | patients near end-of-life | Not available | Effectiveness of music therapy, aromatherapy, and massage therapy on patients in palliative care with end-of-life needs: A systematic review.cited 3× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significantly improved | pain | Human | patients with cancer | Not specified | Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for Cancer Pain, Quality of Life and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - reducing | pain | Human | children with acute burns | Median duration of 25.0 minutes per session (43 sessions total). | Massage Therapy Utilization in Pediatric Acute Burns: A Retrospective Cohort Study. |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - experienced pain relief | pain | Human | patients reporting pain pre-massage | Median duration of 25.0 minutes per session (43 sessions total). | Massage Therapy Utilization in Pediatric Acute Burns: A Retrospective Cohort Study. |
| massage therapy | Increases - improved | Pain and discomfort facet | Human | HIV infected patients | One hour per week for four weeks. | Effects of massage therapy on anxiety, depression, hyperventilation and quality of life in HIV infected patients: A randomized controlled trial.cited 4× |
| massage therapy | No effect - insufficient evidence to determine if beneficial | pain and functional outcomes | Human | patients with nonchronic, nonradicular LBP | Not available | Complementary therapies in addition to medication for patients with nonchronic, nonradicular low back pain: a systematic review.cited 9× |
| massage therapy | Increases - improved | pain control | Human | — | Not specified | Non-pharmacological interventions in patients with spinal cord compression: a systematic review.cited 2× |
| massage therapy | No effect - examine the effects | pain intensity | Human | patients with burns | Not specified | Effects of massage therapy on pain and anxiety intensity in patients with burns: A systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 28× |
| Massage Therapy | Decreases - Effects | Pain intensity | Human | Patients With Burns | Not Assessed | RETRACTION: Effects of Massage Therapy on Pain and Anxiety Intensity in Patients With Burns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. |
| massage therapy | Decreases - reduced | pain intensity | Human | patients who underwent tibial shaft fracture surgery | 10-minute foot massage (5 minutes per leg) using sweet almond oil. | The Effect of Foot Massage on Pain Intensity and Anxiety in Patients Having Undergone a Tibial Shaft Fracture Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.cited 20× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had shown significant differences before and after intervention | Pain intensity | Human | female subjects with a sub acute or chronic nonspecific low back pain | Ten sessions of treatment (specific frequency not detailed). | Comparison between massage and routine physical therapy in women with sub acute and chronic nonspecific low back pain.cited 20× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had significantly improved the pain intensity compared to routine physical therapy | pain intensity | Human | female subjects with a sub acute or chronic nonspecific low back pain | Ten sessions of treatment (specific frequency not detailed). | Comparison between massage and routine physical therapy in women with sub acute and chronic nonspecific low back pain.cited 20× |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - positive results for reducing | pain intensity | Human | neonates undergoing procedural pain | Not specified (varied by study) | Massage therapy as a non-pharmacological analgesia for procedural pain in neonates: A scoping review.cited 14× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - scores of pain intensity and discomfort were low | pain intensity and discomfort | Human | children with cerebral palsy undergoing post-operative rehabilitation | Not specified | Massage therapy in post-operative rehabilitation of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy - a pilot study.cited 6× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - decreased significantly | pain in the chest, shoulders, and back | Human | cardiopulmonary artery bypass graft surgery patients | Three nights of massage therapy (specific duration per session not specified). | Effects of massage therapy on sleep quality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.cited 60× |
| Massage Therapy (MT) | Decreases - reduce | pain levels | Human | patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) | Not specified | Clinical relevance of massage therapy and abdominal hypopressive gymnastics on chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.cited 7× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - demonstrated a reduction in | pain perception | Human | PD patients | Not specified | Non-pharmacological therapies for pain management in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review.cited 17× |
| massage therapy | No effect - no statistically significant treatment group interactions | Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) scores | Human | patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) | 2X/week for 6 weeks or 3X/week for 4 weeks. | A randomized pilot study of oncology massage to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.cited 8× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - effective at providing | pain relief | Human | adults (>18 years) suffering from acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) | Not specified | Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on therapeutic massage for low back pain.cited 48× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - resulted in minimal clinically important changes | pain relief | Human | older adults with knee osteoarthritis | 5-minute massage therapy (continuous compression stimulation). | Effect of Continuous Compression Stimulation on Pressure-Pain Threshold and Muscle Spasms in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial.cited 8× |
| massage therapy | Increases - increase | pressure-pain threshold | Human | older adults with knee osteoarthritis | 5-minute massage therapy (continuous compression stimulation). | Effect of Continuous Compression Stimulation on Pressure-Pain Threshold and Muscle Spasms in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial.cited 8× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - decreased | pain scale scores | Human | pediatric patients with SCD | Not available | Complementary and alternative medicine for children with sickle cell disease: A systematic review.cited 4× |
| massage therapy | Increases - increased | pain tolerability | Human | pediatric patients with SCD | Not available | Complementary and alternative medicine for children with sickle cell disease: A systematic review.cited 4× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - had the highest pain score at the beginning of the intervention, but at the end of the 10th session of intervention had the least pain score | pain score | Human | patients with knee osteoarthritis | Not specified | Comparing the Effects of Massage Therapy and Aromatherapy on Knee Pain, Morning Stiffness, Daily Life Function, and Quality of Life in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.cited 7× |
| massage therapy | No effect - no statistically significant difference | Pain scores | Human | pediatric heart surgery patients | Not specified. | The Impact of Massage and Reading on Children's Pain and Anxiety After Cardiovascular Surgery: A Pilot Study.cited 26× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - Statistically and clinically significant decreases | pain scores | Human | Patients undergoing cardiovascular surgical procedures (coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valvular repair or replacement) | 20-minute session of massage therapy between postoperative days 2 and 5. | Effect of massage therapy on pain, anxiety, and tension in cardiac surgical patients: a pilot study.cited 72× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - significant reduction | pain scores | Human | participants with knee osteoarthritis | Not specified | Efficacy of massage therapy in improving outcomes in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.cited 12× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - was effective on | pain symptoms | Human | — | Not specified | The effect of manual therapy on masseter muscle pain and spasm.cited 13× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - has been shown to have beneficial effects | pain syndromes including arthritis and fibromyalgia | Human | — | Not specified | Massage therapy research review.cited 163× |
| massage therapy | No effect - most common nonpharmacologic techniques include | pain treatment | Human | neonates | Not specified | Anesthesia and analgesia in the NICU.cited 49× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - showed significant improvement | post-operative pain | Human | post-operative patients | Single dosage (specific amount not detailed) | The Effects of Massage Therapy on Pain and Anxiety after Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.cited 25× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - is effective in reducing | postoperative pain | Human | — | Not specified | The effect of massage therapy on pain after surgery: A comprehensive meta-analysis.cited 15× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - showed that MT is effective in reducing | postoperative pain | Human | — | Not specified | The effect of massage therapy on pain after surgery: A comprehensive meta-analysis.cited 15× |
| massage therapy | Increases - better evidence for improvement | psychological variables and subjective symptoms, such as pain and quality of life | Human | adult patients | Not specified | Massage and touch-based therapy : Clinical evidence, neurobiology and applications in older patients with psychiatric symptoms.cited 7× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - improved | ratings of pain interference on the Multidimensional Pain Inventory | Human | individuals with SCI and neuropathic pain | Twice weekly for 6 weeks. | Acupuncture and massage therapy for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: an exploratory study.cited 40× |
| massage therapy | No effect - no significant improvements were seen | ratings of pain interference on the Multidimensional Pain Inventory | Human | individuals with SCI and neuropathic pain | Twice weekly for 6 weeks. | Acupuncture and massage therapy for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: an exploratory study.cited 40× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - may relieve | SCI neuropathic pain | Human | individuals with SCI and neuropathic pain | Twice weekly for 6 weeks. | Acupuncture and massage therapy for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: an exploratory study.cited 40× |
| Massage therapy | Increases - could have a positive result | scar pliability, pain and pruritus | Human | adults with burn scars | Not specified | The effects of conservative treatments on burn scars: A systematic review.cited 74× |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - effective in decreasing | the affective experience of pain | Human | outpatients with CJP | Not specified | Effectiveness of Three Physical Treatments on Pain Perception and Emotional State in Males with Chronic Joint Pain.cited 1× |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - effective in decreasing | the present pain intensity (PPI) | Human | outpatients with CJP | Not specified | Effectiveness of Three Physical Treatments on Pain Perception and Emotional State in Males with Chronic Joint Pain.cited 1× |
| massage therapy (MT) | Decreases - effective in decreasing | the sensory experience of pain | Human | outpatients with CJP | Not specified | Effectiveness of Three Physical Treatments on Pain Perception and Emotional State in Males with Chronic Joint Pain.cited 1× |
| massage therapy | Decreases - most commonly reported | TMD pain | Human | patients with temporomandibular disorders | Not specified | Reported concepts for the treatment modalities and pain management of temporomandibular disorders.cited 184× |
| Ayurvedic massage and external treatment | Decreases - significantly reduced | mean back pain (VAS) | Human | patients with chronic low back pain | 6 hours of Ayurvedic massage and external treatment over 2 weeks. | Effectiveness of Ayurvedic Massage (Sahacharadi Taila) in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 13× |
| Ayurvedic massage and external treatment | Decreases - beneficial effects | pain-related bothersomeness | Human | patients with chronic low back pain | 6 hours of Ayurvedic massage and external treatment over 2 weeks. | Effectiveness of Ayurvedic Massage (Sahacharadi Taila) in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 13× |
| massage therapy of the neck region | Decreases - significant improvement | headache pain intensity | Human | subjects with cervicogenic headache | Two sessions per week. | Mobilization versus massage therapy in the treatment of cervicogenic headache: a clinical study.cited 32× |
| aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil | Decreases - was found effective in relieving | pain | Human | patients with knee osteoarthritis | Not specified | Effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 50× |
| aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil | No effect - no significant difference | pain | Human | patients with osteoarthritis of the knee | Not specified | Effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 50× |
| aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil | Decreases - significantly different | pain severity | Human | patients with osteoarthritis of the knee | Not specified | Effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled clinical trial.cited 50× |
| electrical automatic massage (EAM) | Decreases - has been found to reduce | pain | Human | individuals with various conditions | Not available | Effects of Electrical Automatic Massage on Cognition and Sleep Quality in Alzheimer's Disease Spectrum Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 2× |
| soft tissue massage and exercise | No effect - conferred no additional benefit | pain | Human | people with nonspecific shoulder pain | Not specified (massage and exercise administered for 4 weeks). | Effectiveness of Soft Tissue Massage for Nonspecific Shoulder Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 7× |
| soft tissue massage and exercise | Decreases - demonstrated a small significant difference in favor of the group receiving exercise only | pain scores | Human | people with nonspecific shoulder pain | Not specified (massage and exercise administered for 4 weeks). | Effectiveness of Soft Tissue Massage for Nonspecific Shoulder Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial.cited 7× |
| long-duration percussive massage treatment (L-PMT) | Decreases - exhibited significantly lower VAS scores | visual analog scale pain score | Human | physically active young men | Two sessions of either 25-minute PMT (S-PMT) or 40-minute PMT (L-PMT). | The effect of percussion massage therapy on the recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness in physically active young men-a randomized controlled trial. |
| Touch massage (TM) | Decreases - has been proven to decrease | pain | Human | other conditions of reduced health | Ten sessions of 30-minute treatments over two weeks. | Does touch massage facilitate recovery after stroke? A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.cited 5× |
| Touch massage (TM) | Decreases - may also reduce | pain | Human | after stroke | Ten sessions of 30-minute treatments over two weeks. | Does touch massage facilitate recovery after stroke? A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.cited 5× |
| Touch massage (TM) | Decreases - seems to decrease | pain | Human | after stroke | Ten sessions of 30-minute treatments over two weeks. | Does touch massage facilitate recovery after stroke? A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.cited 5× |
| touch massage | Decreases - had a high certainty of evidence (CoE) to reduce pain scores | pain during heel prick | Human | neonates | Not specified | Comparative Efficacy of Interventions for Analgesia During Heel Prick in Newborn Infants - A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. |
| Touch massage (TM) | Increases - is expected to increase | the patients' feelings that their pain is seriously considered | Human | patients suffering from chronic pain | At least 4 sessions spread over two weeks. | Impacts of Touch massage on the experience of patients with chronic pain: A protocol for a mixed method study.cited 2× |
| Self-massage | Decreases - had their neck pain improved by less than a half | neck pain | Human | them | Not specified | Neck pain in Hong Kong: a telephone survey on consequences and health service utilization.cited 12× |
| Rotational ice massage applied to the SP6 acupressure point | Decreases - reduced | labor pain | Human | pregnant women | Rotational ice massage applied to the SP6 point on both legs at 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm dilation during 3 contractions. | The Effect of Ice Massage Applied to the SP6 Point on Labor Pain, Labor Comfort, Labor Duration, and Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| Rotational ice massage applied to the SP6 acupressure point | Decreases - significantly lower | VAS pain scores | Human | nulliparous women in the intervention group | Rotational ice massage applied to the SP6 point on both legs at 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm dilation during 3 contractions. | The Effect of Ice Massage Applied to the SP6 Point on Labor Pain, Labor Comfort, Labor Duration, and Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
| infant massage | No effect - effects | pain relief | Human | infants from 0-12 months | Not specified | Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review.cited 13× |