title: 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.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of classic massage (CM) and connective tissue massage (CTM) on pressure pain threshold and muscle relaxation response in women with chronic neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 45 female volunteers (ages between 25 and 45 years) presenting to the Köroglu State Hospital Neurosurgery Polyclinic who had experienced neck pain for 3 to 6 months. The volunteers were randomly assigned to 2 groups (CM or CTM to the thoracic spine and the neck). Each treatment was carried out for 1 session. Outcome measures were obtained before and after treatment, which included pressure pain threshold that was measured with an algometer and muscle relaxation response that was evaluated with electromyography biofeedback (EMG-BF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pressure pain threshold of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was significantly different for the CM (P < .05) group. The EMG-BF values were significantly different for the CTM group (P < .05). Comparing the results of CM and CTM, EMG-BF averages favored the CTM group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the group of women with chronic neck pain that were included in this study, 1 treatment of CTM demonstrated relaxation responses and 1 treatment of CM demonstrated pain reduction.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Abant Izzet Baysal University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Bolu, Turkey. Electronic address: ptyesim@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bakar
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Abant Izzet Baysal University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sertel
authors.affiliation: Asisstant Professor, Yalova University, Termal Community College, Yalova, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Abant Izzet Baysal University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eylem Tütün
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Yümin
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor, Köroglu State Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tatarli
authors.affiliation: Professor, Düzce University, Department of Biostatistics, Düzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ankarali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003238:Connective Tissue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Massage; Neck Pain