title: Neck arthritis pain is reduced and range of motion is increased by massage therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The literature on the effects of massage therapy on neck arthritis pain is mixed depending on the dose level, and it is also based on self-report. In the present study an attempt was made to enhance the effects of weekly massage therapy by having the participants massage themselves daily. And in addition to self-reports on pain, range of motion (ROM) and the associated ROM pain were assessed before and after the first massage session and pre-post the last session one month later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staff and faculty members at a medical school who were eligible for the study if they had neck arthritis pain were randomly assigned to a massage or a waitlist control group (N = 24 per group). The massage group received moderate pressure massages weekly by a massage therapist plus daily self-massages. The waitlist control group received the same schedule massages one month after being control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The massage group showed significant short-term reductions after the first and last day massages in self-reported pain and in ROM-associated pain as well as an increase in ROM. Comparisons between the massage group (N = 23) and the control group (N = 14) on the last versus the first day data suggested significantly different changes including increased ROM and reduced ROM-associated pain for the massage group and reduced ROM and increased ROM-associated pain for the control group. These changes occurred specifically for flexion and right and left lateral flexion motions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data highlight the importance of designing massage therapy protocols that target the most affected neck muscle groups and then assessing range of motion and related pain before and after the massage therapy. Comparisons with other studies also suggest that moderate pressure may contribute to the massage effects, and the use of daily self-massages between sessions may sustain the effects and serve as a cost-effective therapy for individuals with neck arthritis pain.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, United States; Fielding Graduate University, United States. Electronic address: tfield@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, United States; Fielding Graduate University, United States.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diego
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Massage Envy, United States.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Funk
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Massage therapy; Neck arthritis; Pain; Range of motion