title: Studying the Effectiveness of One Type of Iranian Traditional Massage on Lumbar Radiculopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-back pain is one of the most common human morbidities worldwide, which is damaging individually, socially and economically. Recent studies have shown that its prevalence is rising. Most of the low-back pains are non-specific though specific ones need more complicated and more expensive treatments. Sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy is one of these specific low-back pains and is explained in Iranian traditional medicine textbooks in detail. Massage is one of the therapeutic modalities, advised for sciatica. Due to different aspects of sciatica in modern medicine, massage is not indicated as treatment, but it is advised in Iranian traditional medicine. In Iran, many patients resort to traditional massage for sciatica and are satisfied. Thus, the effectiveness of one type of Iranian traditional massage "Kermanshahi family" and conventional treatment were compared based on three outcomes of pain, disability, and quality of life score.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 patients were observed in two groups (25 per group) of case (massage) and control (classic treatment) in a non-randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients suffering from lumbar radicular pain for 8 weeks or longer, before referring to each center (neurosurgery or traditional massage clinic), were enrolled continuously. In the case group, patients underwent traditional massage sessions whereas in the control group they were prescribed as routine. Three outcomes were observed during three periods of before intervention, 1-month, and 3-month after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean difference of pain severity decrease in both groups was meaningful (P=0/007). The mean difference of disability decrease in both groups was meaningful (P=0/003). However, the mean difference of quality of life increase in both groups was not meaningful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iranian traditional massage may be useful for the treatment of non-acute sciatica, but more studies are required to confirm and clarify the protocols.
authors.affiliation: Iranian Traditional Medicine Department, Medicine School, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mamak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.affiliation: Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital, Medicine School, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jafarian
authors.affiliation: Health Services Management Department, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tofighi
authors.affiliation: Traditional Medicine School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahluji
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Halabchi
keywords: Massage; Medicine; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Traditional