title: Clinical Evidence of Chinese Massage Therapy (Tui Na) for Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: Objective.The review is to assess the current evidence of Chinese massage therapy (Tui Na) for cervical radiculopathy.Methods.Seven databases were searched. Randomised controlled trials incorporatingTui Naalone orTui Nacombined with conventional treatment were enrolled. The authors in pairs independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted the data.Results.Five studies involving 448 patients were included. The pooled analysis from the 3 trials indicated thatTui Naalone showed a significant lowering immediate effects on pain score (SMD = -0.58; 95% CI: -0.96 to -0.21;Z= 3.08,P= 0.002) with moderate heterogeneity compared to cervical traction. The meta-analysis from 2 trials revealed significant immediate effects ofTui Naplus cervical traction in improving pain score (MD = -1.73; 95% CI: -2.01 to -1.44;Z= 11.98,P< 0.00001) with no heterogeneity compared to cervical traction alone. No adverse effect was reported. There was very low quality or low quality evidence to support the results.Conclusions. Tui Naalone orTui Naplus cervical traction may be helpful to cervical radiculopathy patients, but supportive evidence seems generally weak. Future clinical studies with low risk of bias and adequate follow-up design are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Scientific Research, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Huajiadi Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6723-9604
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of General Orthopedics, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Huajiadi Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Shangquan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Huajiadi Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Linghui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Huajiadi Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Liguo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1931-8647
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu