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Research ArticleOriginal Research

Five-Week Outcomes From a Dosing Trial of Therapeutic Massage for Chronic Neck Pain

Karen J. Sherman, Andrea J. Cook, Robert D. Wellman, Rene J. Hawkes, Janet R. Kahn, Richard A. Deyo and Daniel C. Cherkin
The Annals of Family Medicine March 2014, 12 (2) 112-120; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1602
Karen J. Sherman
1Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
2Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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  • For correspondence: sherman.k@ghc.org
Andrea J. Cook
1Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
3Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Robert D. Wellman
1Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
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Rene J. Hawkes
1Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
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Janet R. Kahn
4Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
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Richard A. Deyo
5Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Daniel C. Cherkin
1Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
6Departments of Family Medicine and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Abstract

PURPOSE This trial was designed to evaluate the optimal dose of massage for individuals with chronic neck pain.

METHODS We recruited 228 individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain from an integrated health care system and the general population, and randomized them to 5 groups receiving various doses of massage (a 4-week course consisting of 30-minute visits 2 or 3 times weekly or 60-minute visits 1, 2, or 3 times weekly) or to a single control group (a 4-week period on a wait list). We assessed neck-related dysfunction with the Neck Disability Index (range, 0–50 points) and pain intensity with a numerical rating scale (range, 0–10 points) at baseline and 5 weeks. We used log-linear regression to assess the likelihood of clinically meaningful improvement in neck-related dysfunction (≥5 points on Neck Disability Index) or pain intensity (≥30% improvement) by treatment group.

RESULTS After adjustment for baseline age, outcome measures, and imbalanced covariates, 30-minute treatments were not significantly better than the wait list control condition in terms of achieving a clinically meaningful improvement in neck dysfunction or pain, regardless of the frequency of treatments. In contrast, 60-minute treatments 2 and 3 times weekly significantly increased the likelihood of such improvement compared with the control condition in terms of both neck dysfunction (relative risk = 3.41 and 4.98, P = .04 and .005, respectively) and pain intensity (relative risk = 2.30 and 2.73; P = .007 and .001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS After 4 weeks of treatment, we found multiple 60-minute massages per week more effective than fewer or shorter sessions for individuals with chronic neck pain. Clinicians recommending massage and researchers studying this therapy should ensure that patients receive a likely effective dose of treatment.

  • chronic neck pain
  • pain management
  • disability
  • massage
  • clinical trial
  • complementary and alternative medicine
  • holistic medicine
  • Received for publication March 14, 2013.
  • Revision received August 8, 2013.
  • Accepted for publication September 10, 2013.
  • © 2014 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
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The Annals of Family Medicine: 12 (2)
The Annals of Family Medicine: 12 (2)
Vol. 12, Issue 2
March/April 2014
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Five-Week Outcomes From a Dosing Trial of Therapeutic Massage for Chronic Neck Pain
Karen J. Sherman, Andrea J. Cook, Robert D. Wellman, Rene J. Hawkes, Janet R. Kahn, Richard A. Deyo, Daniel C. Cherkin
The Annals of Family Medicine Mar 2014, 12 (2) 112-120; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1602

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Five-Week Outcomes From a Dosing Trial of Therapeutic Massage for Chronic Neck Pain
Karen J. Sherman, Andrea J. Cook, Robert D. Wellman, Rene J. Hawkes, Janet R. Kahn, Richard A. Deyo, Daniel C. Cherkin
The Annals of Family Medicine Mar 2014, 12 (2) 112-120; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1602
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