Systematic Reviews of Massage Therapy

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Massage Therapy: The Science is Emerging

Systematic reviews are used as part of an evidence-based model of care to help identify and evaluate existing research for a specific topic. Conducting a systematic review is a complex process. This specific type of research requires multiple research experts each with their own specialized background to collaborate and analyze all the existing research available for one specific topic.

First researchers will pick a topic - for example we could say, ‘the use of massage therapy for low back pain’. Then the researchers comb through research databases to find studies from around the world carried out on that specific topic. After the search is completed the articles are evaluated based on a predefined inclusion criteria. Then articles are separated by those that meet the pre-defined criteria and those that do not meet the predefined criteria.

The research articles that meet the pre-defined criteria are then individually screened for potential biases. There are several ways that biases sneak into research, for massage therapy one of the primary sources of bias is due to therapist and patient blinding (this is hard to control for). In addition to evaluating studies for potential biases, researchers are looking for potential harms, and treatment effect size. Essentially, does this treatment work, and how does it compare to a placebo/sham intervention.

Steady Improvement in Quality & Quantity of Massage Therapy Research

Twenty years ago, there was a limited number of systematic reviews of massage therapy, since 2005 there has been a steady increase in the quality and number of systematic reviews of massage therapy.

Graphical representation of the steady increase in number of systematic reviews.

Graphical representation of the steady increase in number of systematic reviews.

Massage therapy is a clinically-oriented healthcare option, that is increasingly being used alongside standard medical care to help manage a number of symptoms. Based on these systematic reviews massage therapy has a growing body of evidence supporting its effectiveness in reducing pain and improving health-related quality of life in a variety of health conditions and rehabilitation, including but not limited to:

References and Sources

Angelopoulou, E., Anagnostouli, M., Chrousos, G. P., & Bougea, A. (2020). Massage therapy as a complementary treatment for Parkinson's disease: A Systematic Literature Review. Complementary therapies in medicine, 49, 102340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102340

Armstrong, M., Flemming, K., Kupeli, N., Stone, P., Wilkinson, S., & Candy, B. (2019). Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs. Palliative medicine, 33(7), 757–769. doi:10.1177/0269216319846440

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Boitor, M., Gélinas, C., Richard-Lalonde, M., & Thombs, B. D. (2017). The Effect of Massage on Acute Postoperative Pain in Critically and Acutely Ill Adults Post-thoracic Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Heart & lung: the journal of critical care, 46(5), 339–346. doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2017.05.005

Boyd, C., Crawford, C., Paat, C. F., Price, A., Xenakis, L., Zhang, W., & Evidence for Massage Therapy (EMT) Working Group (2016). The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part II, Cancer Pain Populations. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 17(8), 1553–1568. doi:10.1093/pm/pnw100

Boyd, C., Crawford, C., Paat, C. F., Price, A., Xenakis, L., Zhang, W., & Evidence for Massage Therapy (EMT) Working Group (2016). The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part III, Surgical Pain Populations. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 17(9), 1757–1772. doi:10.1093/pm/pnw101

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Cibulka, M. T., Bloom, N. J., Enseki, K. R., Macdonald, C. W., Woehrle, J., & McDonough, C. M. (2017). Hip Pain and Mobility Deficits-Hip Osteoarthritis: Revision 2017. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 47(6), A1–A37. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.0301

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Crawford, C., Boyd, C., Paat, C. F., Price, A., Xenakis, L., Yang, E., … Evidence for Massage Therapy (EMT) Working Group (2016). The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part I, Patients Experiencing Pain in the General Population. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 17(7), 1353–1375. doi:10.1093/pm/pnw099

Davis, H. L., Alabed, S., & Chico, T. J. A. (2020). Effect of sports massage on performance and recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), e000614. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000614

Dupuy, O., Douzi, W., Theurot, D., Bosquet, L., & Dugué, B. (2018). An Evidence-Based Approach for Choosing Post-exercise Recovery Techniques to Reduce Markers of Muscle Damage, Soreness, Fatigue, and Inflammation: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in physiology, 9, 403. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00403

Fraser, J. J., Corbett, R., Donner, C., & Hertel, J. (2018). Does manual therapy improve pain and function in patients with plantar fasciitis? A systematic review. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 26(2), 55–65. doi:10.1080/10669817.2017.1322736

Guo, J., Li, L., Gong, Y., Zhu, R., Xu, J., Zou, J., & Chen, X. (2017). Massage Alleviates Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after Strenuous Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in physiology, 8, 747. doi:10.3389/fphys.2017.00747

Hall, H. G., Cant, R., Munk, N., Carr, B., Tremayne, A., Weller, C., Fogarty, S., & Lauche, R. (2020). The effectiveness of massage for reducing pregnant women's anxiety and depression; systematic review and meta-analysis. Midwifery, 90, 102818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102818

Hawk, C., Minkalis, A. L., Khorsan, R., Daniels, C. J., Homack, D., Gliedt, J. A., … Bhalerao, S. (2017). Systematic Review of Nondrug, Nonsurgical Treatment of Shoulder Conditions. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 40(5), 293–319. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.04.001

Hilfiker, R., Meichtry, A., Eicher, M., Nilsson Balfe, L., Knols, R. H., Verra, M. L., & Taeymans, J. (2018). Exercise and other non-pharmaceutical interventions for cancer-related fatigue in patients during or after cancer treatment: a systematic review incorporating an indirect-comparisons meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine, 52(10), 651–658. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096422

Huisstede, B. M., van den Brink, J., Randsdorp, M. S., Geelen, S. J., & Koes, B. W. (2018). Effectiveness of Surgical and Postsurgical Interventions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-A Systematic Review. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 99(8), 1660–1680.e21. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.04.024

Kukimoto, Y., Ooe, N., & Ideguchi, N. (2017). The Effects of Massage Therapy on Pain and Anxiety after Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain management nursing: official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, 18(6), 378–390. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2017.09.001

Leng, M., Zhao, Y., & Wang, Z. (2020). Comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions on agitation in people with dementia: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 102, 103489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103489

Margenfeld, F., Klocke, C., & Joos, S. (2019). Manual massage for persons living with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 96, 132–142. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.12.012

Martins, W. R., Blasczyk, J. C., Aparecida Furlan de Oliveira, M., Lagôa Gonçalves, K. F., Bonini-Rocha, A. C., Dugailly, P. M., & de Oliveira, R. J. (2016). Efficacy of musculoskeletal manual approach in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Manual therapy, 21, 10–17. doi:10.1016/j.math.2015.06.009

Nelson, N. L., & Churilla, J. R. (2017). Massage Therapy for Pain and Function in Patients With Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 96(9), 665–672. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000712

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Owais, S., Chow, C., Furtado, M., Frey, B. N., & Van Lieshout, R. J. (2018). Non-pharmacological interventions for improving postpartum maternal sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep medicine reviews, 41, 87–100. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2018.01.005

Pieters, L., Lewis, J., Kuppens, K., Jochems, J., Bruijstens, T., Joossens, L., & Struyf, F. (2020). An Update of Systematic Reviews Examining the Effectiveness of Conservative Physical Therapy Interventions for Subacromial Shoulder Pain. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 50(3), 131–141. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2020.8498

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Skelly, A.C., Chou, R., Dettori, J.R., Turner, J.A., Friedly, J.L., Rundell, S.D., … Ferguson, A.J.R. (2020). Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review Update. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US). DOI: https://doi.org/10.23970/AHRQEPCCER227

Smith, C. A., Levett, K. M., Collins, C. T., Dahlen, H. G., Ee, C. C., & Suganuma, M. (2018). Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3(3), CD009290. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009290.pub3

Smith, C. A., Shewamene, Z., Galbally, M., Schmied, V., & Dahlen, H. (2019). The effect of complementary medicines and therapies on maternal anxiety and depression in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of affective disorders, 245, 428–439. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.054

Steuri, R., Sattelmayer, M., Elsig, S., Kolly, C., Tal, A., Taeymans, J., & Hilfiker, R. (2017). Effectiveness of conservative interventions including exercise, manual therapy and medical management in adults with shoulder impingement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. British journal of sports medicine, 51(18), 1340–1347. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096515

Sutton, D., Gross, D. P., Côté, P., Randhawa, K., Yu, H., Wong, J. J., … Taylor-Vaisey, A. (2016). Multimodal care for the management of musculoskeletal disorders of the elbow, forearm, wrist and hand: a systematic review by the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. Chiropractic & manual therapies, 24, 8. doi:10.1186/s12998-016-0089-8

Thrane, S. E., Hsieh, K., Donahue, P., Tan, A., Exline, M. C., & Balas, M. C. (2019). Could complementary health approaches improve the symptom experience and outcomes of critically ill adults? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complementary therapies in medicine, 47, 102166. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.07.025

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Yuan, S. L., Matsutani, L. A., & Marques, A. P. (2015). Effectiveness of different styles of massage therapy in fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Manual therapy, 20(2), 257–264. doi:10.1016/j.math.2014.09.003

Zeng, Y. S., Wang, C., Ward, K. E., & Hume, A. L. (2018). Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Hospice and Palliative Care: A Systematic Review. Journal of pain and symptom management, 56(5), 781–794.e4. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.07.016