The effectiveness of massage therapy for low-back pain has not been investigated thoroughly in the past, and the lack of clinical trials prompted a randomized, controlled trial. Massage therapy (including soft-tissue manipulation, remedial exercise and posture education) were assessed and compared to placebo treatment for sub-acute (between 1 week and 8 months) low-back pain.

Patients with sub-acute low-back pain were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: comprehensive massage therapy (n = 25), soft-tissue manipulation only (n = 25), remedial exercise with posture education only (n = 22) or a placebo of sham laser therapy (n = 26).

Each patient received six treatments within approximately 1 month.

The results revealed that, of the 107 subjects who passed screening, 98 (92%) completed post-treatment tests and 91 (85%) completed follow-up tests. Statistically significant differences were noted after treatment and at follow-up. The comprehensive massage therapy group had improved function, less intense pain and a decrease in the quality of pain compared with the other 3 groups.

Clinical significance was evident for the comprehensive massage therapy group and the 'soft-tissue manipulation only' group on the measure of function. At the one month follow-up 63% of subjects in the comprehensive massage therapy group reported no pain as compared with 27% of the soft-tissue manipulation group, 14% of the remedial exercise group and 0% of the sham laser therapy group.

The report concludes that patients with sub-acute low-back pain were shown to significantly benefit from massage therapy, as regulated by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and delivered by experienced massage therapists.

Source: Effectiveness of massage therapy for subacute low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Preyde M . Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Ont.