INTRODUCTION
Massage has become one of the most popular complementary and alternative medical
therapies for back pain [1]. Furthermore, back and neck pain represent over one third [2] of
the more than 100 million annual visits to massage therapists [3]. In the U.S., massage
incorporates various soft-tissue techniques and sometimes techniques aimed at changing
how patients perceive and use their bodies. Virtually all massage schools teach Swedish
massage techniques aimed at relaxation, but only a minority of therapists take courses in
techniques for treating back pain.
Recent reviews found limited evidence massage is an effective treatment for chronic back
pain [4, 5]. No studies compared the effectiveness of widely available relaxation massage
with structural massage, which focuses on correcting soft tissue abnormalities.
Study aims were to determine if relaxation massage reduces pain and improves function in
patients with chronic low back pain, and compare the effectiveness of relaxation massage
and structural massage.