for 4 weeks. However, this study also had several methodological
problems including: 1) the massage protocol was not standardized;
2) no objective measureswere used for the massage therapy effects,
only self-reports by mail; 3) the therapists made other self-care
suggestions such as stretching which could confound the massage
therapy effects; 4) significant differences were noted on one
self-report measure, i.e. Neck Disability Index, but not on the other,
i.e. the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability scale; and 5)
dichotomized values were used rather than mean values for comparisons
between groups. Nonetheless, this research group more
recently conducted a larger trial to correct these problems [8]. In
this randomized control study 60 min massages 2 or 3 times a week
led to decreased neck dysfunction based on the Neck Disability
Index and pain intensity measured on a 10-point pain scale as
compared to a group who received 30 min massages 2 or 3 times a
week and awaitlist control group. They also made some interesting
suggestions about the need to extend the time frame for the massage
benefits, for example, by having booster sessions and using
self-massaging devices.
Turning to a different literature on specific types of massage,
recent studies at our research institute have compared the effects of
moderate versus light pressure massage [9,10]. The moderate
pressure massage resulted in slower heartrate and blood pressure
and in EEG (theta) waves suggestive of relaxation [9] and in less
pain and greater range of motion for individuals with rheumatoid
arthritis in their upper limbs [10].
This literature highlights the need for a moderate pressure
massage therapy study for neck pain that involves multiple sessions,
objective measures, and a method such as self-massage