Using a body diagram before the intervention, most participants, 20 (83%) in the experimental group and 16 (70%) in the control group, indicated that their pain was present in the suprapubic and lumbar regions. At the end of the intervention period, the groups were again similar. Thirteen (57%) participants in the experimental groupand 15 (65%) participants in the control group reported suprapubic and lumbar pain, with no significant difference between groups (RR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.54 to 1 .38). Therefore, massage did not change the characteristics or the location of the pain in the active phase of labour.