Summary of trials of soft tissue massage for the treatment of shoulder pain
| Author/year | Condition | Experimental group | Comparison group(s) | Outcome measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue massage versus no treatment | ||||
| van den Dolder and Roberts (2003) | Patient group: unilateral shoulder pain with tenderness on palpation to muscles around shoulder MOR: opaque envelopes Two groups: STM; no treatment | STM group n=15 (11 males, 4 females) Age=63.1±9.9 years DOS=26 weeks (IQR 13–26) Intervention: six sessions of STM aimed at lateral border of scapula EOR flexion, posterior deltoid EOR horizontal flexion, anterior deltoid EOR hand behind back, pectoralis major in stretch position over 2 weeks | No treatment group n=14 (9 males, 5 females) Age=65.9±9.2 years DOS=30 weeks (IQR 23–91) Intervention: no treatment for 2 weeks | Follow-up period 2 weeks Outcome measures Pain: Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire Function: Patient-Specific Functional Disability Score ROM: Flexion (from photograph) Abduction (from photograph) Hand behind back (centimetre above/below PSIS) |
| Soft tissue massage versus active controls | ||||
| Guler-Uysal and Kozanoglu (2004) | Patient group: >2 months shoulder pain with limited ROM and pain on movement MOR: not stated Two groups: Cyriax; Ph mobilisations use low-grade/velocity, small or large amplitude passive movement techniques or neuromuscular techniques within the patient's ROM and within the patient's control. siotherapy group | Cyriax group n=20 (5 males, 15 females) Age=53.6±6.9 years DOS=7.6±3.9 months Intervention: Cyriax approach frictions and mobilisations, active stretching and pendulum exercises with PT, home exercises—pendulum and passive ROM Three weekly hour sessions for 2 weeks | Physiotherapy group n=20 (7 males, 13 females) Age=58.4±9.7 years DOS=5.6±3.9 months Intervention: hot packs, SWD, active stretching and pendulum exercises with PT, home exercises—pendulum and passive ROM. Sessions five times per week for 2 weeks. Three weekly hour sessions for 2 weeks | Follow-up period 2 weeks Outcome measures Pain: Spontaneous pain using VAS Night pain using VAS Pain with motion using VAS Passive ROM: using goniometer Flexion Abduction Internal rotation External rotation |
| Hains et al (2010) | Patient group: Shoulder pain ≥5 out of 10 VAS score on a daily basis for ≥3 months MOR: opaque envelopes with 2/3 even—1/3 odd random numbers Two groups: sustained pressure to trigger points in shoulder; sustained trigger points to cervical and upper thoracic region | Sustained pressure to trigger points in shoulder group n=41 (21 males, 20 females) Age=46.5±8.8 years DOS=4.0±3.9 years Intervention: 15 treatments (timeframe not stated) of 15 s pressure on each trigger points supraspinatus, deltoid, infraspinatus muscles and biceps tendon. Position of arm during treatment not specified | Sustained pressure to trigger points in neck and upper thoracic region group n=18 (5 males, 13 females) Age=45.6±7.4 years DOS=4.9±4.2 years Intervention: 15 treatments (timeframe not stated) of 15 s pressure on each trigger points in neck and upper thoracic regions | Follow-up period Immediately following 15 treatments, 30 days, 6 months Outcome measures Pain and function: using Shoulder Pain and Disability Index Perceived improvement: using numerical scale from 0% to 100% |
ADL, activities of daily living; AROM, active range of movement; DOS, duration of symptoms; EOR, end of range; IQR, IQ range; IR/ER, internal rotation/external rotation; MOR, method of randomisation; n, number of participants in group; PSIS, posterior superior iliac spine; PT, physiotherapy; ROM, range of motion; SWD, short wave diathermy; STM, soft tissue massage; VAS, visual analogue scale.