Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of massage chair therapy versus basic physiotherapy in lower back pain patients: A randomized controlled trial. Issue 12 (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Seung-Kook; Min, Aran; Jeon, Chuljin; Kim, Taeyun; Cho, Soohyun; Lee, Su-Chan; Lee, Choon-Key
• Other Names: Ding. Jianxun section editor.
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 99:Issue 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: low back pain -- massage chair -- massage therapy -- mechanical chair -- physical therapy -- physiotherapy; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Geneeskunde; Medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019514
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-7974

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Low back pain is a chronic recurrent symptom, which can lower the patient's quality of life. With technological development of automated home massage systems, now offers a promising alternative to physiotherapy. However, thus far, the effectiveness of such methods has not been evaluated. We aimed to compare the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a massage chair with those of conventional physiotherapy for the treatment. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial with a two-group parallel design. Following randomization and allocation, 56 participants were enrolled to receive either physiotherapy (n = 25) or mechanical massage using the massage chair (n = 31). Pain severity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and satisfaction assessed with the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Quality of life modification was analyzed using the Functional Rating Index (FRI). Cost-effectiveness was analyzed by comparing the sum of physiotherapy fees and monthly rental fees for chair massage. Results: Physiotherapy and massage chair were both effective for pain control as assessed with the VAS ( P < .001), satisfaction as assessed by MPQ ( P < .001) and life quality improvement as assessed by FRI ( P < .001) in both groups. Both VAS and FRI scores were significantly higher for physiotherapy than for massage chair ( P = .03 and P = .03, respectively). There was no significant difference in MPQ between the two groups. Massage chair therapy was more cost-effective than physiotherapy, at only 60.17% of the physiotherapy cost ( P < .001). Conclusions: The home massage chair system was cost-effective, but pain control and disability improved more with physiotherapy. However, our results showed that the massage chair is a promising treatment for pain control and quality of life modification, but efficacy is still superior in physiotherapy and the chair is not a replacement for physiotherapy. Trial registration: Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0003157. Retrospectively registered August 2, 2018.