EFFECTS OF TRADITIONAL THAI SELF- MASSAGE USING WILAI MASSAGE STICKTM VERSUS IBUPROFEN IN PATIENTS WITH UPPER BACK ASSOCIATED WITH MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of traditional Thai self-massage using Wilai massage stickTM versus Ibuprofen on reducing pain in patients with upper back pain associated with myofascial trigger points. A randomized controlled trial with single blinded was taken at Lad Lum Keaw hospital. Sixty participants aged between 18-60 years who were diagnosed by medical doctor having myofascial trigger points of upper back muscles, enrolled in the study. They were randomly allocated in 2 groups, a massage group and a medication group. Participants in the massage group were demonstrated on self-massage using Wilai massage stickTM on upper back muscles. Then they were asked to spend a daily 10 minutes working on self-massage using the stick and followed by a 2-minute active stretching exercise for 5 days. Participants in the medication froup were prescribed to take Ibuprofen 3 tablets (400 mg/tablets) three times a day, and were given the same active stretching exercise program as that for the massage group. Pain intensity (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), tissue hardness, and cervical range of motion (CROM) were assessed at baseline, immediately after the first treatment session, and 5 days after the last treatment session. Results were shown that participants in the massage group had significant improvement in all parameters at all assessment time points (p<0.05). Similar changes were observed in the medication group (p<0.05) except for PTT and tissue hardness. The adjusted post-test mean values of each assessment time point was significantly better in the massage group than those of the medication group (p<0.05). We conclude that traditional Thai self-massage using Wilai massage stickTM provide better results than taking ibuprofen for the patients who have upper back pain associated with MTrPs. It could be an altetnative treatment for this patient population