Low back pain is one of the most common causes of job related disability, but now research is showing regular massages may help the pain. (Source: CNN)(CNN) - Low back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability, and one of the leading causes of missed work, according to the National Institutes of Health.
In fact, back pain is the second most common neurological complaint in the U.S., behind headaches.
A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine says that massage may be an effective treatment for chronic low back pain.
Researchers looked at 400 adults who had low back pain for at least three months with no identified cause. They divided the group into three: people who received traditional medical care without massage; those who got a relaxation or Swedish massage; and those who had a structural massage that targets tissues and joint structures.
Those in the massage groups received one hour of massage a week for 10 weeks.
At the end of the study, both massage groups reported less pain and more mobility than the group who received traditional treatment care.
At 26 weeks, massage participants showed improved function compared to the others, but after a year, the benefits were questionable.
The authors said more study is needed to better understand the beneficial effects of massage on low back pain.
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