Ayurvedic massage reduces chronic lower back pain

Researchers in Germany have found that Ayurvedic massage is an effective pain relief treatment for chronic low back pain. In the study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, they aimed to assess the effectiveness of Ayurvedic massage in nonspecific chronic low back pain by means of a randomized clinical trial.

• Ayurvedic massage and physical therapy have often been used to treat patients with chronic pain syndromes and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
• For the study, the team enrolled 64 participants who were, on average, 54.8 years old.
• All participants suffered from chronic low back pain.
• The study period lasted for four weeks, which consisted of a two-week intervention phase followed by a two-week follow-up phase.
• They were randomly assigned to a two-week massage group with six hours of Ayurvedic massage and external treatment or to a two-week local thermal therapy group.
• The researchers assessed the outcomes at baseline and after two and four weeks.
• The results showed that the participants who received six hours of Ayurvedic massage and external treatment for two weeks experienced greater reductions in back pain compared to those in the two-week local thermal therapy group at the second week.
• The Ayurvedic massage also improved pain-related bothersomeness and psychological well-being, but not function or disability.
• Both programs were deemed safe and well-tolerated.

Based on the findings of the study, the researchers concluded that Ayurvedic massage is a safe and effective treatment for relieving low back pain in chronic low back pain patients.

To read more studies on natural treatments for low back pain, visit BackPain.news.

Journal Reference:

Kumar S, Rampp T, Kessler C, Jeitler M, Dobos GJ, Lüdtke R, Meier L, Michalsen A. EFFECTIVENESS OF AYURVEDIC MASSAGE (SAHACHARADI TAILA) IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1 February 2017; 23(2): 109-115. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2015.0272