Clinical and Electromyographic Effect of Tui-Na Massage Versus Positional Release on Postpartum Neck Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Aliaa M Elabd, Yara N Marwan, Omar M Elabd et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effects of Tui-Na massage versus positional release techniques on postpartum neck pain in 60 women. Both interventions, when combined with postural correction exercises, significantly reduced pain intensity measured by the Visual Analogue Scale. Tui-Na showed superior outcomes compared to positional release, particularly in upper trapezius electromyographic characteristics.
Key findings
- Pain intensity significantly reduced in both Tui-Na and positional release groups compared to control (p=0.035 and p=0.003, respectively).
- Upper trapezius median frequency significantly increased in the Tui-Na group compared to both control and positional release groups (p<0.001 and p=0.02).
- Significant multivariate effects were observed for group effects (F=4.798, p<0.001) and time (F=851.51, p<0.001).
Why it matters
Postpartum neck pain is common and can significantly impact quality of life. This study suggests that incorporating manual therapy techniques like Tui-Na may enhance recovery outcomes, providing clinicians with additional treatment options for managing this condition.
What to keep in mind
The study had a short intervention period and lacked long-term follow-up.