OBJECTIVE: To investigate acute effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) on brain electrical activity (electroencephalogram (EEG) signals), anxiety and pain in patients with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS). DESIGN: A single-blind, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: The School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. INTERVENTION: Forty patients, who were diagnosed with SCS, were randomly allocated to receive a 30-min session of either TTM or physical therapy (PT) using ultrasound therapy and hot packs. OUTCOMES: Electroencephalogram (EEG), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and pain intensity rating. RESULTS: Results showed that both TTM and PT were associated with significant decreases in anxiety and pain intensity (p < 0.01). However, there was a significantly greater reduction in anxiety and pain intensity for the TTM group when compared with the PT group. Analysis of EEG in the TTM group showed a significant increase in relaxation, manifested as an increase in delta activity (p < 0.05) and a decrease in theta, alpha and beta activity (p < 0.01). Similar changes were not found in the PT group. The EEG measures were also significantly different when compared between the groups (p < 0.01), except for delta activity (p = 0.051), indicating lower states of arousal with the TTM treatment. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that TTM provides acute neural effects that increase relaxation and decrease anxiety and pain intensity in patients with SCS.

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