The massage is a technique recommended as therapeutic additive in the decrease of the pain of the lumbago and in postoperative. It is vital that massage therapy develop an evidence base for its practice, it is to achieve credibility as a healthcare profession. Our randomized and controlled prospective trial has compared the evolution of pain intensity during 3 days PO between control group A and massage group B after low back surgery. Fourteen patients mean age 55.5 years, n = 7 group A (mobilisation of legs during 15 min) and n = 7 group B (massage of legs during 15 min). The data for pain intensity, well-being and anxiety have been measured with a visual analog scale. There were no significant differences in the rates of pain intensity decrease between both of the groups. Decrease of pain intensity was significative in group B from 2nd (p = 0.01) and 3rd day (p = 0.007). The anxiety has decreased in the group A (p = 0.04) and no differences according to the well-being. Massage is an adjuvant therapy, which can be efficiently used in the decrease of low back pain intensity from the 2nd PO day after a low back surgery. Level of evidence -- level IV.

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