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Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of massage chair therapy versus basic physiotherapy in lower back pain patients: a randomized controlled trial
Kim S-K, Min A, Jeon C, Kim T, Cho S, Lee S-C, Lee C-K
Medicine 2020 Mar;99(12):e19514
clinical trial
6/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain is a chronic recurrent symptom, which can lower the patient's quality of life. With technological development of automated home massage systems, now offers a promising alternative to physiotherapy. However, thus far, the effectiveness of such methods has not been evaluated. We aimed to compare the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a massage chair with those of conventional physiotherapy for the treatment. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial with a two-group parallel design. Following randomization and allocation, 56 participants were enrolled to receive either physiotherapy (n = 25) or mechanical massage using the massage chair (n = 31). Pain severity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and satisfaction assessed with the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Quality of life modification was analyzed using the Functional Rating Index (FRI). Cost-effectiveness was analyzed by comparing the sum of physiotherapy fees and monthly rental fees for chair massage. RESULTS: Physiotherapy and massage chair were both effective for pain control as assessed with the VAS (p < 0.001), satisfaction as assessed by MPQ (p < 0.001) and life quality improvement as assessed by FRI (p < 0.001) in both groups. Both VAS and FRI scores were significantly higher for physiotherapy than for massage chair (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively). There was no significant difference in MPQ between the two groups. Massage chair therapy was more cost-effective than physiotherapy, at only 60.17% of the physiotherapy cost (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The home massage chair system was cost-effective, but pain control and disability improved more with physiotherapy. However, our results showed that the massage chair is a promising treatment for pain control and quality of life modification, but efficacy is still superior in physiotherapy and the chair is not a replacement for physiotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0003157. Retrospectively registered August 2, 2018.

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