Effectiveness of Soft Tissue Massage for Nonspecific Shoulder Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial

Figures

Figure 1.

CONSORT flow diagram of the progress of participants through the trial. STM=soft tissue massage.

Figure 2.

Mean scores (SD) during the trial. HBB=hand behind back, ROM=range of motion, SPADI=Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, VAS=visual analog scale.

Table 1.

Characteristics of Participants at Entry Into the Trial^{^a}

↵^a STM=soft tissue massage, IQR=interquartile range, VAS=visual analog scale, SPADI=Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, ROM=range of motion, HBB=hand behind back, PSIS=posterior superior iliac spine.
^b P<.05.

Table 2.

Outcomes for Both Groups During the Trial^{^a}

↵^a STM=soft tissue massage, CI=confidence interval, VAS=visual analog scale, SPADI=Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, HBB=hand behind back.
^b A positive value indicated a difference between groups from the baseline assessment to 12 weeks after the cessation of treatment in favor of the group receiving STM and exercise.
^c A decrease during the trial indicated improvement.
^d Significant at α=.05.
^e An increase during the trial indicated improvement.

Table 3.

Proportions of Participants for Whom the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) Threshold Was Met^{^a}

Table 4.

Reported Percentage Improvement in Pain (PIP) Score and Self-Reported Adherence to Exercise Program at 12 Weeks After Cessation of Treatment

^a As determined with the t test for between-group differences, the P value was .61 (not significant).
^b As determined with the Mann-Whitney U test for between-group differences, the P value was .068 (not significant).