DIY help for text or tech neck

In clinic I find neck pain is really common and while I see results, its always interesting to see what the latest research has to say.

While earlier research focused on pain relief, more recent research has included patient-centered outcomes as well. This randomized controlled study compared the effectiveness of three active therapies: deep tissue massage, supervised strengthening and stretching exercises, and a combined therapy consisting of exercise followed by massage, with advice to stay active as a control group.

Participants were allocated to massage (n = 145), exercise (n = 160), combined therapy (n = 169) or advice (n = 147). Treatment duration was six weeks, and the number of visits was limited to six for massage, exercise and combined therapy, and three for the advice group.

The results show that massage alone or with exercises was more effective in the short term than advice to reach a clinically meaningful improvement in pain intensity, and that massage and exercise alone were more effective in the mid-term.

Massage, exercise or a combination of both may encourage these kinds of reframing based on mechanisms beyond the immediate effects of deep tissue manipulation. The sense of empathy and care provision offered by massage therapy may increase patient satisfaction, reduce anxiety and distress, and facilitate a sense of self-efficacy.

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    References J Holt-Lunstad, T B Smith, J B Layton (2010) Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review, Plos Medicine NK Steffens, T Cruwys, C Haslam, J Jetten, S A Haslam Social group memberships in retirement are associated with reduced risk of premature death: evidence from a longitudinal cohort study, BMJ Open Volume 6 Issue 2 D Reed, D McGee, K Yano, M Feinleib (1983) Social Networks and coronary heart disease among Japanese men in Hawaii, American Journal of Epidemiology 117(4) 384-96
    DC Classen, SL Pestotnik, JF Lloyd, JP Burke (1997) Adverse drug events in hospitalised patients.  Excess length of stay, extra costs and attributable mortality JAMA   Jan 22-29;277(4):301-6.
    F Tabassum, J Mohan, P Smith (2016) Association of volunteering with mental well-being: a lifecourse analysis of a national population-based longitudinal study in the UK BMJ Open 6(8)
    A Moe, O Hellzen, K Ekker, I Enmarker (2013) Inner strength in relation to perceived physical and mental health among the oldest old people with chronic illness Aging Mental Health 17(2):189-96.
    M P Aranda (2008) Relationship between religious involvement and psychological well-being: a social justice perspective Health and Social Work 33 (1): 9 - 21
    M Tarrant, K Warmoth, C Code, S Dean, V A Goodwin, K Stein, T Sugavanam (2016) Creating psyhcological connections between intervention recipients: development and focus group evaluation of a group singing session for people with aphasia BMJ Open 2016; 6(2)

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