Riassunto dello studio

Sixty office workers with chronic neck and shoulder pain were randomized to receive either standard physical therapy (n=29) or physical therapy plus a 20-minute session using the massage chair BFM-M8040 (n=31). The primary outcomes were changes in pain intensity (numerical rating scale) and neck disability index. Secondary outcomes included pressure pain threshold, range of motion, occupational stress, quality of life, and adverse events. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, mid-point, and at 6 weeks. Overall, the results of the study revealed that the experimental group had significantly greater reductions in pain and improvements in pressure pain thresholds and certain range-of-motion measures compared to controls. The findings suggest that supplementing physical therapy with massage chair use can provide short-term benefits for neck and shoulder pain among office workers.