Comparison of Deep Tissue Massage and Therapeutic Massage for Lower Back Pain, Disease Activity, and Functional Capacity of Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Pilot Study
Table 3
Mean score differences over time according to group allocation using intention to treat analysis.
DTM group deep tissue massage mean (95% CI)
TM group therapeutic massage mean (95% CI)
The difference in change between the groups mean (95% CI)
Effect size
Both groups
Change in DTM group
Change in TM group
BASDAI [NRS]
−1.21 (−1.82 to −0.61)
−0.68 (−0.84 to −0.53)
−0.53 (−1.14 to 0.08)
0.69
0.021
BASFI [NRS]
−0.50 (−0.88 to −0,12)
−0.35 (−0.49 to −0.20)
−0.15 (−0.56 to 0.26)
0.31
0.896
CE [cm]
0.32 (0.11 to 0.54)
0.31 (0.08 to 0.54)
0.01 (−0.29 to 0.31)
0.03
0.915
MS [cm]
0.57 (0.47 to 0.68)
0.50 (0.25 to 0.75)
0.07 (−0.16 to 0.30)
0.22
0.328
FTF [cm]
−2.57 (−3.11 to −2.03)
−2.19 (−2.53 to −1.85)
−0.38 (−0.99 to 0.24)
0.49
0.222
PAIN [VAS]
−35.21 (−45.19 to −25.23)
−15.23 (−22.20 to −8.25)
−19.98 (−31.74 to −8.23)
1.36
0.003
BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; CE: chest expansion; MS: Modified Schober; FTF: Finger to Floor; PAIN: intensity of lower back pain; NRS: numerical rating scale; VAS: Visual Analog Scale; values for differences in the changed score between the baseline and the posttherapy data between the DTM and the TM groups.