Deep Tissue Massage and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Low Back Pain: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Table 2

Basic characteristics of the groups.

	Treatment group (𝑁=28)		Control group (𝑁=26)		Significance of difference
Age	52.6±7.4		50.8±8.2		NS 𝑃=0.40
Gender	Male 𝑛=15		Male 𝑛=13		NS 𝑃=0.79
	Female 𝑛=13		Female 𝑛=13
Duration of pain (weeks)	10.8±2.4		11.9±3.9		NS 𝑃=0.22
Deep tissue massage applied	All		All		NA
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs applied	None		All		NA
Number of DTM procedures	10		10		NA
Comparison of the groups based on classification of low-back disorders according to the Quebec Task Force on spinal disorders
	Treatment group (𝑁=28)		Control group (𝑁=26)		Significance of difference
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
(1) Pain without radiation	28	100	26	100	𝑃—NS for all comparisons between the treatment group and the control group
(2) Pain with radiation to lower limb proximally	3	12	4	15
(3) Pain with radiation to lower limb distally	0	0	0	0
(4) Pain with radiation to lower limb and neurological signs	0	0	0	0
(5) Presumptive compression of a spinal nerve root on a simple radiogram, that is, spinal instability or fracture	0	0	0	0
(6) Compression of a spinal nerve root confirmed by specific imaging techniques (computerized tomography, myelography, or magnetic resonance imaging) other diagnostic techniques, for example, electromyography and venography	0	0	0	0
(7) Spinal stenosis	4	14	2	8
(8) Postsurgical status, 1–6 weeks after intervention	0	0	0	0
(9) Postsurgical status, >6 weeks after intervention; (9.1) Asymptomatic; (9.2) Symptomatic	0	0	0	0
(10) Chronic pain syndrome	28	100	26	100
(11) Other diagnoses	0	0	0	0

NA: nonapplicable.