Use of a Spinal Thermal Massage Device for Anti-oxidative Function and Pain Alleviation

Abstract

Background: Elderly people are vulnerable to a variety of diseases, including chronic pain, which reduces their levels of physical fitness. Thermal massage has been shown to relieve pain and activate antioxidant enzymes. The objective of this study was to determine whether thermal massaging of the spinal column can reduce muscle pain and induce antioxidant function. Methods: This study included participants aged ≥60 years with lower back pain. The participants were assigned to either an experimental group who received spinal column thermal massage and standard rehabilitative treatment or a control group who received standard rehabilitative treatment only. Data from a total of 116 participants (61 and 55 in the control and experimental groups, respectively) were used for analysis. Participants were assessed before treatment and at 4 (POST1) and 8 weeks (POST2) post-treatment, using a pain numeric rating scale (PNRS) and the Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and by measuring the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum glutathione-peroxidase (GPx), and serum catalase (CAT). Results: The extent of pain reduction, as measured by the PNRS, was greater in the experimental group. The RMDQ score in the control group decreased at POST1, but the decrease was not maintained at POST2, whereas the decrease in POST1 in the experimental group continued until POST2. SOD concentrations were significantly higher in the experimental group at POST1 and POST2, and GPx levels were significantly higher in the experimental group at POST2; however, there were no changes in CAT concentrations. Incidentally, there was a significant correlation between antioxidant activity and pain perception in the experimental group. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that spinal column thermal massage reduces pain more effectively, improves self-reported levels of disability, and increases the antioxidant enzyme levels. Thermal massage may, therefore, be useful in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with oxidation.

Computational modeling of deep tissue heating by an automatic thermal massage bed: predicting the effects on circulation

“…Moreover, our findings suggest that blood flow can be increased four-fold at depths of 2-3 cm, corresponding to the lumbar musculature. These findings are consistent with clinical observations performed with the same thermo-mechanical massage bed (4–6, 12).…”

“…The basis of this finding is that blood flow increases quickly and saturates at in situ temperature gradients of approximately 3° (7). Specifically, our FEM model predicts that such temperature increases are attainable at depths of 2 to 3 cm with actuator temperatures between 55° and 65°, values that overlap with those tested in earlier studies (5, 6). Thus, despite the exponential decay of temperature with depth (Figure 2), there is a sufficient gradient produced at the depths occupied by muscle tissue (1.5 - 5.5 cm) to modulate blood flow to the muscles of the lumbar region, which represent a common target of therapeutic massage beds.…”

“…Medical devices that provide thermal stimulation are becoming increasingly sophisticated. For example, automatic thermal-mechanical massage beds are equipped with multiaxis traction and far-infrared thermal projectors (4–6). Such devices allow in-home, self-managed treatment that may potentially leverage the numerous degrees of freedom governing the stimulation “dose”.…”

Computational modeling of posteroanterior lumbar traction by an automated massage bed: predicting intervertebral disc stresses and deformation

“…It is further shown that the mechanical traction delivered by this system is effective in a broad range of BMI subjects, and it is directly proportional to the set traction level of the therapy. In addition, tensile stresses produced by this device in the disc tissue can explain clinical observations using the same automatic message devices modeled here on immune status [6], autonomic function [10], inflammation[50, 51], pain [6-9, 52, 53], intervertebral space changes [37], and activate antioxidant enzymes [7].…”

“…These approaches may be followed by complementary techniques such as acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), physical therapy, spinal manipulation/mobilization, spinal injections, spinal traction and surgery. Mechanical based approaches are generally used for therapeutic purposes including management of pain [6][7][8][9], relaxation / autonomic health [10], enhancing local circulation [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], and recovery from fatigue [11,16,[18][19][20].…”