Longer Massage Therapy Treatments
As a part of a series on lengths of massage therapy treatments, we have analyzed longer 60-minute massage therapy treatments to compare the results. We have many Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) who excel at manual therapy to reduce pain, improve movement, relieve muscle tension, and more. This RMT analysis was done in order to contrast the results based off of shorter 30-minute treatment outcomes with different variables for painPRO Burnaby Metrotown’s RMTs in April 2019. In addition to this analysis, further clinical research on massage therapy treatments will be done at other locations within painPRO.
General Treatment Outcomes and Areas of Concern
From outcome-based charting, roughly 51% of the patients that received a 60-minute massage therapy treatment were reported as “better” or a reduction in symptoms, while 49% were either the same, worse or not reported. This was a decrease in percentage in comparison to the 30-minute treatment outcomes, which had roughly a 74% status as “better” or reduction in symptoms. The middle back (thoracic) areas were the main concern at 47% during long treatment, followed by the full body regions due to the available time at 38%.
The least treated areas of concern were mainly the limbs, including leg, hip, and arm, at 8%, 5%, and 5%, respectively. These areas followed a similar pattern in comparison to shorter 30-minute treatment outcomes, except the full-body area of concern was introduced for 60-minute treatments.
Manual Modalities and Homecare
The hands-on modalities were very similar to the short treatment outcomes. While there is some overlap between the specific modalities, most of the treatment outcomes centred around: general Swedish massage, trigger point release, fascial work, and muscle compressions. General Swedish massage was used in all treatments, while trigger point release was used 69% of the time. Fascial work and muscle compressions were used 44% and 25%, respectively. These modalities tend to change depending on the type of injury that the patient is dealing with, in addition to the own practitioner’s style during long treatment sessions.
With regards to homecare, heat and cold education were prescribed the most at 55%, followed by stretching and mobility at a similar 51%. This was more level than the shorter treatment outcomes, in which practitioners focused on prescribing stretching and mobility at a greater 71%, and less heat and cold education.
Summarizing Both Long and Short Treatment Outcomes
Ultimately, longer 60-minute massage therapy treatments did not show a greater reported outcome of “better” or reduction in symptoms. In fact, it was lower than the short 30-minute treatments in the same clinic by more than 20%. Some reasons could be that 30 minute short treatments have a higher percentage for better outcomes due to the practitioner working on concentrated areas of pain.
Patients that proceed with 60-minute treatments may look for overall relaxation or full bodywork, in which their pain levels and tension levels were well tolerated, to begin with. Knowing how to manage self-care and how to plan appointments is a large part of patient recovery and success, in which our practitioners at painPRO take great pride in.
For more information on painPRO Burnaby Metrotown, take a look at https://painproclinics.com/locations/burnaby-metrotown/.
For more specific information on Registered Massage Therapy, take a look at https://painproclinics.com/our-services/registered-massage-therapy/.
