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Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2Department of Health Sciences Applied to the Locomotor Apparatus, 3Department of Surgery and Anatomy
Faculty of Medicine of Ribeiro Preto, University of So Paulo, Ribeiro Preto/SP, Brazil
Question: Does massage relieve pain in the active phase of labour? Design: Randomised trial with concealed allocation,
assessor blinding for some outcomes, and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants: 46 women pregnant at * 37 weeks
gestation with a single fetus, with spontaneous onset of labour, 45 cm of cervical dilation, intact ovular membranes, and
no use of medication after admission to hospital. Intervention: Experimental group participants received a 30-min lumbar
massage by a physiotherapist during the active phase of labour. A physiotherapist attended control group participants
for the same period but only answered questions. Both groups received routine perinatal care. Outcome measures:
The primary outcome was pain severity measured on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes included
the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, pain location, and time to analgesic medication use. After labour, a blinded
researcher also recorded duration of labour, route of delivery, neonatal outcomes, and the participants satisfaction with the
physiotherapist during labour. Results: At the end of the intervention, pain severity was 52 mm (SD 20) in the experimental
group and 72 mm (SD 15) in control group, which was signicantly different with a mean difference of 20 mm (95% CI 10
to 31). The groups did not differ signicantly on the other pain-related outcome measures. Obstetric outcomes were also
similar between the groups except the duration of labour, which was 6.8 hr (SD 1.6) in the experimental group and 5.7 hr
(SD 1.5) in the control group, mean difference 1.1 hr (95% CI 0.2 to 2.0). Patients in both groups were satised with the
care provided by the physiotherapist. Conclusion: Massage reduced the severity of pain in labour, despite not changing
its characteristics and location. 5SJBMSFHJTUSBUJPO: NCT01392053. <(BMMP3#4
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Journal of Physiotherapyo>
Key words: Randomised controlled trial, Labor pain, Massage, Parturition, Obstetric labor
Introduction
Various techniques have been proposed to relieve labour
pain including massage therapy, which, in addition to
promoting pain relief, provides physical contact with the
parturient, potentiating the effect of relaxation and reducing
emotional stress (Kimber et al 2008, Field 2010, Simkin
and Bolding 2004). Several theories have been proposed
to explain the mechanism by which massage might relieve
pain, such as a reduction in cortisol and norepinephrine
levels (Chang et al 2002, Field 2010, Nabb et al 2006), an
increase in serotonin levels (Field 1998), the stimulation of
endorphin release and of the circulation with a consequent
increased oxygen supply for the tissues, and the facilitation
of toxin excretion through the lymphatic system (Zwelling
et al 2006). In addition, Melzack and Wall (1965) proposed
a mechanism whereby the noxious stimuli evoked by lesions
are regulated in the spinal cord by nerve cells that act as
gates, preventing or facilitating the passage of impulses to
the brain.
Some studies have demonstrated the efcacy of massage
during labour. In the USA, Field et al (1997) observed that
a group of women who received massages during labour
presented a less depressed mood, lower levels of pain, stress
and anxiety, and more positive facial expressions. Chang et
al (2002) conducted another study on massage throughout
the active phase of labour and detected a gradual increase
in pain and anxiety in the control and experimental
Journal of Physiotherapy 2013 Vol. 59 Australian Physiotherapy Association 2013 Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
109
Research
Method
Design
This was a randomised trial with concealed allocation,
assessor blinding of some outcomes, and intention-totreat analysis. After meeting the eligibility criteria for the
study, participants were randomly allocated by the primary
researcher to an experimental group or a control group
according to a computer-generated random allocation list.
During the period of 45 cm of cervical dilation with uterine
contractions, participants in the experimental group received
massage for 30 min by the primary researcher. A secondary
researcher remained blinded to group allocations and was
never present while the experimental or control procedures
were performed by the primary researcher. The secondary
researcher recorded each participants responses regarding
the pain severity, location, and characteristics immediately
before and immediately after the intervention. Blinding
was maintained by the secondary researcher leaving the
room after assessing the pain-related outcomes at baseline,
and returning to reassess the same outcomes after the
intervention. After labour and before hospital discharge, the
secondary researcher collected the data regarding obstetric
and neonatal outcomes, and also recorded the opinion of the
participants regarding the presence of the physiotherapist
during the study period.
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Participants were recruited from the women admitted to
the Reference Center of Womens Health of Ribeiro PretoMATER, state of So Paulo, Brazil, between September
2009 and May 2010. This is a 40-bed unit that serves a mean
of 3600 patients per year in Brazils public health system.
The inclusion criteria were: primigravida, a single fetus
in cephalic position, low-risk pregnancy, at least 37 weeks
of gestation, the spontaneous onset of labour, cervical
dilation of 45 cm with appropriate uterine dynamics for
this phase, no use of medication from admission to hospital
until randomisation, the absence of cognitive or psychiatric
problems, intact ovular membranes, literacy, and with
no associated risk factors. The main exclusion criterion
was the presence of dermatologic conditions that would
110
Journal of Physiotherapy 2013 Vol. 59 Australian Physiotherapy Association 2013 Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Excluded (n = 203)
t multiparous (n = 97)
t cervical dilation > 5 cm (n = 39)
t ruptured ovular membranes (n = 26)
t use of pain medication between
admission and randomisation (n = 31)
t uterine adynamia (n = 4)
t fetus pelvic position (n = 2)
t illiteracy (n = 4)
0 min
Lost to follow-up
(n = 0)
30 min
Post-partum
Experimental Group
t massage by
physiotherapist
between T10 and S4
t 30 min
t usual care
Control Group
t physiotherapist
present only to
answer questions
t 30 min
t usual care
Lost to follow-up
(n = 0)
(n = 23)
(n = 23)
Journal of Physiotherapy 2013 Vol. 59 Australian Physiotherapy Association 2013 Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
111
Research
Data analysis
To determine the required sample size, pilot testing was
carried out with 16 parturients to determine the standard
deviation of pain severity on the visual analogue scale.
We sought an effect on pain of about 13 mm on a visual
analogue scale. Using the standard deviation of 15 mm
from our pilot data, a signicance level of 5% and a test
power of 80%, we calculated that we needed a minimum
of 22 participants in each group. To allow for some loss to
follow-up, we recruited 46 participants.
Randomised
(n = 46)
Exp
(n = 23)
Con
(n = 23)
19 (3)
19 (4)
28 (4)
27 (3)
elementary school
8 (35%)
6 (26%)
high school
14 (61%)
17 (74%)
1 (4%)
0 (0%)
voluntary work
16 (70%)
17 (74%)
paid work
7 (30%)
6 (26%)
Education, n (%)
higher education
Occupation, n (%)
7 (30%)
7 (30%)
married
7 (30%)
3 (13%)
consensual union
9 (39%)
13 (57%)
Accompanied by a
family member, n (%)
23 (100%)
23 (100%)
Childbirth preparation
course, n (%)
7 (30%)
6 (26%)
'MPXPGQBSUJDJQBOUT
UIFSBQJTUTBOEDFOUSFT
through the study
The ow of participants through the trial is shown in Figure
1. In total, 249 parturients were screened and 203 were
excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria. Forty-six
participants were included in the study and were divided
into the experimental group (n = 23) or the control group
Results
8 (35%)
6 (26%)
DPOUSBDUJPOTNJO
13 (56%)
15 (65%)
DPOUSBDUJPOTNJO
2 (9%)
2 (9%)
5BCMF. Mean (SD) of groups, mean (SD) difference within groups, and mean (95% CI) difference between groups for pain
outcomes.
Groups
0 min
30 min
Difference within
groups
Difference between
groups
Exp
(n = 23)
Con
(n = 23)
Exp
(n = 23)
Con
(n = 23)
Exp
Con
69
(15)
69
(17)
52
(20)
72
(15)
17
(14)
3
(16)
20
(10 to 31)
6
(2)
3
(1)
9
(2)
6
(2)
2
(1)
8
(2)
6
(2)
2
(1)
8
(2)
6
(2)
2
(1)
8
(3)
0
(1)
1
(1)
1
(2)
0
(1)
0
(1)
0
(2)
0
(1 to 1)
0
(1 to 1)
0
(2 to 1)
16
(6)
7
(4)
23
(8)
3.6
(0.4)
15
(5)
6
(3)
21
(8)
3.4
(1.0)
13
(6)
5
(4)
18
(8)
2.7
(1.3)
15
(7)
6
(3)
21
(9)
3.3
(1.1)
3
(5)
2
(3)
5
(7)
0.9
(1.2)
0
(4)
0
(2)
1
(6)
0.2
(1.0)
3
(7 to 1)
1
(3 to 1)
3
(8 to 3)
0.6
(1.3 to 0.1)
Exp = experimental (massage) group, Con = control group, VAS = visual analogue scale, Shaded row = primary outcome
112
Journal of Physiotherapy 2013 Vol. 59 Australian Physiotherapy Association 2013 Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
5BCMFMean (SD) for each outcome in each group and mean difference (95 % CI) between groups for continuous
obstetric and neonatal outcomes.
Outcome
Groups
Exp
(n = 23)
Con
(n = 23)
6.8
(1.6)
2.6
(1.3)
3.30
(0.47)
49.6
(2.0)
34.5
(1.3)
33.2
(2.0)
5.7
(1.5)
1.9
(1.2)
3.17
(0.35)
49.3
(1.7)
34.5
(1.7)
33.1
(1.7)
1.1
(0.2 to 2.0)
0.7
(0.1 to 1.5)
0.13
(0.11 to 0.37)
0.4
(0.7 to 1.5)
0.0
(0.9 to 0.9)
0.1
(1.0 to 1.2)
Exp = experimental (massage) group, Con = control group, aOne participant did not use analgesic medication in each group.
Journal of Physiotherapy 2013 Vol. 59 Australian Physiotherapy Association 2013 Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
113
Research
5BCMF. Number of participants (%) for each outcome in each group and relative risk (95% CI) between
groups for dichotomous obstetric and neonatal outcomes.
Outcome
Groups
Relative risk
(95% CI)
Exp
(n = 23)
Con
(n = 23)
18 (78)
10 (43)
Lateral decubitus
4 (17)
1 (4)
Dorsal decubitus
Sitting and dorsal decubitus
0 (0)
1 (4)
9 (39)
1 (4)
0 (0)
0 (0)
1 (4)
1 (4)
1.8
(1.1 to 3.0)
4.0
(0.5 to 33.1)
1.0
(0.1 to 15.0)
Caesarean delivery
6 (26)
4 (17)
Vaginal delivery
17 (74)
19 (83)
21 (91)
20 (87)
23 (100)
23 (100)
1.5
(0.5 to 4.6)
0.9
(0.7 to 1.2)
Discussion
Labour pain is progressive, with rapid alterations of its
location and an increase in severity with advancing dilation
and intensity of uterine contractions (Melzack et al 1981). In
the rst stage of labour, pain is located in the lower portion
of the abdomen and radiates to the lumbar area, increasing
with the intensity of uterine contractions (Mamede et al
2007, Sabatino et al 1996). In the present study, we observed
that during the active phase of labour, the pain was located
mainly in the lumbar and suprapubic regions, in agreement
with these reports.
Massage during the active phase of labour signicantly
reduced pain reported on the 100 mm visual analogue scale,
with a mean effect of 20 mm, which exceeded the minimum
clinically important difference of 13 mm. Although the
lower limit of the 95% CI was slightly below the minimum
clinically important difference, clinically worthwhile mean
estimates have been obtained by other authors in this area,
such as Chang et al (2002) who observed a reduction of 16
mm for the massage group compared to the control group
in the presence of 35 cm of cervical dilation (p < 0.05).
Taghinejad et al (2010) also detected a substantial reduction
in labour pain (p = 0.001) in participants receiving massage
compared to a music therapy group. Therefore our study
adds support to the notion that the effect of massage on pain
may be clinically worthwhile.
On the McGill Pain Questionnaire, we observed that the
words pricking, cramping, aching and lacerating most
commonly characterised the sensory aspect of labour pain,
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Journal of Physiotherapy 2013 Vol. 59 Australian Physiotherapy Association 2013 Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
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