Is there any research showing that a simple massage chair could replace manual therapists?
Turns out, some researchers in Korea had the same question back in 2020.
They decided to compare massage chairs to physio treatment for patients with chronic lower back pain.
56 participants were enrolled to receive either physiotherapy or mechanical massage using the massage chair.
We took a Research Quest to uncover the truth.
Let’s dive in.
Kim SK, Min A, Jeon C, Kim T, Cho S, Lee SC, Lee CK. Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of massage chair therapy versus basic physiotherapy in lower back pain patients: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Mar;99(12):e19514. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019514. PMID: 32195952; PMCID: PMC7220115.
