Effectiveness of Self-massage with Langkasuka Oil for Treating Neck and Shoulder Pain in Patients with Office Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Neck and shoulder muscle pain in patients with office syndrome affects their work efficiency. This research aimed to explore the effects of self-massage with Langkasuka oil to treat neck and shoulder pain in patients with office syndrome. The results will provide an treatment option for patients with office syndrome.

 Methods: A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 60 patients aged 18–45 years with neck and shoulder pain due to office syndrome in the Thai traditional medicine clinic at Khok Pho Hospital. The participants were assigned either to the intervention group with Langkasuka oil massage or the control group that received massage with a placebo (oil without herb). Both groups received 60 mL of oil to massage the neck and shoulder muscles once a day for 7 consecutive days. The muscle pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale and the degrees of neck movement in six directions were measured. Satisfaction and adverse reactions were also assessed. A comparison of treatment results between groups was undertaken with an independent sample t-test with statistical significance at p < 0.05.

Results: The levels of pain and the degrees of neck movement before and after self-massage in the intervention group and the control group for relieving neck and shoulder pain were significantly different (p < 0.001). The average pain levels in the experimental group dropped from 6.33 + 1.26 before treatment to 2.70 + 0.79 after treatment, while those in the control group before and after treatment were 5.90 + 1.26 and 3.83 + 1.20, respectively, resulting in the average pain level difference in the experimental group of 2.09 + 1.59. In sum, the average pain level of the intervention group improved significantly more than that in the control group (p < 0.001), and the degrees of neck movement in all six positions increased significantly (p < 0.05). Overall satisfaction in both groups was at a high level. However, adverse reactions were found in one person in the experimental group who had dizziness, while in the control group one person had red skin and another one had itchy skin.

Discussion: Self-massage with Lankasuka oil could significantly reduce pain levels and increase the degrees of movement of the neck in six directions (p < 0.001) because self-massage was not too forceful. The massage could reduce muscle tightness, make the clients feel comfortable and increase relaxation. With the use of oil containing herbal ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties, the massage effectiveness was enhanced.

Conclusion and recommendation: Self-massage with Langkasuka oil can relieve neck and shoulder pain in patients with office syndrome. However, the oil should be further developed so that it can be absorbed quickly into the skin, the oil color does not stain clothes, and it has a good smell and can be used conveniently.