There was a comparative study done during a 10-month period between Ausgust 2003
and May 2004. The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of
Traditional Thai Massage (TTM) among patients with back pain associated with
myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Swedish Massage (SM) was selected as the
treatment for the comparison group. One hundred-eighty (180) patients were
randomly allocated, aged 21-50 years, to receive either TTM or SM for six (6)
sessions during a 3-4 week period, with follow-up one (1) month later.

Results indicated that pain intensity, assesed using the visual analog scale
(VAS), among patients in both groups was reduced by more than half after three
(3) weeks of treatment and for up to one (1) month afterwards with no
significant difference in VAS between the groups. Similar improvements were
found for the most other outcome measures.

They conclude that TTM and SM are effective in reducing back pain among patients
with MTrPs. They therefore suggest that massage therapy, and in particular Thai
Massage, be considered as an alternative primary health care treatment for this
disorder.



* Taken from the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2005), page 298-309



Lyn has studied Traditional Thai Massage and uses that technique in many of her
treatment sessions snice learning Thai Massage in March 2002. She continually
strives to improve her massage techniques by traveling to attend seminars and
workshops since graduating from massage school in 1999.