The Evidence for Massage Therapy: A Summary of Current Research (Winter 2025)
/Current Massage Therapy Research Landscape - There has been a steady increase in the quality and quantity of massage therapy research over the last century, with significant growth occurring since 2005.
The Evidence for Massage Therapy: A Summary of Current Research
With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive study of massage therapy research, I'm committed to creating resources that foster the professional development of massage therapists globally. The following list highlights a substantial body of evidence supporting the use of massage therapy in alleviating pain and enhancing quality of life across a range of health issues, including but not limited to:
Chronic Pain (Busse et al., 2017; Dowell et al., 2022)
Low Back Pain (Cashin et al., 2025; Chou et al., 2017; Qaseem et al., 2017)
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (Bussières et al., 2021)
Neck Pain (Gong et al., 2025; Reynolds et al., 2025; Xie et al., 2025)
Headache Disorders (Jung et al., 2024; Reynolds et al., 2025)
Cervical-Related Dizziness (Carrasco-Uribarren et al., 2025)
Temporomandibular Disorders (Arribas-Pascual et al., 2023; Busse et al., 2023)
Orofacial Pain (Pelai et al., 2025)
Shoulder Pain (Desmeules et al., 2025)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Chen et al., 2025; Zhang et al., 2025)
Lateral Elbow Pain (Lucado et al., 2022)
Arthritis (Nelson et al., 2017)
Hip Pain (Koc et al., 2025)
Groin and Adductor Injuries (de Castro Fernandes et al., 2025)
Knee Pain (Neal et al., 2024; Zhu et al., 2024)
Post-operative Knee Management (Aftab et al., 2025; Sahni et al., 2025)
Plantar Heel Pain (Fraser et al., 2018; Koc et al., 2023)
Achilles Tendinopathy (Chimenti et al., 2024; Ko et al., 2023)
Ankle Injuries (Hu et al., 2025; Ruiz-Sánchez et al., 2022; Yang et al., 2025)
Surgical Pain Population (Dowell et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2022)
Symptom Burden of Critically Ill Adults (Thrane et al., 2019)
Cancer-Related Fatigue (Long et al., 2024)
Cancer-Related Pain (Mao et al., 2022)
Postoperative Pain and Anxiety in Patients with Breast Cancer (Cole et al., 2024; Mansilla et al., 2025)
Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (Ye & Abdi, 2025)
Fibromyalgia (Kundakci et al., 2022)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (England et al., 2023)
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Wiecha et al., 2025)
Constipation (Torres-Sánchez et al., 2025)
Insomnia and Sleep (Yu et al., 2025; Zhang et al., 2025)
Newborn Health (Valori et al., 2025)
Postpartum Maternal Sleep (Nguyen et al., 2025)
Endometriosis-Associated Pelvic Pain (Can et al., 2025)
Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain (Wang et al., 2025)
Pain Management in Labor (Smith et al., 2018)
Antenatal Anxiety and Depression (Hall et al., 2020; Smith et al., 2019; Wu et al., 2025)
Postburn Scar (healing, pruritus, pain) (Barnes et al., 2024; Sinha et al., 2024; Yang et al., 2025)
Palliative Care (Armstrong et al., 2019; Mao et al., 2022)
Anxiety in Long-Term Care (Atchison et al., 2022)
Reducing Symptoms of Depression in People with Dementia (Watt et al., 2021)
Dementia (behavioral & psychological symptoms) (Leng et al., 2020; Margenfeld et al., 2019; Watt et al., 2019)
Parkinson's Disease (motor and non-motor symptoms) (Angelopoulou et al., 2020; Kang et al., 2022; Qureshi et al., 2021)
Multiple Sclerosis (Heidari et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2022)
Motor Difficulties in Neurodivergent Individuals (Short et al., 2025)
Depending on the person’s needs and goals massage therapists are able to incorporate a number of rehabilitation strategies based on patient-specific assessment findings.
References and Sources
Angelopoulou, E., Anagnostouli, M., Chrousos, G. P., & Bougea, A. (2020). Massage therapy as a complementary treatment for Parkinson's disease: A Systematic Literature Review. Complementary therapies in medicine, 49, 102340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102340
Aftab, S., Ali, H. N., Saeed, B., Sarwar, S., Dawood, M. H., & Pervez, M. (2025). Early Physiotherapy for Post-Total Knee Arthroplasty Recovery: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Quality of Life, Pain, and Range of Motion Outcomes. Musculoskeletal care, 23(3), e70158. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.70158
Armstrong, M., Flemming, K., Kupeli, N., Stone, P., Wilkinson, S., & Candy, B. (2019). Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs. Palliative medicine, 33(7), 757–769. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216319846440
Arribas-Pascual, M., Hernández-Hernández, S., Jiménez-Arranz, C., Grande-Alonso, M., Angulo-Díaz-Parreño, S., La Touche, R., & Paris-Alemany, A. (2023). Effects of Physiotherapy on Pain and Mouth Opening in Temporomandibular Disorders: An Umbrella and Mapping Systematic Review with Meta-Meta-Analysis. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(3), 788. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12030788
Atchison, K., Watt, J. A., Ewert, D., Toohey, A. M., Ismail, Z., & Goodarzi, Z. (2022). Non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments for anxiety in long-term care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age and ageing, 51(9), afac195. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac195
Barnes, S. P., Ma, Y., Patel, B., & Muthayya, P. (2024). Efficacy of Massage Techniques for Hypertrophic Burn Scars - A Systematic Review of Literature. Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association, 45(2), 356–365. https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/irad140
Brignardello-Petersen, R., Carrasco-Labra, A., & Guyatt, G. H. (2021). How to Interpret and Use a Clinical Practice Guideline or Recommendation: Users' Guides to the Medical Literature. JAMA, 326(15), 1516–1523. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.15319
Busse, J. W., Craigie, S., Juurlink, D. N., Buckley, D. N., Wang, L., Couban, R. J., ... Guyatt, G. H. (2017). Guideline for opioid therapy and chronic noncancer pain. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 189(18), E659–E666. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.170363
Busse, J. W., Casassus, R., Carrasco-Labra, A., Durham, J., Mock, D., Zakrzewska, J. M., Palmer, C., Samer, C. F., Coen, M., Guevremont, B., Hoppe, T., Guyatt, G. H., Crandon, H. N., Yao, L., Sadeghirad, B., Vandvik, P. O., Siemieniuk, R. A. C., Lytvyn, L., Hunskaar, B. S., & Agoritsas, T. (2023). Management of chronic pain associated with temporomandibular disorders: a clinical practice guideline. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 383, e076227. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-076227
Bussières, A., Cancelliere, C., Ammendolia, C., Comer, C. M., Zoubi, F. A., Châtillon, C. E., Chernish, G., Cox, J. M., Gliedt, J. A., Haskett, D., Jensen, R. K., Marchand, A. A., Tomkins-Lane, C., O'Shaughnessy, J., Passmore, S., Schneider, M. J., Shipka, P., Stewart, G., Stuber, K., Yee, A., … Ornelas, J. (2021). Non-Surgical Interventions for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Leading To Neurogenic Claudication: A Clinical Practice Guideline. The journal of pain, 22(9), 1015–1039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2021.03.147
Can, G., Amorim das Virgens, I. P., Fehér, B., Orbán, E. P., Fehérvári, P., Bánhidy, F., Hegyi, P., Mayer, Á. A., & Ács, N. (2025). Physiotherapy for endometriosis-associated pelvic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), pnaf083. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaf083
Carrasco-Uribarren, A., Ceballos-Laita, L., Pérez-Guillén, S., Jiménez-Del-Barrio, S., Rodríguez-Rubio, P. R., Pantaleón-Hernández, D., & Cabanillas-Barea, S. (2025). Is manual therapy effective for cervical dizziness? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 26(1), 659. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08899-z
Cashin, A. G., Furlong, B. M., Kamper, S. J., De Carvalho, D., Machado, L. A., Davidson, S. R., Bursey, K. K., Abdel Shaheed, C., & Hall, A. M. (2025). Analgesic effects of non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomised trials. BMJ evidence-based medicine, bmjebm-2024-112974. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2024-112974
Chen, Y., Han, B., Zhang, X., Guo, C., Han, Q., Zhang, Z., & Hou, S. (2025). Conservative Treatments of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 106(9), 1447–1458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2025.04.002
Chimenti, R. L., Neville, C., Houck, J., Cuddeford, T., Carreira, D., & Martin, R. L. (2024). Achilles Pain, Stiffness, and Muscle Power Deficits: Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy Revision - 2024. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 54(12), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2024.0302
Chou, R., Deyo, R., Friedly, J., Skelly, A., Hashimoto, R., Weimer, M., Fu, R., Dana, T., Kraegel, P., Griffin, J., Grusing, S., & Brodt, E. D. (2017). Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline. Annals of internal medicine, 166(7), 493–505. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-2459
Cole, J. S., Olson, A. D., & Dupont-Versteegden, E. E. (2024). The Effects of Massage Therapy in Decreasing Pain and Anxiety in Post-Surgical Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Global advances in integrative medicine and health, 13, 27536130241245099. https://doi.org/10.1177/27536130241245099
de Castro Fernandes, J. V., Pedrinelli, A., & Rubio-Arias, J. Á. (2025). Comparative analysis of treatment strategies for groin injuries in athletes: Effects on successful recovery and recurrence of sports conditions–A systematic review. Apunts Sports Medicine, 60(227), 100481.
Desmeules, F., Roy, J. S., Lafrance, S., Charron, M., Dubé, M. O., Dupuis, F., Beneciuk, J. M., Grimes, J., Kim, H. M., Lamontagne, M., McCreesh, K., Shanley, E., Vukobrat, T., & Michener, L. A. (2025). Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy Diagnosis, Nonsurgical Medical Care, and Rehabilitation: A Clinical Practice Guideline. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 55(4), 235–274. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2025.13182
Dowell, D., Ragan, K. R., Jones, C. M., Baldwin, G. T., & Chou, R. (2022). CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain - United States, 2022. MMWR. Recommendations and reports : Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Recommendations and reports, 71(3), 1–95. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1
England, B. R., Smith, B. J., Baker, N. A., Barton, J. L., Oatis, C. A., Guyatt, G., Anandarajah, A., Carandang, K., Chan, K. K., Constien, D., Davidson, E., Dodge, C. V., Bemis-Dougherty, A., Everett, S., Fisher, N., Fraenkel, L., Goodman, S. M., Lewis, J., Menzies, V., Moreland, L. W., … Treadwell, J. R. (2023). 2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Exercise, Rehabilitation, Diet, and Additional Integrative Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis care & research, 75(8), 1603–1615. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25117
Faltinsen, E. G., Storebø, O. J., Jakobsen, J. C., Boesen, K., Lange, T., & Gluud, C. (2018). Network meta-analysis: the highest level of medical evidence?. BMJ evidence-based medicine, 23(2), 56–59. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2017-110887
Flowers, D. W., Swanson, B. T., Shaffer, S. M., Clewley, D., Martin, M. T., Russell, N. A., & Riley, S. P. (2025). Caution is necessary in interpreting musculoskeletal physiotherapy intervention outcomes: a methodological review of physiotherapy neuromusculoskeletal reviews. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 33(3), 236–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2025.2464548
Fraser, J. J., Corbett, R., Donner, C., & Hertel, J. (2018). Does manual therapy improve pain and function in patients with plantar fasciitis? A systematic review. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 26(2), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2017.1322736
Fundaun, J., Thomas, E. T., Schmid, A. B., & Baskozos, G. (2022). The power of integrating data: advancing pain research using meta-analysis. Pain reports, 7(6), e1038. https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001038
Gong, Z., Liu, W., Gao, Y., Chen, S., Feng, X., Li, J., Li, W., & Wu, X. (2025). Effectiveness of musculoskeletal manipulations in patients with neck pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ open, 15(10), e098682. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-098682
Grenier, J. P., & Thiel, A. (2025). Evaluating Manual Therapy in Musculoskeletal Pain: Why Certain Trial Designs May Overestimate Effectiveness-A Scoping Review. European journal of pain (London, England), 29(10), e70150. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70150
Guyatt, G., Cairns, J., Churchill, D., Cook, D., Haynes, B., Hirsh, J., ... & Sackett, D. (1992). Evidence-based medicine: a new approach to teaching the practice of medicine. JAMA, 268(17), 2420-2425. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1992.03490170092032
Hall, H. G., Cant, R., Munk, N., Carr, B., Tremayne, A., Weller, C., Fogarty, S., & Lauche, R. (2020). The effectiveness of massage for reducing pregnant women's anxiety and depression; systematic review and meta-analysis. Midwifery, 90, 102818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102818
Heidari, Z., Shahrbanian, S., & Chiu, C. (2022). Massage therapy as a complementary and alternative approach for people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review. Disability and rehabilitation, 44(20), 5758–5769. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1949051
Hu, D., Sun, H., Wang, S., Wang, H., Zheng, X., Tang, H., & Hou, H. (2025). Treatment and prevention of chronic ankle instability: An umbrella review of meta-analyses. Foot and ankle surgery : official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, 31(2), 111–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2024.07.010
Jung, A., Carvalho, G. F., Szikszay, T. M., Pawlowsky, V., Gabler, T., & Luedtke, K. (2024). Physical Therapist Interventions to Reduce Headache Intensity, Frequency, and Duration in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Physical therapy, 104(2), pzad154. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzad154
Kang, Z., Xing, H., Lin, Q., Meng, F., & Gong, L. (2022). Effectiveness of therapeutic massage for improving motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in neurology, 13, 915232. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.915232
Ko, V. M., Cao, M., Qiu, J., Fong, I. C., Fu, S. C., Yung, P. S., & Ling, S. K. (2023). Comparative short-term effectiveness of non-surgical treatments for insertional Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 24(1), 102. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-06170-x
Koc, T. A., Jr, Bise, C. G., Neville, C., Carreira, D., Martin, R. L., & McDonough, C. M. (2023). Heel Pain - Plantar Fasciitis: Revision 2023. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 53(12), CPG1–CPG39. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2023.0303
Koc, T. A., Jr, Cibulka, M., Enseki, K. R., Gentile, J. T., MacDonald, C. W., Kollmorgen, R. C., & Martin, R. L. (2025). Hip Pain and Mobility Deficits-Hip Osteoarthritis: Revision 2025. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 55(11), CPG1–CPG31. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2025.0301
Kundakci, B., Kaur, J., Goh, S. L., Hall, M., Doherty, M., Zhang, W., & Abhishek, A. (2022). Efficacy of nonpharmacological interventions for individual features of fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Pain, 163(8), 1432–1445. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002500
Leng, M., Zhao, Y., & Wang, Z. (2020). Comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions on agitation in people with dementia: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 102, 103489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103489
Liu, C., Chen, X., & Wu, S. (2022). The effect of massage therapy on pain after surgery: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Complementary therapies in medicine, 71, 102892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102892
Long, Y., Zhou, Z., Zhou, S., & Zhang, G. (2024). The effectiveness of different non-pharmacological therapies on cancer-related fatigue in cancer patients:A network meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 160, 104904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104904
Lucado, A. M., Day, J. M., Vincent, J. I., MacDermid, J. C., Fedorczyk, J., Grewal, R., & Martin, R. L. (2022). Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 52(12), CPG1–CPG111. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2022.0302
Mansilla, J. R., Díaz, A. S., Sánchez, B. G., Ramírez-Durán, M. D. V., Ardila, E. M. G., Sánchez, M. D. C. C., & Palomares, M. J. (2025). Effects of Massage Therapy in Breast Cancer Survivors with Mastectomy: Systematic Review. Cancers, 17(12), 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17122023
Mao, J. J., Ismaila, N., Bao, T., Barton, D., Ben-Arye, E., Garland, E. L., Greenlee, H., Leblanc, T., Lee, R. T., Lopez, A. M., Loprinzi, C., Lyman, G. H., MacLeod, J., Master, V. A., Ramchandran, K., Wagner, L. I., Walker, E. M., Bruner, D. W., Witt, C. M., & Bruera, E. (2022). Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 40(34), 3998–4024. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.01357
Margenfeld, F., Klocke, C., & Joos, S. (2019). Manual massage for persons living with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies, 96, 132–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.12.012
Neal, B. S., Lack, S. D., Bartholomew, C., & Morrissey, D. (2024). Best practice guide for patellofemoral pain based on synthesis of a systematic review, the patient voice and expert clinical reasoning. British journal of sports medicine, 58(24), 1486–1495. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108110
Nelson, N. L., & Churilla, J. R. (2017). Massage Therapy for Pain and Function in Patients With Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 96(9), 665–672. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000712
Nguyen, C. T. T., Chiu, H. Y., Lin-Lewry, M., Bei, B., Tsai, S. Y., & Kuo, S. Y. (2025). Comparative effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions on postpartum maternal sleep quality: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 21(11), 1957–1967. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.11814
Pelai, E. B., de Castro-Carletti, E. M., Tavares, L. F., Michelotti, A., Pitance, L., Rodrigues-Bigaton, D., Foltran-Meschollotto, F., Dennett, L., & Armijo-Olivo, S. (2025). Manual therapy and exercise targeted to the neck and orofacial regions for patients with orofacial pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disability and rehabilitation, 1–45. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2025.2539469
Qaseem, A., Wilt, T. J., McLean, R. M., Forciea, M. A., Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians, Denberg, T. D., Barry, M. J., Boyd, C., Chow, R. D., Fitterman, N., Harris, R. P., Humphrey, L. L., & Vijan, S. (2017). Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of internal medicine, 166(7), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-2367
Qureshi, A. R., Jamal, M. K., Rahman, E., Paul, D. A., Oghli, Y. S., Mulaffer, M. T., Qureshi, D., Danish, M. A., & Rana, A. Q. (2021). Non-pharmacological therapies for pain management in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review. Acta neurologica Scandinavica, 144(2), 115–131. https://doi.org/10.1111/ane.13435
Reynolds, B., McDevitt, A., Kelly, J., Mintken, P., & Clewley, D. (2025). Manual physical therapy for neck disorders: an umbrella review. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 33(1), 18–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2024.2425788
Riley, S. P., Flowers, D. W., Swanson, B. T., Shaffer, S. M., Cook, C. E., & Brismée, J. M. (2024). 'Trustworthy' systematic reviews can only result in meaningful conclusions if the quality of randomized clinical trials and the certainty of evidence improves: an update on the 'trustworthy' living systematic review project. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 32(4), 363–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2024.2377490
Ruiz-Sánchez, F. J., Ruiz-Muñoz, M., Martín-Martín, J., Coheña-Jimenez, M., Perez-Belloso, A. J., Pilar Romero-Galisteo, R., & Gónzalez-Sánchez, M. (2022). Management and treatment of ankle sprain according to clinical practice guidelines: A PRISMA systematic review. Medicine, 101(42), e31087. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000031087
Sackett, D. L., Rosenberg, W. M., Gray, J. A., Haynes, R. B., & Richardson, W. S. (1996). Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 312(7023), 71–72. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.312.7023.71
Sahni, S., Fares, J. E., & Jordan, H. (2025). Manual Therapy in Post-operative Knee Management: A Systematic Review of Effects on Pain in Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Patients. Cureus, 17(9), e92734. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.92734
Short, A. D., Chen, H., Hulks, V., & Scerif, G. (2025). Non-pharmacological interventions targeting motor difficulties in neurodivergent children: A systematic review. Neurodiversity, 3, 27546330241310175.
Sinha, S., Gabriel, V. A., Arora, R. K., Shin, W., Scott, J., Bharadia, S. K., Verly, M., Rahmani, W. M., Nickerson, D. A., Fraulin, F. O., Chatterjee, P., Ahuja, R. B., & Biernaskie, J. A. (2024). Interventions for postburn pruritus. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 6, CD013468. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013468.pub2
Smith, C. A., Levett, K. M., Collins, C. T., Dahlen, H. G., Ee, C. C., & Suganuma, M. (2018). Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3(3), CD009290. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009290.pub3
Smith, C. A., Shewamene, Z., Galbally, M., Schmied, V., & Dahlen, H. (2019). The effect of complementary medicines and therapies on maternal anxiety and depression in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of affective disorders, 245, 428–439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.054
Thrane, S. E., Hsieh, K., Donahue, P., Tan, A., Exline, M. C., & Balas, M. C. (2019). Could complementary health approaches improve the symptom experience and outcomes of critically ill adults? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complementary therapies in medicine, 47, 102166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2019.07.025
Torres-Sánchez, I., Ramírez-Zafra, A., Rueda-García, E., Cabrera-Martos, I., & Díaz-Mohedo, E. (2025). Effects of Manual Therapy on Patients with Functional Constipation: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, S0161-4754(25)00082-X. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2025.10.055
Valori, I., Merkel, J. L., Furlan, G., Grossmann, T., & Fairhurst, M. T. (2025). Touch facilitates newborns' self-regulation: Systematic review of multidimensional arousal outcomes. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 178, 106353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106353
Watt, J. A., Goodarzi, Z., Veroniki, A. A., Nincic, V., Khan, P. A., Ghassemi, M., ... Straus, S. E. (2019). Comparative Efficacy of Interventions for Aggressive and Agitated Behaviors in Dementia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Annals of internal medicine, 171(9), 633–642. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19-0993
Watt, J. A., Goodarzi, Z., Veroniki, A. A., Nincic, V., Khan, P. A., Ghassemi, M., Lai, Y., Treister, V., Thompson, Y., Schneider, R., Tricco, A. C., & Straus, S. E. (2021). Comparative efficacy of interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in people with dementia: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 372, n532. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n532
Wang, S., Zhang, H., Zhang, G., & Jin, L. (2025). Effectiveness of nonpharmacologic interventions on pregnancy-related low back pain: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine, 104(34), e43969. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000043969
Wiecha, S., Cieśliński, I., Wiśniowski, P., Cieśliński, M., Pawliczek, W., Posadzki, P., Prill, R., Zając, J., & Płaszewski, M. (2025). Physical Therapies for Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: An Umbrella and Mapping Systematic Review with Meta-meta-analysis. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 55(5), 1183–1212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02187-5
Wu, Y., Wang, H., Hui, X., Qian, Z., Wang, M., E, F., Xu, M., Zhou, L., Deng, X., Li, X., & Yang, K. (2025). Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for the prevention of antenatal depression: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 172, 106088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106088
Xie, J., Jin, M., Guo, J., Guo, H., Cai, X., & Wang, B. (2025). Comparative efficacy of exercise versus passive physical therapy in improving nonspecific neck pain: a multilevel network meta-analysis and dose-response analysis. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 25(11), 2357–2368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2025.07.006
Yang, X., Li, R., Mao, X., Gong, S., Fan, Y., Xu, C., Wen, Q., Xu, X., & Li, W. (2025). Non-surgical treatments for post-burn scars: A network meta-analysis. PloS one, 20(8), e0330428. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330428
Yang, Y. S., Lai, P. C., Liu, Z. W., Fang, C. J., Tu, Y. K., Chang, C. H., Huang, M. T., Wu, P. T., Su, W. R., Hong, C. K., Kuan, F. C., Hsu, K. L., Chang, C. W., Lin, C. J., & Shih, C. A. (2025). What Will Deliver the Best Bang-For-Your-Treatment-Buck? Treatment Effects of Physical Therapy Approaches to Managing Chronic Ankle Instability: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 55(1), 26–44. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2024.12601
Ye, A. L., & Abdi, S. (2025). Beyond p-values: a cross-sectional umbrella review of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy treatments. Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland), 6, 1564662. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2025.1564662
Yu, Y., Wang, H., Li, W., Guo, H., & Chen, Y. (2025). Non-pharmacological interventions for sleep in older adults: an umbrella review and evidence map of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in neurology, 16, 1655192. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2025.1655192
Zhang, J., Chen, J., Li, X., Yan, Z., Zhang, Q., Gao, P., & Tang, F. (2025). Effect of three traditional conservative treatment techniques on patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists, S0894-1130(25)00002-X. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2025.01.001
Zhang, Q. H., Liu, Y. J., Yang, G., Zhu, M. Y., Yang, J. H., Li, L., Yan, X. M., Liu, Q. L., Yue, J. H., Li, X. L., Li, Y. M., Xu, T. C., & Jiang, F. (2025). Efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological therapies for primary insomnia: a network meta-analysis. Frontiers in neurology, 16, 1607903. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2025.1607903
Zhang, T., Yan, H. X., An, Y., Yin, L., Sun, P. P., Zhao, J. N., & Yan, J. T. (2022). The Efficacy and Safety of Manual Therapy for Symptoms Associated with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of integrative and complementary medicine, 28(10), 780–790. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2021.0382
Zhu, B., Ba, H., Kong, L., Fu, Y., Ren, J., Zhu, Q., & Fang, M. (2024). The effects of manual therapy in pain and safety of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic reviews, 13(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02467-7
