Tissue Stiffness is Not Related to Pain Experience: An Individually Controlled Study in Patients with Chronic Neck and Back Pain.

Background: Massage therapies such as cupping are often applied in patients with chronic neck and back pain with the assumption that they can reduce increased tissue stiffness and, therefore, improve pain. The aim of this study was to clarify whether tissue stiffness is related to pain experience in patients with chronic (>3 months) back and neck pain and whether it can be altered by a cupping massage.

Methods: The tissue stiffness of the point of subjectively felt maximum pain intensity of 40 patients with neck ( = 20) or lower back pain ( = 20) was measured by a myometer.