Effectiveness and safety of Tuina massage therapy for paediatric fever: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Abstract
Objective: To systematically analyse the efficacy and safety of Tuina massage therapy for paediatric fever.
Methods and results: A search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, and it retrieved relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) up to November 2023. Fifteen trials (1,661 pediatric patients) were included, focusing on Tuina massage and tepid water massage. Studies were excluded due to: duplicate data, irrelevant types, incomplete outcomes and use of other interventions. The Cochrane RoB tool was employed to assess methodological quality, and the GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. The review was registered with the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY), registration number INPLASY202270041, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Massage treatment (120 min) showed a non-significant difference (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.68; 95% CI: - 0.31-1.67) compared with antipyretic medication. However, combining antipyretic medication and massage significantly reduced fever (SMD: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.50-1.30). Subgroup analysis indicated traditional Chinese Tuina massage significantly reduced pediatric fever (relative risk [RR]: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26-0.65).
Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that traditional Chinese Tuina may be a promising adjunctive therapy for pediatric fever. Careful…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,661 participants or records.
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