Abstract
Stiff neck and shoulder (Katakori) is a health problem with the largest loss of Japanese labor productivity. This study examined the effectiveness of “anma massage shiatsu therapy by Health-keeper,” for this problem.
Perticipants with “Katakori” and perceived decreased labor productivity were randomly assigned to either the active intervention group (receiving intervention at least once a week), the usual intervention group (receiving intervention at the participant’s convenience), or a no-treatment control group. The intervention was the anma-acupressure therapy of about 20 minutes per time, and health-keepers with the license of the anma/massage/shiatsu were carried out. The primary endpoint was the change in the amount of labor productivity loss due to “Katakori” before and after the 3-month follow-up period.
The amount of change in labor productivity loss was -3,065 yen in the usual intervention group (n=9) and -33,565 yen in the active intervention group (n=13), compared to +36,170 yen in the control group (n=10).
These results indicate that instructing office workers who are aware of the loss of labor productivity due to stiff shoulders to receive anma shiatsu therapy with health-keepers for about 20 minutes per session at least once a week may significantly reduce the amount of labor productivity loss compared to the untreated control.
