{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T10:50:16Z","timestamp":1782384616600,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,20]],"date-time":"2026-06-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781913600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Bioengineering"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Lower back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent, and while non-pharmacological treatments exist such as heat or massage, they are rarely combined in a convenient manner. We examined the impact of two different heated massage protocols delivered from an automotive seat on LBP within typical commute times. Seventeen adults (eight females) with chronic, non-specific LBP (~6\/10 initial back pain) evaluated a heated effleurage or heated tapotement massage\u2014in a randomized order\u2014applied to the lower back, upper thighs, and gluteal region while seated. Each visit included a 20 min control followed by a 20 min heated massage (30 min rest between), with thermal and subjective measurements assessed throughout. Before and after each 20 min session, viscoelastic properties of participants\u2019 lower back muscles were assessed with a myotonometer. Heated massage increased skin temperature, thermal sensation and comfort vs. control (p \u2264 0.039). Both heated massage conditions reduced LBP at 10- and 20 min and reduced subjective tightness at 20 min (p \u2264 0.023). Tapotement produced an earlier reduction in tightness at 10 min and had a greater reduction than effleurage at 20 min (p \u2264 0.026). Increased tissue elasticity was observed in the heated tapotement condition (p \u2264 0.031). Seat-based heated massage offers a convenient method to alleviate LBP, potentially from changes to posterior chain tissue properties.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bioengineering13060708","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T08:14:12Z","timestamp":1782375252000},"page":"708","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Impact of a Heated Effleurage and Heated Tapotement Massage on Low-Back Discomfort from a Seat"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4582-2713","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matt M.","family":"Mallette","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Integrative Human Research Lab, Gentherm, 38455 Hills Tech Dr., Farmington Hills, MI 48331, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-8510-5399","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nathaniel","family":"Gur-Arie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Integrative Human Research Lab, Gentherm, 38455 Hills Tech Dr., Farmington Hills, MI 48331, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Malak","family":"Almonjed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Integrative Human Research Lab, Gentherm, 38455 Hills Tech Dr., Farmington Hills, MI 48331, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicola","family":"Gerrett","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Integrative Human Research Lab, Gentherm, 38455 Hills Tech Dr., Farmington Hills, MI 48331, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e316","DOI":"10.1016\/S2665-9913(23)00098-X","article-title":"Global, Regional, and National Burden of Low Back Pain, 1990\u20132020, Its Attributable Risk Factors, and Projections to 2050: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021","volume":"5","author":"Ferreira","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet Rheumatol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1732","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMcp2032396","article-title":"Nonspecific Low Back Pain","volume":"386","author":"Chiarotto","year":"2022","journal-title":"N. 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