53 Participants Needed

Massage for Neck Pain

JB
Overseen ByJoel Bialosky, PT, PhD
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Florida
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Approved in 3 JurisdictionsThis treatment is already approved in other countries

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are currently using blood thinning medication.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for neck pain?

Research shows that therapeutic massage can be more beneficial than self-care for chronic neck pain, and it helps improve the range of motion and muscle relaxation. Additionally, massage has been shown to be effective in reducing neck pain and improving quality of life in various studies.12345

Is massage therapy generally safe for neck pain?

Massage therapy is generally considered safe, but there are some risks, especially with spinal manipulation, which can lead to serious issues like disc herniation and spinal cord injury. However, these adverse events are rare.26789

How does massage treatment for neck pain differ from other treatments?

Massage for neck pain is unique because it involves hands-on manipulation of muscles to relieve pain and improve relaxation, unlike other treatments that may rely on medication or physical devices. It is a popular complementary therapy, but its effectiveness can vary based on the frequency and duration of sessions, which are still being studied to determine the optimal 'dose' for best results.12101112

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study is interested in whether baseline measures of pain sensitivity i.e. the amount of pressure required to feel pain predicts pain relief following a pain inducing massage AND whether pain relief following a pain inducing massage is different than a pain free massage or placing your hand in a cold water bath. Participants with neck pain will be randomly assigned to receive a pain inducing massage, pain free massage, or to place their hand in a cold water bath.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 18 to 60 who have been experiencing neck pain for at least three months, with a pain intensity of at least 4 out of 10 in the last day. It's not suitable for those with arm pain or other conditions that might affect their response to massage.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had neck pain for 3 months or more.
I am currently experiencing neck pain, with or without arm pain.
My neck pain has been 4 out of 10 or worse in the last day.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had a whiplash injury in the past.
Pregnancy
I have a blood clotting disorder like hemophilia.
See 6 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants are randomly assigned to receive a pain inducing massage, pain free massage, or place their hand in a cold water bath

1 day
1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for pain relief and sensitivity immediately following the intervention

Immediate

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Massage
Trial Overview The study aims to see if how much pressure causes someone pain can predict relief from a painful massage and compares this relief to that from a non-painful massage or placing one's hand in cold water. Participants are randomly assigned to one of these three interventions.
Participant Groups
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Pain Inducing MassageExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will receive 60 seconds of manual pressure applied to one point in their neck followed by 30 seconds of complete pressure release 4 times for a total contact time of 240 seconds. Pressure will be applied such that the participant rates the pain = 5/10 on an 11-point numeric pain rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the most severe pain imaginable.
Group II: Cold Water BathActive Control1 Intervention
Participants will place their non-dominant hand into water cooled by a refrigeration unit (NESLAB RTE 7 Digital One, Thermo Scientific Co., Massachusetts, USA) that circulates water continuously to maintain a constant temperature of 6 degrees Celsius (males) or 8 degrees Celsius (females). The participant will place his or her hand in the cooled water for 60 seconds followed by a 30 second break in which the participant will remove his or her hand from the water. This will occur 4 times for a total immersion time of 240 seconds.
Group III: Pain Free MassageActive Control1 Intervention
Participants will receive 60 seconds of manual pressure applied to one point in their neck followed by 30 seconds of complete pressure release 4 times for a total contact time of 240 seconds. Pressure will be applied such that the participant rates the pain = 0/10 on an 11-point numeric pain rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the most severe pain imaginable.

Massage is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

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Approved in United States as Massage Therapy for:
  • Chronic neck pain
  • Muscle soreness
  • Stress relief
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Approved in European Union as Massage Therapy for:
  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Musculoskeletal disorders
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Approved in Canada as Massage Therapy for:
  • Chronic pain management
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Wellness

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,428
Recruited
987,000+

Findings from Research

In a study of 64 patients with chronic neck pain, those receiving therapeutic massage showed significantly greater improvements in neck function and symptom bothersomeness compared to those using a self-care book, particularly at the 10-week mark.
The results indicate that therapeutic massage is a safe treatment option for chronic neck pain, with benefits observed in the short term, although these effects may diminish over time, suggesting the need for further research with larger sample sizes.
Randomized trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain.Sherman, KJ., Cherkin, DC., Hawkes, RJ., et al.[2022]
In a study involving 45 women with chronic neck pain, connective tissue massage (CTM) showed significant improvements in muscle relaxation response as measured by electromyography biofeedback (EMG-BF), indicating its effectiveness for muscle relaxation.
Classic massage (CM) was effective in increasing the pressure pain threshold in the sternocleidomastoid muscle, suggesting it can help reduce pain in individuals with chronic neck pain.
Short term effects of classic massage compared to connective tissue massage on pressure pain threshold and muscle relaxation response in women with chronic neck pain: a preliminary study.Bakar, Y., Sertel, M., OztΓΌrk, A., et al.[2014]
Therapeutic massage significantly improves the range of motion in patients with neck pain, particularly in flexion and lateral bending, as shown in a study of 60 patients aged 37-82 years.
While both therapeutic massage and standard rehabilitation (kinesiotherapy and physiotherapy) led to pain reduction and improved function, the addition of massage provided specific benefits in flexibility, indicating it can be an effective complementary treatment.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic massage in patients with neck pain.Topolska, M., Chrzan, S., SapuΕ‚a, R., et al.[2012]

References

Randomized trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain. [2022]
Short term effects of classic massage compared to connective tissue massage on pressure pain threshold and muscle relaxation response in women with chronic neck pain: a preliminary study. [2014]
Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic massage in patients with neck pain. [2012]
Experimental integrative muscular movement technique enhances cervical range of motion in patients with chronic neck pain: a pilot study. [2015]
Therapist-Delivered Versus Care Ally-Assisted Massage for Veterans With Chronic Neck Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]
The effects of massage in patients with chronic tension headache. [2019]
Adverse events associated with paediatric massage therapy: a systematic review. [2022]
Adverse events of massage therapy in pain-related conditions: a systematic review. [2022]
Cervical cord injury after massage. [2016]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Acute cervical radiculopathy after anterior scalene muscle massage: A case report. [2023]
11.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Western Massage Therapies in the Management of Neck Pain: A Systematic Review. [2023]
Dosing study of massage for chronic neck pain: protocol for the dose response evaluation and analysis of massage [DREAM] trial. [2021]
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