Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07456657

Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy Massage on Pain and Wrist Mobility in Rheumatoid Arthritis

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to standard care or standard care alone. Pain intensity and wrist mobility will be measured before and after the intervention period. The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of complementary therapies in reducing pain and improving joint function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Arthritis Arthritis, Rheumatoid Autoimmune Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Immune System Diseases Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Rheumatic Diseases Signs and Symptoms Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

20 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, particularly affecting small joints such as the wrist. Despite pharmacological treatments, many patients continue to experience persistent pain and functional limitations.

Lavender aromatherapy massage is considered a complementary therapy that may help reduce pain and improve circulation and joint flexibility through both mechanical stimulation and the therapeutic properties of lavender essential oil.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group receiving lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to routine medical care, and a control group receiving routine medical care only.

Pain intensity will be assessed using a standardized pain scale, and wrist joint mobility will be measured using appropriate clinical assessment tools before and after the intervention period.

The results of this study may contribute to evidence-based practice by determining whether lavender aromatherapy massage can be recommended as a safe and effective complementary intervention for managing pain and improving joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 20 to 60 years
  • Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis meeting the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria
  • Seropositive for Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
  • Stable dosage of RA medications (NSAIDs, csDMARDs, bDMARDs) for at least 3 months prior to enrollment with commitment to maintain the regimen

Exclusion criteria

  • Acute joint inflammation or infection in the hands or upper back during screening
  • Recent surgery (within 6 months) affecting hands or upper back
  • Dermal lesions, open wounds, infections, or significant vascular pathology at treatment sites
  • Serious comorbidities (uncontrolled diabetes, renal failure, cancer, severe cardiac/respiratory disease, coagulopathies, anticoagulant use)
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Previous lavender aromatherapy massage within 6 months
  • Documented hypersensitivity to lavender aromatherapy massage

Treatment and study plan

Lavender Aromatherapy Massage

Other

Massage therapy using lavender essential oil applied to the wrist according to the study protocol.

Inert Almond Oil Massage

Other

Massage using inert almond oil without lavender essential oil, applied with the same duration and procedure as the experimental group.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Intensity

    Time frame: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).

    Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Wrist Joint Mobility

    Time frame: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).

    Wrist joint mobility will be assessed using a goniometer.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ethar Haider Fadhil, PhD Candidate

CONTACT

[email protected]

+9647810626779

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Baghdad

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy Massage on Pain Intensity and Wrist Joint Mobility in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: LAM-RA

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 6, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.