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NCT Number: NCT01233180

Effects of Gua Sha and Thermotherapy on Chronic Neck Pain

Gua Sha massage is a traditional chinese medical treatment. It is mostly used in the treatment of the common cold and pain syndromes. Gua Sha involves pressuring the skin by a round-edged instrument until small petechiae appear. This so called "sha", considered as the removal of blood stasis by traditional practitioners, will fade within a few days. Normally, this treatment is not considered as painful, but as relaxing and easing tense muscles.

In this study, the investigators will investigate the effectivity of Gua Sha massage in treating chronic neck pain. The investigators will research effects on subjective pain intensity, neck pain specific disability and haptic perception.

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Body Temperature Changes Heat Stress Disorders Hyperthermia Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Department for Internal and Integrative Medicine

Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45276, Germany

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Chronic mechanical neck pain, at least 40 mm on a 100mm visual analog scale.
  • Pain for at least 3 months.

Exclusion criteria

  • radicular symptoms
  • congenital spine deformity
  • pregnancy
  • rheumatic diseases
  • oncologic diseases
  • other severe psychiatric or somatic comorbidity
  • recent invasive or surgical treatment of the spine
  • participation in other studies
  • skin diseases in the area to be treated

Treatment and study plan

Gua sha

Other

Single Gua Sha treatment of the neck and shoulder region

Thermotherapy

Device

Single use of a mud heat pad on the neck and shoulder region

Primary outcomes

  1. Neck pain intensity (100mm visual analog scale)

    Time frame: Day 4

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neck disability index (NDI)

    Time frame: Day 4

    The Neck Disability Index is an instrument to assess neck pain complaints.

    Reference: Vernon H, Mior S. The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1991;14:409-415.

  2. Haptic perception

    Time frame: Day 4

    The design consists of two angle legs, of which one angle leg has to be readjusted to a given angle adjustment. This is done by haptic perception without visual feedback. The deviation of the adjusted angle from the locked angle is measured.

    Reference: Grunwald, M., Ettich, C., Busse, F., Assmann, B., Dähne, A., Gertz, H.-J., (2002): Angle paradigm: A new method to measure right parietal dysfunctions in anorexia nervosa. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology , 17, pp. 485- 496

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universität Duisburg-Essen

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Gua Sha Massage and Thermotherapy for Chronic Neck Pain: Effects on Pain Intensity, Haptic Perception and Body Image.

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
Nov 3, 2010
Registry last updated
Feb 23, 2011

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.

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