Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT03534739

Pain Modulatory Profiles in Massage for Individuals With Neck Pain

One in ten adults experience widespread pain. Neck pain, for example, is a prevalent condition with a high rate of recurrence that affects between 10.4% and 21.3% of the population annually.

Massage is a common manual therapy intervention for individuals with musculoskeletal pain. However, the mechanisms of massage are not well established. Also, the conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm is a dynamic quantitative sensory testing measure of a pain inhibitory process in which pain sensitivity is lessened in response to a remotely applied painful stimulus.

This study will evaluate the association between pain inducing massage and the conditioned pain modulation paradigm in participants with a history of neck pain.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Pain Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neck Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UF Health

Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States

About this study

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is the physical manifestation of the diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC), an endogenous pain inhibitory pathway in which pain inhibits pain. Conditioned pain modulation is less efficient in individuals with chronic pain conditions and it is a predictor for the development of chronic pain.

Massage is a common manual therapy intervention for individuals with musculoskeletal pain. Greater changes in pain sensitivity occur following pain inducing massage suggesting a mechanism dependent upon the efficiency of the conditioned pain modulation response. Previous research has indicated pain inducing massage is more effective than pain free massage suggesting a mechanism dependent upon conditioned pain modulation.

The study team will evaluate the association between pain inducing massage and the conditioned pain modulation paradigm. Participants with neck pain will be randomly assigned to receive a pain inducing massage, pain free massage, or a coldpressor task. Pre-and post intervention pain will be assessed. The study team will determine if analgesia induced by pain inducing massage is similar to the conditioned pain modulation paradigm and if baseline conditioned pain modulation predicts responders to pain inducing massage and short term clinical outcomes in patients with a history of neck pain.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • currently experiencing neck pain with or without arm pain
  • neck pain symptom intensity rated as 4/10 or higher during the last 24 hours
  • neck pain for greater than or equal to 3 months

Exclusion criteria

  • non-English speaking
  • systemic medical conditions known to affect sensation (e.g. diabetes, hypertension)
  • history of neck surgery or fracture within the past 6 months
  • current history of chronic pain condition other than neck pain
  • diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy or cervical myelopathy
  • history of whiplash; g) currently using blood thinning medication
  • any blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia
  • any contraindication to application of ice, such as: uncontrolled hypertension, cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, and circulatory compromise.

Treatment and study plan

Pain Inducing Massage

Other

Participants will receive 60 seconds of manual pressure applied to one myofascial trigger point so the participant rates the pain = 5/10 on a scale from 0 to 10. This will be followed by 30 seconds of complete pressure release. This will occur 4 times.

Light Touch Massage

Other

Participants will receive 60 seconds of light touch applied to one myofascial trigger point so the participant rates the pain = 0/10 on a scale from 0 to 10. This will be followed by 30 seconds of complete pressure release. This will occur 4 times.

Coldpressor

Other

Participants will place their non-dominant hand into water cooled by a refrigeration unit 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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in Pressure Pain Threshold

    Time frame: 2 hours

    Pressure in kilograms at which ascending pressure stimulus first changes from pressure to painful

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in Thermal Pain Threshold and Tolerance

    Time frame: 2 hours

    Temperature at which ascending thermal stimulus first changes from warm to painful and maximum temperature tolerated

  2. Change from baseline in Pressure Pain Tolerance

    Time frame: 2 hours

    Pressure in kilograms at which ascending pressure is no longer tolerated

  3. Change from baseline in Ramp and Hold

    Time frame: 2 hours

    Participants will rate their pain using a 101 point mechanical visual analog scale to thermal stimuli of 45, 47, 49, and 50 degree Celsius each of 5 seconds duration will be applied to the forearm and to the muscle on the side of the neck

  4. Change from baseline in Temporal Summation

    Time frame: 2 hours

    Participants will rate their pain using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale to a train of 10 50 degree Celsius heat pulses will be applied to the skin in the plantar surface of the hand.

  5. Change from baseline in Conditioned Pain Modulation

    Time frame: 2 hours

    Pressure in kilograms at which ascending pressure stimulus applied to the foot first changes from pressure to painful both prior to and immediately following immersion of the opposite hand in a cold water bath

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Florida

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
May 23, 2018
Registry last updated
Jul 7, 2022

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.