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NCT Number: NCT06224829

Response to Massage in Neck Pain

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.

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Key information

Conditions

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

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Joel E Bialosky, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

352-273-8636

Joel E Bialosky, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 to 60 years old
  • 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)
  • 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
  • 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
  • Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

Pain Inducing Massage

Procedure

60 seconds of direct pressure to the neck resulting in 5/10 pain . This will be repeated four times for a total of 240 seconds

Pain Free Massage

Procedure

60 seconds of direct pressure to the neck resulting in 0/10 pain . This will be repeated four times for a total of 240 seconds

Cold Water Bath

Procedure

Participants will place their hand in a cold water bath maintained at 6 to 8 degrees Celsius for 60 seconds. This will be repeated four times for a total of 240 seconds.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pressure Pain Threshold

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately following the intervention

    Pressure applied to the web space of the foot with a digital pressure algometer applied at 1 kg/s. Participants will be instructed to indicate when the sensation first changes from pressure to pain (pain threshold)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale Resting Pain

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately following intervention

    Participants will rate their "current" neck pain on a 0 to 100 scale with 0= no pain and 100= the most intense pain imaginable

  2. Numeric Pain Rating Scale Movement Evoked Pain

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately following intervention

    Participants will rate their neck pain on a 0 to 100 scale with 0= no pain and 100= the most intense pain imaginable during active cervical spine range of motion. The average rating across all motions (flexion, extension, left and right sidebend, left and right rotation) will be used in the analysis.

Study contacts

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

Joel Bialosky, PT, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

352-733-1162

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Florida

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Characterizing Responses to Massage in Individuals With Neck Pain

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 25, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 24, 2025

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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