Gua Sha Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT03333213 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 08-3594
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Chronic low back pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence of effectiveness for complementary and traditional therapies. Gua Sha is a traditional East Asian therapy traditionally used in the treatment of spinal pain. This study aimed to test the efficacy of Gua Sha therapy in patients with chronic low back pain A total of 50 patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to either two Gua Sha treatments (n=25) or a waitlist control group (n=25). Primary outcome measure was current pain intensity on a 100-mm visual analog scale; secondary outcome measures included back-related function (Oswestry Disability Index), movement-related pain (modified Pain on Movement Questionnaire), as well as pressure pain threshold, mechanical detection threshold, and vibration detection threshold.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain intensity

  100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0mm meaning 'no pain at all' to 100mm meaning 'the worst pain imaginable'

  12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Pain on movement

  12 weeks

• Functional disability

  12 weeks

• Pressure-pain threshold (PPT)

  12 weeks

• Mechanical detection threshold (MDT)

  12 weeks

• Vibration detection threshold (VDT)

  12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Gua Sha therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients' backs were first covered with Tumarol N Balsam. The study physician then applied a round-edged instrument (the inside smooth edged lip of a metal cap) to patients' skin in downward strokes. Patients were treated twice with a 7-day interval.

Other: Gua Sha

Waitlist control group

NO INTERVENTION

Treatments in the control group were not regulated but patients were asked to continue their self-directed medical care. They were offered the Gua Sha therapy once the trial was concluded.

Interventions

Gua Sha OTHER

Gua Sha therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• non-specific low back pain at least once weekly for at least the previous 3 months
• average back pain intensity hat least 40mm on a 100mm visual analog scale (VAS)

You may not qualify if:

• specific low back pain due to trauma, disc protrusion, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, or oncologic disease
• dystonia
• pregnancy
• invasive treatment of the spine or spinal surgery within the previous 4 weeks
• oral steroids or anticoagulants
• hemophilia or a skin condition in the area to be treated
• started a new treatment for low back pain within the previous month or planning to start a new treatment within the next month

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universität Duisburg-Essen: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Director

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 2, 2017
• First Posted: November 6, 2017
• Study Start: January 1, 2009
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2010
• Study Completion: December 1, 2010
• Last Updated: November 6, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share