Mechanisms of Massage

NCT04108403 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB201902417
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators have previously found moderately painful massage produces comparable changes in pain sensitivity as a conditioned pain modulation paradigm in healthy participants suggesting shared underlying mechanisms. The researchers aim to extend these findings by understanding the influence of expectation on these findings.

Conditions

Healthy; Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pressure Pain Threshold

  A computerized pressure algometer with a 1cm diameter rubber tip will be applied to the web space of the non-dominant foot. Participants are instructed to say "stop" so the stimulus can be terminated when the sensation first transitions from pressure to pain (threshold).

  1 hour

Study Arms (4)

Pain Inducing Massage and Positive Expectation Instructions

EXPERIMENTAL

A myofascial trigger point will be assessed in the trapezius muscle and massage applied to this area of the neck. Participants in this arm will receive a positive expectation instructional set followed by a moderately painful massage (pain = 50/100). Massage will be applied for one minute, four times with assessment of pressure pain threshold at the foot between each interval.

Other: Pain Inducing Massage; Other: Positive Expectation Instructional Set

Pain Inducing Massage and Negative Expectation Instructions

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

A myofascial trigger point will be assessed in the trapezius muscle and massage applied to this area of the neck. Participants in this arm will receive a negative expectation instructional set followed by a moderately painful massage (pain = 50/100). Massage will be applied for one minute, four times with assessment of pressure pain threshold at the foot between each interval.

Other: Pain Inducing Massage; Other: Negative Expectation Instructional Set

Pain Free Massage and Positive Expectation Instructions

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

A myofascial trigger point will be assessed in the trapezius muscle and massage applied to this area of the neck. Participants in this arm will receive a positive expectation instructional set followed by a pain free massage (pain = 0/100). Massage will be applied for one minute, four times with assessment of pressure pain threshold at the foot between each interval.

Other: Pain Free Massage; Other: Positive Expectation Instructional Set

Pain Free Massage and Negative Expectation Instructions

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

A myofascial trigger point will be assessed in the trapezius muscle and massage applied to this area of the neck. Participants in this arm will receive a negative expectation instructional set followed by a pain free massage (pain = 0/100). Massage will be applied for one minute, four times with assessment of pressure pain threshold at the foot between each interval.

Other: Pain Free Massage; Other: Negative Expectation Instructional Set

Interventions

Pain Inducing Massage OTHER

A pain inducing massage (pain intensity = 50/100) will be applied for 60 seconds, 4 times.

Pain Inducing Massage and Negative Expectation Instructions; Pain Inducing Massage and Positive Expectation Instructions

Pain Free Massage OTHER

A pain free massage (pain intensity = 0/100) will be applied for 60 seconds, 4 times.

Pain Free Massage and Negative Expectation Instructions; Pain Free Massage and Positive Expectation Instructions

Positive Expectation Instructional Set OTHER

Participants will be instructed that the massage is effective for some people with neck pain.

Pain Free Massage and Positive Expectation Instructions; Pain Inducing Massage and Positive Expectation Instructions

Negative Expectation Instructional Set OTHER

Participants will be instructed that the massage is ineffective for some people with neck pain.

Pain Free Massage and Negative Expectation Instructions; Pain Inducing Massage and Negative Expectation Instructions

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Pain Free

You may not qualify if:

• non-English speaking
• systemic medical condition known to affect sensation (i.e. diabetes)
• regular use of prescription pain medication to manage pain
• current or history of chronic pain condition
• currently using blood thinning medication
• any blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Florida: lead

Study Sites (1)

UF Health

Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Wilson AT, Bishop MD, Beneciuk JM, Tilley HE, Riley JL 3rd, Cruz-Almeida Y, Bialosky JE. Expectations affect pain sensitivity changes during massage. J Man Manip Ther. 2023 Apr;31(2):84-92. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2022.2118449. Epub 2022 Sep 7.

  PMID: 36069038 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Joel Bialosky, PT, PhD

  University of Florida

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants will be masked to the type of instructional set received during the intervention. However, participants will be notified of this upon completion of the study.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2019
• First Posted: September 30, 2019
• Study Start: October 31, 2019
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2021
• Study Completion: December 15, 2021
• Last Updated: September 16, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)