Deep Tissue Massage in the Myofascial Pain Syndrome

NCT04904367 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2018/306
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effect of deep tissue massage (DTM) on myofascial trigger point (MTrP) number, neck range of motion (ROM), pain, disability and quality of life in patients with Myofacial pain syndrome (MPS).

Conditions

Massage Therapy; Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Keywords

Myofascial pain syndrome; Neck disability; Pain; Quality of life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Change from baseline in neck pain on the 10-point Visual Analog Scale(VAS) at 4 week

  The severity of neck pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) consists of scores from 0 to 10 in a horizontal line of 10 cm. Patients are asked to mark a place on the scale according to the pain they feel. Increased VAS scores indicate increased pain.

  Baseline and 4 week

• Change from baseline in quality of life on the 36-point Short-Form 36(SF-36) at 4 week

  Short form-36 (SF-36) was used to determine the quality of life. SF-36, which has a generic scale feature and provides wide angle measurement among the quality of life scales; Ware et al. It was developed and put into use in 1993. The scale includes items including perception of change in health in the last four weeks and perception of change in health in the last week. SF-36 Turkish validity and reliability study has been done. While the increase in the score negatively affects the body pain, physical and emotional role, it positively affects the parameters of physical function, vitality/energy, general health, mental health and social functioning.

  Baseline and 4 week

• Change from baseline in disability on the 20-point at 4 week Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS) at 4 week

  The Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS) was used for the assessment of disability. This scale was developed by Wheeler et al. NPDS is a 20-item questionnaire developed using VAS as a template. The questions investigate the intensity of pain and its interaction with professional, recreational and functional aspects of life, and the presence and extent of emotional factors related to these. The scoring of each question varies between 0-5. The range of points people can get varies between 0-100. High score values indicate severe disability in patients. NPDS is an index has Turkish reliability and validity, consisting of 20 questions and each question scored between 0 and 5. Increased NPDS scores indicate increased disability.

  Baseline and 4 week

• Change from baseline in range of motion on the universal goniometer at 4 week

  A universal goniometer was used to evaluate the active neck range of motion (ROM) of the patients. The universal goniometer consists of a pivot point and two arms, fixed and movable. The fixed arm is kept fixed to the immobile part of the extremity or to the floor or body where the measurement is made. The movable arm is the arm that follows and makes the measurement throughout the movement of the measured joint. During our measurement, we chose the pivot point to be the acromion, the earlobe alignment for the movable arm and the fixed arm to be parallel to the ground.

  Baseline and 4 week

• Change from baseline in number of trigger points on the manual palpation at 4 week

  Manual palpation of the trapezius and levator scapula muscles was performed by a trained physiotherapist in this field to assess the presence of MTrP. Palpation always bilateral was performed with the third and second fingers of each hand with a pressure of no more than 4 kg, which is the conventional approach for detecting tender and trigger points. We considered the pressure of more than 4 kg as whitening of the nail.

  Baseline and 4 week

Study Arms (2)

Deep tissue massage

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

For 4 weeks 20 session, this groups were applied hot pack with 20 minutes of conventional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation(TENS) to back and neck region, followed by 4 minutes of ultrasound at a frequency of 3 Megahertz(MHz) and at a dosage of 1 w / cm2. Also, administered DTM to the back and neck region for 20 min in 12 sessions in addition to the conventional physical therapy.

Procedure: Deep tissue massage; Procedure: Conventional physiotherapy

Conventional physiotherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

For 4 weeks 20 session, this groups were applied hot pack with 20 minutes of conventional TENS to back and neck region, followed by 4 minutes of ultrasound at a frequency of 3 MHz and at a dosage of 1 w / cm2.

Procedure: Conventional physiotherapy

Interventions

Deep tissue massage PROCEDURE

The amount of pressure during the massage was adjusted by the physiotherapist with reference to muscle tissue palpation in the patients. During the massage, olecranon, pisiform bone protrusion, metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joint faces forearm, wrist and fingers were used during the massage to reach deep tissue. As a massage technique, compression and stretching techniques are used in combination.

Deep tissue massage

Conventional physiotherapy PROCEDURE

For 4 weeks 20 session, this group were applied hot pack with 20 minutes of conventional TENS to back and neck region, followed by 4 minutes of ultrasound at a frequency of 3 MHz and at a dosage of 1 w / cm2.

Conventional physiotherapy; Deep tissue massage

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being over the age of 18
• Have at least one active trigger point
• Have not previously undergone local injectable anesthetic blockage or acupuncture,
• Complaining of pain for the last three months
• Getting a diagnosis of MPS

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with infectious skin disease,
• Using analgesic and antidepressant medication,
• A history of major trauma or surgical intervention,
• Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≤ 24 according

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ömer Bingölbali: lead
• Muş Alparslan University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Mus Alparslan University

Muş, Güzeltepe District, 49100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Romanowski MW, Spiritovic M, Rutkowski R, Dudek A, Samborski W, Straburzynska-Lupa A. Comparison of Deep Tissue Massage and Therapeutic Massage for Lower Back Pain, Disease Activity, and Functional Capacity of Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Pilot Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:9894128. doi: 10.1155/2017/9894128. Epub 2017 Aug 6.

  PMID: 28845185 BACKGROUND

• Kaye AD, Kaye AJ, Swinford J, Baluch A, Bawcom BA, Lambert TJ, Hoover JM. The effect of deep-tissue massage therapy on blood pressure and heart rate. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Mar;14(2):125-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2007.0665.

  PMID: 18315516 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Ömer BİNGÖLBALİ, Master

  Mus Alparslan Universtiy

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: lecturer

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2021
• First Posted: May 27, 2021
• Study Start: January 1, 2019
• Primary Completion: May 22, 2021
• Study Completion: May 22, 2021
• Last Updated: September 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)