Effectiveness of Massage of the Thoracic Region in Neck Pain

NCT06256016 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CEI15/002
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Neck pain is a common disorder in industrialized countries. Manual therapy techniques have been commonly used in the treatment of this problem. Actually, there is no research work that has evaluated the work well of treatment with soft tissue techniques (massage) applied to the dorsal paravertebral muscle in the management of neck pain. The goal of this study (clinical trial) is to compare the efficacy of a massage protocol performed on the dorsal region in subjects with mechanical neck pain. The researchers will compare: A group that will be treated with a local protocol of cervical manual therapy and therapeutic exercise along with the treatment(massage) of the thoracic region. Another group that will be treated only with a local protocol of cervical manual therapy and therapeutic exercise. It is to see if the inclusion of treatment of the thoracic region improves the local intervention in cervical region.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Neck pain

  A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is one of the pain rating scales used for measure the intensity pain. The VAS is a straight horizontal line of fixed length, usually 100 mm.The ends are defined as the extreme limits of the parameter to be measured orientated from the left or "10" (worst pain) to the right (best pain) or "0".

  Change from Baseline pain at 3 month

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Neck disability index

  Change from Baseline pain at 3 month

• Pain catastrophizing

  Change from Baseline pain at 3 month

• kinesiophobia

  Change from Baseline pain at 3 month

• The Global Rating of Change (GRoC)

  Change from Baseline pain at 3 month

Study Arms (2)

Neck pain massage

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects in this group will be treated with a neck muscle massage protocol.

Other: Neck pain massage

Neck and thoracic massage

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects in this group will be treated with a massage protocol of the neck muscles and the posterior thoracic region.

Other: Neck and thoracic massage

Interventions

Neck pain massage OTHER

Subjects in this group will be treated with a neck muscle massage protocol. First, pressure inhibition techniques will be applied to the affected muscles. Then deep stroke technique will be performed on each muscle. In addition, effleurages technique will be applied along the thoracic paravertebral muscle. Subjects will also perform an exercise protocol for neck pain.

Neck pain massage

Neck and thoracic massage OTHER

Subjects in this group will be treated with a neck muscle massage protocol. First, pressure inhibition techniques will be applied to the affected muscles. Then deep stroke technique will be performed on each muscle. In addition, deep stroke technique will be applied along the thoracic paravertebral muscle. Subjects will also perform an exercise protocol for neck pain.

Neck and thoracic massage

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Subjects with neck pain.
• Pain between 4 and 7 points according to a visual anological scale.
• Neck pain lasting more than three months

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects who have suffered a whiplash injury.
• Subjects with neck pain and upper extremity pain.
• Subjects with a diagnosis of herniated disc.
• Subjects with fibromyalgia.
• Subjects with any cancer process.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alcala: lead

Study Sites (1)

Physioterapy and Pain center research

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28805, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Daniel Pecos-Martin, PhD

  Alcala University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2024
• First Posted: February 13, 2024
• Study Start: April 4, 2024
• Primary Completion: November 15, 2025
• Study Completion: February 15, 2026
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

ES (1)