Effects of IASTM and Vibration Therapy in Cervical Disc Herniation

NCT06903000 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-10840098-202.3.02-1924
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 57
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigates the effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and percussion massage therapy on pain, functional status, proprioception, and kinesiophobia in individuals with cervical disc herniation. A total of 66 participants diagnosed with cervical disc herniation will be randomly divided into three groups: vibration therapy, IASTM, and conventional exercise. Each group will receive conventional physiotherapy, while the intervention groups will additionally receive their respective therapies. Outcomes will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Laser Pointer Joint Position Sense Test, and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). The aim is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of both therapies in reducing pain, improving functionality and proprioception, and decreasing fear of movement.

Conditions

Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Neck Pain

Keywords

Cervical disc herniation; Neck pain; Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization; Vibration therapy; Proprioception; Kinesiophobia; Physiotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Assessment of Joint Position Sense (Proprioception)

  This assessment measures joint position sense-a component of proprioception-which provides information regarding the speed and direction of active and passive movements without visual cues.Participants will be seated at a distance of 100 cm from a target board measuring 90x80 cm. A laser pointer will be secured to the participant's head using a suitable headband. Participants will initially align the laser pointer vertically onto the center (origin) of the target board with their eyes open. They will then flex their head forward and subsequently return to the neutral position, realigning the pointer to the center. Next, participants will repeat the same process with their eyes closed. After performing cervical flexion, they will attempt to return their head to the perceived neutral position without visual assistance. The deviation from the origin will be measured and recorded as an indicator of joint position sense accuracy.

  3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Pain Assessment (Visual Analog Scale - VAS)

  3 weeks

• Neck Disability Index (NDI)

  3 weeks

• Kinesiophobia Assessment (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia -TSK)

  3 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Vibration Therapy Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive percussion-based vibration therapy applied using a percussion massage device (Compex Fix 2.0) with a soft head attachment. Therapy will target trapezius, levator scapula, and cervical paravertebral muscles along their origin-insertion lines for 3 minutes per muscle group. Sessions will be conducted 3 days per week over 3 weeks, alongside conventional physiotherapy, including heat therapy (20 min), Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS - 100 Hz), range-of-motion (ROM) exercises (2 sets of 10 repetitions, 2-second holds at end-range), and isometric strengthening exercises (2 sets of 10 repetitions, 6-second holds per direction).

Device: a percussion massage gun; Other: Conventional Exercise Group (Control)

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization applied using specially designed stainless-steel instruments. Techniques (Sweep, Fan, Brush) will be applied to cervical and upper-back musculature (splenius, suboccipital, upper-middle-lower trapezius) and related fascia between C1-T1 vertebrae, parallel to muscle fibers for approximately 6 minutes per session. Each technique will consist of 8-10 repetitions. Treatments will occur 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks, alongside conventional physiotherapy interventions (heat therapy for 20 minutes, TENS at 100 Hz, ROM exercises, and isometric strengthening exercises as described above).

Device: specially designed stainless-steel instruments; Other: Conventional Exercise Group (Control)

Conventional Exercise Group (Control)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this control group will receive conventional physiotherapy treatment alone. The treatment includes heat therapy applied to the cervical region for 20 minutes, TENS application at a frequency of 100 Hz to painful areas, ROM exercises performed in all cervical directions (2 sets of 10 repetitions, 2-second holds at end-range), and isometric strengthening exercises in cervical flexion, extension, and lateral flexion directions (2 sets of 10 repetitions, 6-second holds per repetition). Sessions will take place 4 days per week for 3 weeks.

Other: Conventional Exercise Group (Control)

Interventions

a percussion massage gun DEVICE

Participants in this group will receive percussion-based vibration therapy applied using a percussion massage device (Compex Fix 2.0) with a soft head attachment. Therapy will target trapezius, levator scapula, and cervical paravertebral muscles along their origin-insertion lines for 3 minutes per muscle group.

Vibration Therapy Group

specially designed stainless-steel instruments DEVICE

Participants will receive instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization applied using specially designed stainless-steel instruments. Techniques (Sweep, Fan, Brush) will be applied to cervical and upper-back musculature (splenius, suboccipital, upper-middle-lower trapezius) and related fascia between C1-T1 vertebrae, parallel to muscle fibers for approximately 6 minutes per session. Each technique will consist of 8-10 repetitions.

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Group

Conventional Exercise Group (Control) OTHER

Participants in this control group will receive conventional physiotherapy treatment alone. The treatment includes heat therapy applied to the cervical region for 20 minutes, TENS application at a frequency of 100 Hz to painful areas, ROM exercises performed in all cervical directions (2 sets of 10 repetitions, 2-second holds at end-range), and isometric strengthening exercises in cervical flexion, extension, and lateral flexion directions (2 sets of 10 repetitions, 6-second holds per repetition). Sessions will take place 4 days per week for 3 weeks.

Conventional Exercise Group (Control); Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Group; Vibration Therapy Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Have a diagnosis of cervical disc herniation.
• Have a complaint of neck pain lasting at least 3 weeks.
• Have a restriction in cervical range of motion.

You may not qualify if:

• Have any additional orthopedic or neurological disorders besides cervical problems.
• Have a history of previous trauma to the cervical region.
• Have received physiotherapy within the past 6 months.
• Are unable to tolerate vibration therapy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Emre DANSUK: lead

Study Sites (1)

Emre Dansuk

Istanbul, Beykoz, 34815, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Menek B, Dansuk E, Gorguluer S. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and percussion massage therapy in cervical disc herniation: a randomized controlled study. J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Aug 30;20(1):801. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06238-5.

  PMID: 40886005 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Neck Pain; Kinesiophobia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Phobic Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Emre Dansuk, PhD

  Medipol University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

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

Model Details: Parallel Assignment

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 24, 2025
• First Posted: March 30, 2025
• Study Start: March 28, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2025
• Study Completion: June 1, 2025
• Last Updated: June 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)