Manual Therapy Techniques for Cervical Pain: Algometric Evaluation

NCT06982456 | Enrolling By Invitation DMC

• 1 other identifier: M10/2024/519
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 105
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different manual therapy techniques in the treatment of cervical pain related to the upper trapezius muscle. The intervention will compare the effects of superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique on pain intensity, assessed through algometry. Additionally, the study aims to determine whether the application of passive stretching following manual treatment leads to a significantly greater reduction in pain compared to groups that do not receive stretching. Finally, the persistence of treatment effects will be evaluated one and two weeks after the intervention.

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Massage; Stretching

Keywords

Trigger Points; Pain Measurement; Physical Therapy; Passive Stretching

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• PPT - Pressure Pain Threshold

  Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measured with an algometer (kg/cm²) on the upper trapezius fibers. Measurements will be taken pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at one and two weeks post-intervention.

  Three weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Brief questionnaire (self-reported).

  Time of assessment: The day after the intervention

• Data collection form (demographic questionnaire).

  Prior to the intervention (baseline).

Study Arms (3)

Experimental Group 1

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention will consist of superficial massage, deep massage, and the pressure release technique applied to the upper trapezius. Following this, a post-treatment algometric measurement will be taken. Experimental Group 1: Will receive only the manual treatment. Follow-up algometric measurements will be performed on the upper trapezius one week and two weeks after the intervention.

Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching

Experimental Group 2

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention will consist of superficial massage, deep massage, and the pressure release technique applied to the upper trapezius. Following this, a post-treatment algometric measurement will be taken. Experimental Group 2: Will receive the same manual treatment followed by passive stretching of the upper trapezius. An algometric measurement will be conducted immediately after stretching, as well as follow-up assessments one week and two weeks later.

Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching

Control Group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Control Group: Will not receive any intervention but will undergo algometric assessments under the same conditions to enable comparisons with the experimental groups.

Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching

Interventions

Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching OTHER

The intervention consists of manual therapy techniques applied to the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle, including superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique. In one of the experimental groups, this treatment is followed by passive stretching. The control group receives no intervention. Algometric measurements (pressure pain threshold) are taken before and after the intervention, and at one-week and two-week follow-up points to assess the effectiveness and persistence of the treatment.

Control Group; Experimental Group 1; Experimental Group 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Be an undergraduate student in Physiotherapy.
• Be between 18 and 40 years old.
• Have experienced cervical pain at least once in their life.
• Present pain localized in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle.
• Voluntarily agree to participate in the study by signing an informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• Suffer from migraines.
• Have any diagnosed neurological disorders.
• Have suffered a recent injury or trauma in the cervical region.
• Have scoliosis or any other relevant spinal pathology.
• Present any musculoskeletal condition that could interfere with the study outcomes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad de Murcia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad de Murcia

Murcia, 30120, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor) Description: Participants will not be informed about the specific nature of the interventions (e.g., which techniques are expected to be more effective). The assessor conducting the post-intervention measurements will be blinded to group allocation. Therapists cannot be blinded due to the hands-on nature of the treatments.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor Doctor

Model Details: This is a randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups. Participants will be randomly assigned to Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2, or Control Group. The intervention groups will receive manual therapy techniques (superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique), with or without passive stretching, while the control group will undergo only pressure pain threshold evaluations. Algometric measurements will be performed pre-treatment, post-treatment, and during follow-up at one and two weeks after the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 13, 2025
• First Posted: May 21, 2025
• Study Start: May 19, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 6, 2025
• Study Completion: June 13, 2025
• Last Updated: May 21, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)