Massage Therapy for Healthcare Staff

NCT07094997 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Massage for healthcare staff
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The piriformis muscle can be a contributing factor to low back pain (LBP) due to its anatomical proximity to the sciatic nerve and sacroiliac joint. When the piriformis becomes tight or irritated, it may compress or irritate the sciatic nerve-a condition often referred to as piriformis syndrome-leading to pain that radiates from the lower back to the buttock and down the leg. The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the effectiveness of massage therapy in counteracting symptoms of low back pain (LBP) among healthcare workers. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Can massage of the piriformis muscle and related musculature effectively reduce symptoms in individuals experiencing LBP linked to myofascial or neuromuscular dysfunction? Massage therapy targeting the piriformis and associated muscles (e.g., gluteus maximus, medius, and deep hip rotators) can help by:

• Reducing muscle tension and spasms,
• Improving local blood circulation,
• Alleviating pressure on the sciatic nerve,
• Restoring hip mobility and muscle balance.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Keywords

Randomiezed controlled trial; Massage therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• VAS scale

  Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a continuous scale consisting of a horizontal line, 100 mm long, anchored by "no pain" (score of 0) and "worst imaginable pain" (score of 10). VAS is frequently used to determine the effectiveness of treatment as an outcome measure. Most studies show that VAS is a valid and reliable scale.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

• ODI

  The ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) is a standardized questionnaire used to measure a patient's level of disability due to lower back pain. It assesses how back pain affects a person's ability to manage everyday life.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Thermography

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

• Doppler USG

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Guideline-Based Massage Therapy + Self-Massage Group (GMT+SM)

EXPERIMENTAL

GMT+SM - Massage protocol based on guidelines from the Polish Society of Physiotherapy, the Polish Society of Family Medicine, the College of Family Physicians in Poland, and the European Rural and Isolated Practitioners. Delivered by licensed therapists. Self-Massage Training: One in-person instructional session, plus take-home materials (videos and printed instructions).

Other: Guidline-basaed massage therapy

Guideline-Based Massage Therapy (GMT)

EXPERIMENTAL

GMT - Massage protocol based on guidelines from the Polish Society of Physiotherapy, the Polish Society of Family Medicine, the College of Family Physicians in Poland, and the European Rural and Isolated Practitioners. Delivered by licensed therapists.

Other: Guidline-basaed massage therapy

Control group (CG)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive Swedish massage

Other: Swedish massage

Interventions

Guidline-basaed massage therapy OTHER

Massage protocol based on guidelines from the Polish Society of Physiotherapy, the Polish Society of Family Medicine, the College of Family Physicians in Poland, and the European Rural and Isolated Practitioners

Guideline-Based Massage Therapy (GMT); Guideline-Based Massage Therapy + Self-Massage Group (GMT+SM)

Swedish massage OTHER

A classical form of therapeutic massage that uses a combination of long, flowing strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, and gentle stretching to promote relaxation, improve circulation, and reduce muscle tension. It is typically performed using oil or lotion to reduce friction on the skin. Techniques are applied with light to moderate pressure and are designed to enhance general well-being and support recovery from muscular discomfort or stress

Control group (CG)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adult healthcare workers
• Aged 30-65 years with chronic nonspecific low back pain for ≥3 months
• No medical contraindications to massage therapy
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25 kg/m²
• Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Massage therapy within the past 3 months
• Contraindications to massage therapy
• Ongoing physical therapy
• Significant medical or psychiatric conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences: lead

Study Sites (1)

Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny we Wrocławiu

Wroclaw, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Krzysztof K Principal Investigator

  Department of Massage and Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Marcin Piwecki

CONTACT

+48 665 569 523; p665569523@gmail.com

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: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD

Model Details: Prospective, three-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 29, 2025
• First Posted: July 31, 2025
• Study Start: July 31, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2026
• Study Completion: March 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PL (1)