Vacuum Massage vs Tactile Massage for the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain

NCT07120659 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: Ethics (REK) number 883588Application 2023-51
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chronic pain significantly impacts individuals and society, with about 30% of Norwegian adults affected, making it the leading cause of long-term sick leave and disability benefits. Concerns over addiction to pain medications highlight the need for non-pharmacological treatments, though many such therapies, often complementary or alternative, are not widely available in conventional healthcare. Unclear biomechanisms of these therapies pose challenges for clinical trials and acceptance. This pilot study aims to explore the effects of two types of massage-cupping massage (CM, intense) and tactile massage (TM, soft)-on chronic neck pain, focusing on their mechanisms of action. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) will be used as a biomarker to assess changes in the pain pathway. A previous feasibility study on CM and QST conducted in Germany informs this research. The study will recruit 60 patients with chronic neck pain, randomized to CM or TM, with six weekly treatment sessions. QST will be measured before and after treatment to understand therapy-induced changes in the pain pathway. Findings will help tailor massage therapies to individual needs, improve clinical trial quality, and promote the integration of non-pharmacological treatments into conventional care, benefiting a large population in need.

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain

Keywords

chronic neck pain; massage; soft touch massage; vacuum massage; cupping; quantitative sensory testing QST

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)

  Sensory testing will be performed according to the standard protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS) and all measurements will be carried out by the same examiner at a defined point of the trapezius muscle on the site with the worst pain, and the foot and the hand as reference areas (norms exist for hand, foot, back and face).

  The measurement will take about 2 hours in total; pre and post intervention (5-6 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Numerical pain scale

  Takes about 20 seconds for the numeric rating scale; pre vs. post intervention (ca. 5-6 weeks)

Other Outcomes (4)

• pain diary

  5-6 weeks, 3-5 min / day

• Neck Disability Index (NDI)

  ca 6-10 min before and after the intervention (ca. 5-6 weeks)

• DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique 4) questionnaire

  10 min, before & after intervention (5-6 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Intense skin stimulation

EXPERIMENTAL

A vacuum pump provides a type of suction similar to cupping inducing intense manipulation of the skin. The vacuum can be adjusted according to applied suction and air flow. The participant will receive 6 therapy sessions of vacuum massage.

Other: vacuum massage

Light skin stimulation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Tactile massage (soft touch) is a soft superficial massage which follows the anatomy of the body without penetrating into the deeper tissues. The participants will receive 6 therapy sessions.

Other: soft touch massage

Interventions

soft touch massage OTHER

Soft superficial massage which follows the anatomy of the body without penetrating into the deeper tissues

Also known as: tactile massage

Light skin stimulation

vacuum massage OTHER

Intense stimulation through suction of the skin and deeper layers

Also known as: cupping massage

Intense skin stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• suffer from non-specific neck pain persisting at least 3 months
• mean pain intensity ≥ 50 on a 0-100 mm visual analogue scale (NRS) with "0" meaning "no pain" and "100" meaning "worst pain imaginable"

You may not qualify if:

• neurological symptoms
• having had a vertebral column surgery less than 12 months prior to the study,
• suffer from a congenital deformation of the spine.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Tromso: lead

Study Sites (1)

UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Institute of Community Medicine, National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NAFKAM

Tromsø, Troms, 9013, Norway

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Frauke Musial, Ph.d.

CONTACT

+47 45860762; frauke.musial@uit.no

Solveig Johansson, MS

CONTACT

+47 77646867; solveig.johansson@uit.no

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: pre-post intervention of two different massage techniques

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 4, 2025
• First Posted: August 13, 2025
• Study Start: October 27, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2030
• Last Updated: December 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (1)