Aromatherapy on Upper Limb Spasticity on Stroke Survivors

NCT07286825 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: RD/2024/2.20
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study employed a double-arm, pre- and post-test design. Stroke survivors aged 65 or above with post-stroke upper limbs spasticity were recruited from two RCHEs in Hong Kong between February and June 2025, and were divided into control and intervention groups. 10-minute massage was given on subjects' upper limbs two times per week by an IFPA aromatherapist using massage oil with a mixture of sweet marjoram essential oil and fractionated coconut organic carrier oil (intervention group) or plain fractionated coconut organic carrier oil (control group) for four weeks. The range of motion (ROM) of the upper limbs in three planes, i.e., abduction, flexion and extension and pain level and blood pressure were assessed before and after each massage session. Psychosocial well-being of elders was assessed at baseline and 4 weeks post-intervention using Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).

Conditions

Aromatherapy; Spasticity as Sequela of Stroke

Keywords

aromatherapy massage; stroke survivors; upper limb spasticity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Range of motion (ROM) on shoulder joints

  Range of motion (ROM) will be assessed on shoulder joints as the primary outcome. The shoulder complex consists of four joints: the glenohumeral (GH), sternoclavicular (SC), acromioclavicular (AC) and scapulothoracic joints. The ROM of shoulder requires coordinated motion of all these joint. To evaluate the functional ROM of the shoulder, a goniometer will be used for measuring the passive or active ROM values (degrees) before and after each week of massage for 4 weeks in total. Abduction, flexion and extension ROM will be measured.

  Before and after each massage session for 4 weeks in total

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• The Chinese Version of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)

  Week 0 and Week 4 after completing all massage sessions

• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  Week 0 and Week 4 after completing all massage sessions

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

using massage oil with a mixture of sweet marjoram essential oil and fractionated coconut organic carrier oil

Combination Product: massage oil with a mixture of sweet marjoram essential oil and fractionated coconut organic carrier oil

Control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

using massage oil with plain fractionated coconut organic carrier oil

Combination Product: plain fractionated coconut organic carrier oil

Interventions

plain fractionated coconut organic carrier oil COMBINATION_PRODUCT

10-minute massage was given on subjects' upper limbs two times per week by an IFPA aromatherapist using plain fractionated coconut organic carrier oil as massage oil.

Control group

massage oil with a mixture of sweet marjoram essential oil and fractionated coconut organic carrier oil COMBINATION_PRODUCT

10-minute massage was given on subjects' upper limbs two times per week by an IFPA aromatherapist using massage oil with a mixture of sweet marjoram essential oil and fractionated coconut organic carrier oil.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• he/she is communicable with either Chinese or English, and
• suffering from upper-limb post-stroke spasticity

You may not qualify if:

• he/she is currently receiving aromatherapy massage therapies
• he/she has external wound on the massage areas.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hong Kong Metropolitan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Massage

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Sze Ki Veronica LAI, Dr

  School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan Universit

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants are masked for the ingredient of massage oil.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: 10-minute massage was given on subjects' upper limbs two times per week by an IFPA aromatherapist using massage oil with a mixture of sweet marjoram essential oil and fractionated coconut organic carrier oil (intervention group) or plain fractionated coconut organic carrier oil (control group) for four weeks.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 21, 2025
• First Posted: December 16, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 31, 2025
• Study Completion: November 20, 2025
• Last Updated: December 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)