The Effect of Percussion Massage Therapy in Stroke Patients

NCT07454655 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: hakanpolat14
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Stroke is an acute neurological condition resulting from cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage, frequently leading to impaired motor function, increased muscle tone, and deficits in balance and gait. Spasticity is a common long-term complication in individuals with chronic stroke and significantly affects functional mobility and quality of life. Percussion Massage Therapy (PMT) is an emerging intervention that combines principles of mechanical vibration and traditional soft tissue techniques. Although previous research has examined its effects in musculoskeletal and athletic populations, evidence regarding its use in individuals with chronic stroke remains limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of percussion massage therapy on muscle tone in individuals with chronic stroke and to determine whether changes in muscle tone are associated with improvements in gait and balance performance.

Conditions

Stroke; Viscoelastic Property; Rehabilitation

Keywords

stroke; viscoelastic property; Rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• 10-Meter Walk Test:

  a standard clinical measurement tool that objectively assesses an individual's walking speed. In the study area, the walking speed (m/s) is calculated by timing the middle 10 metres of a straight line.

  3 months

• Myoton® PRO

  measures muscle tone

  3 months

• Timed Up and Go Test (TUG);

  The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) is a practical test that assesses functional mobility components such as rising from a seated position, walking a certain distance, turning around, and sitting back down.

  3 months

• Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

  The Berg Balance Scale is a clinical measure developed to assess static and dynamic balance and evaluate balance performance in activities of daily living. In stroke rehabilitation, the BBS is widely used to quantitatively determine balance impairment and monitor balance changes. It is one of the most frequently recommended balance assessment tools in stroke clinical practice guidelines worldwide and is associated with gait, fall risk, and postural control.

  3 months

• Digital goniometer

  Joint position sense and proprioception assessment will be performed using a digital goniometer for the hip, knee, and ankle joints. During measurement, the participant will be placed in the appropriate starting position, and the rele

  3 months

Study Arms (2)

Percussion Massage Therapy (PMT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Percussion Massage Therapy (PMT)

Other: exercises

Conventional Rehabilitation

EXPERIMENTAL

Conventional Rehabilitation

Other: exercises

Interventions

exercises OTHER

Treatment for both groups will last for 6 weeks, 3 days a week, with each session lasting approximately 45-60 minutes. Assessment sessions will last 30-40 minutes and will be conducted independently of the treatment sessions. Assessment sessions will be conducted twice, before and after treatment. The Classical Physiotherapy Programme applied to both groups will consist of stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, walking and balance training, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied to the lower extremity muscles. Percussion Massage Therapy (PMT), which will be applied in addition to the experimental group, will be applied to the hip adductors, knee extensors, and ankle plantar flexors belonging to the lower extremity extensor synergy. Application Method: PMT will be applied to each muscle group of the lower extremity for 2-3 minutes.

Conventional Rehabilitation; Percussion Massage Therapy (PMT)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Having had a unilateral stroke and being in the chronic phase (≥6 months, ≤2 years).
• Age: 40-65 years old.
• Hemiplegic patients with lower limb dysfunction.
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥24. Lower limb spasticity of 1-3 on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS).
• Full passive range of motion (ROM) in the hip, knee, and ankle joints.
• Ability to stand independently for at least 1 minute.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with neurological, orthopaedic, metabolic, and rheumatological conditions that may affect soft tissues.
• Patients who have undergone spasticity treatment or other therapies within the last three months.
• Individuals with lower limb injuries.
• Pregnant women.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sanko University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sanko Unıversıty

Gaziantep, Gaziantep, 27090, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

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: dırector

Model Details: The study will be conducted on stroke patients who apply to the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Research and Application Unit at Sanko University. Treatment and assessments will be carried out at this unit. Participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Experimental Group: Classic physiotherapy treatment + Percussion Massage Therapy (PMT); Control Group: Classic physiotherapy treatment only. For both groups, treatment will last for 6 weeks, 3 days per week, with each session lasting approximately 45-60 minutes. Assessment sessions will last 30-40 minutes and will be conducted independently of the treatment sessions. Assessment sessions will be conducted twice: before and after treatment.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 19, 2026
• First Posted: March 6, 2026
• Study Start: February 20, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2026
• Study Completion: June 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Locations

TU (1)