Longitudinal Stripping Massage vs. Percussion Device for Neck Pain: Ultrasound Study.

NCT07630142 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 667/21
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 35
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates whether a single session of percussion therapy can reduce muscle tension and increase blood flow in the transverse cervical artery in individuals with neck pain. The investigators will evaluate muscle stiffness using ultrasound elastography, and assess blood flow in the transverse cervical artery via Doppler imaging before and after treatment. The primary objective is to determine how this therapy affects neck muscle relaxation and vascular responses, specifically within the upper trapezius region.

Conditions

Chronic Neck Pain

Keywords

neck pain; longitudinal stripping massage; percussion massage; trapezius; elastography; shear wave; Doppler ultrasound; cervical pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Neck pain intensity on Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  Neck pain intensity evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale slide scale (score range 0-10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain). The patient marks their pain level using the slider, and the result is recorded as a numerical score. Unit of Measure: points

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Neck pain-related disability on Neck Disability Index (NDI)

  Baseline, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

• Shear-wave elastography of upper trapezius muscle: mean stiffness

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

• Myotonometry of upper trapezius muscle: oscillation frequency

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

• Myotonometry of upper trapezius muscle: dynamic stiffness

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

• Myotonometry of upper trapezius muscle: decrement

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

Other Outcomes (3)

• Peak systolic velocity (Vs) of the transverse cervical artery.

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

• End-diastolic velocity (Vd) of the transverse cervical artery.

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

• Resistive index (RI) of the transverse cervical artery.

  Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

Study Arms (2)

Percussion Therapy Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects receiving percussion therapy using a massage device. Theragun device applied to dominant side of upper trapezius muscle. Session duration: 3 minutes.

Device: Percussion Therapy

Longitudinal Stripping Massage Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects receiving manual longitudinal stripping massage. Longitudinal stripping massage of dominant side of upper trapezius muscle. Session duration: 3 minutes.

Other: Longitudinal stripping masage

Interventions

Percussion Therapy DEVICE

Theragun device applied to dominant side of upper trapezius muscle. Session duration: 3 minutes.

Percussion Therapy Arm

Longitudinal stripping masage OTHER

Longitudinal stripping massage of dominant side of upper trapezius muscle. Session duration: 3 minutes.

Longitudinal Stripping Massage Arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age: 18-60 years
• Neck pain persisting for at least 3 months
• Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score between 3 and 7
• Neck Disability Index (NDI) between 30% and 48%

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy and postpartum period
• History of cervical spine or shoulder surgery
• Diagnosed fibromyalgia, radiculopathy, or myelopathy
• Myofascial therapy within the last 3 months
• Use of analgesic medication within 48 hours before assessment
• Venous diseases

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Poznan University of Physical Education: lead

Study Sites (1)

Poznań University of Physical Education

Poznan, 61-871, Poland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: The ultrasonographer performing elastography and Doppler assessments will be blinded to participants' treatment allocation
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD, Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Posted: June 5, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2029
• Last Updated: June 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PL (1)