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Gua Sha Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT03333213

Last Updated: 2017-11-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2009-01-01

Study Completion Date

2010-12-01

Brief Summary

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Chronic low back pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence of effectiveness for complementary and traditional therapies. Gua Sha is a traditional East Asian therapy traditionally used in the treatment of spinal pain. This study aimed to test the efficacy of Gua Sha therapy in patients with chronic low back pain A total of 50 patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to either two Gua Sha treatments (n=25) or a waitlist control group (n=25). Primary outcome measure was current pain intensity on a 100-mm visual analog scale; secondary outcome measures included back-related function (Oswestry Disability Index), movement-related pain (modified Pain on Movement Questionnaire), as well as pressure pain threshold, mechanical detection threshold, and vibration detection threshold.

Detailed Description

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Chronic low back pain is a major public health burden with only limited evidence of effectiveness for complementary and traditional therapies. Gua Sha is a traditional East Asian therapy traditionally used in the treatment of spinal pain. This study aimed to test the efficacy of Gua Sha therapy in patients with chronic low back pain A total of 50 patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to either two Gua Sha treatments (n=25) or a waitlist control group (n=25). Primary outcome measure was current pain intensity on a 100-mm visual analog scale; secondary outcome measures included back-related function (Oswestry Disability Index), movement-related pain (modified Pain on Movement Questionnaire), as well as pressure pain threshold, mechanical detection threshold, and vibration detection threshold.

Conditions

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Low Back Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Gua Sha therapy

Patients' backs were first covered with Tumarol N Balsam. The study physician then applied a round-edged instrument (the inside smooth edged lip of a metal cap) to patients' skin in downward strokes. Patients were treated twice with a 7-day interval.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Gua Sha

Intervention Type OTHER

Waitlist control group

Treatments in the control group were not regulated but patients were asked to continue their self-directed medical care. They were offered the Gua Sha therapy once the trial was concluded.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Gua Sha

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* non-specific low back pain at least once weekly for at least the previous 3 months
* average back pain intensity hat least 40mm on a 100mm visual analog scale (VAS)

Exclusion Criteria

* specific low back pain due to trauma, disc protrusion, whiplash, congenital deformity of the spine, spinal stenosis, neoplasm, inflammatory rheumatic disease, or oncologic disease
* dystonia
* pregnancy
* invasive treatment of the spine or spinal surgery within the previous 4 weeks
* oral steroids or anticoagulants
* hemophilia or a skin condition in the area to be treated
* started a new treatment for low back pain within the previous month or planning to start a new treatment within the next month
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Universität Duisburg-Essen

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Holger Cramer

Research Director

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Other Identifiers

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08-3594

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id