Manual Therapy Techniques for Cervical Pain: Algometric Evaluation

NCT ID: NCT06982456

Last Updated: 2025-05-21

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

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

105 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-05-19

Study Completion Date

2025-06-13

Brief Summary

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The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different manual therapy techniques in the treatment of cervical pain related to the upper trapezius muscle.

The intervention will compare the effects of superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique on pain intensity, assessed through algometry.

Additionally, the study aims to determine whether the application of passive stretching following manual treatment leads to a significantly greater reduction in pain compared to groups that do not receive stretching.

Finally, the persistence of treatment effects will be evaluated one and two weeks after the intervention.

Detailed Description

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Methodological Design:

This study will be conducted with the participation of undergraduate Physiotherapy students who voluntarily wish to take part in the research.

Inclusion Criteria:

Be an undergraduate student in Physiotherapy. Be between 18 and 40 years old. Have experienced cervical pain at least once in their life. Present pain localized in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. Voluntarily agree to participate in the study by signing an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

Suffer from migraines. Have any diagnosed neurological disorders. Have suffered a recent injury or trauma in the cervical region. Have scoliosis or any other relevant spinal pathology. Present any musculoskeletal condition that could interfere with the study outcomes.

The participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2, and Control Group.

Procedure:

All participants in the experimental groups will complete a short survey collecting information such as age, sex, and whether they experienced discomfort in the treated area the following day. Baseline pressure pain thresholds will be assessed using algometry (in Kg/cm²) on the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle prior to the intervention.

The intervention will consist of superficial massage, deep massage, and the pressure release technique applied to the upper trapezius. Following this, a post-treatment algometric measurement will be taken.

Experimental Group 1: Will receive only the manual treatment. Follow-up algometric measurements will be performed on the upper trapezius one week and two weeks after the intervention.

Experimental Group 2: Will receive the same manual treatment followed by passive stretching of the upper trapezius. An algometric measurement will be conducted immediately after stretching, as well as follow-up assessments one week and two weeks later.

Control Group: Will not receive any intervention but will undergo algometric assessments under the same conditions to enable comparisons with the experimental groups.

Study Duration:

The total estimated duration of the study is three weeks.

Week 1: Intervention and pre-/post-treatment algometric assessments. Week 2: First follow-up algometric measurement. Week 3: Final algometric measurement.

Conditions

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Myofascial Pain Syndromes Massage Stretching

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups. Participants will be randomly assigned to Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2, or Control Group. The intervention groups will receive manual therapy techniques (superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique), with or without passive stretching, while the control group will undergo only pressure pain threshold evaluations. Algometric measurements will be performed pre-treatment, post-treatment, and during follow-up at one and two weeks after the intervention.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor) Description: Participants will not be informed about the specific nature of the interventions (e.g., which techniques are expected to be more effective). The assessor conducting the post-intervention measurements will be blinded to group allocation. Therapists cannot be blinded due to the hands-on nature of the treatments.

Study Groups

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Experimental Group 1

The intervention will consist of superficial massage, deep massage, and the pressure release technique applied to the upper trapezius. Following this, a post-treatment algometric measurement will be taken.

Experimental Group 1: Will receive only the manual treatment. Follow-up algometric measurements will be performed on the upper trapezius one week and two weeks after the intervention.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention consists of manual therapy techniques applied to the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle, including superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique. In one of the experimental groups, this treatment is followed by passive stretching. The control group receives no intervention. Algometric measurements (pressure pain threshold) are taken before and after the intervention, and at one-week and two-week follow-up points to assess the effectiveness and persistence of the treatment.

Experimental Group 2

The intervention will consist of superficial massage, deep massage, and the pressure release technique applied to the upper trapezius. Following this, a post-treatment algometric measurement will be taken.

Experimental Group 2: Will receive the same manual treatment followed by passive stretching of the upper trapezius. An algometric measurement will be conducted immediately after stretching, as well as follow-up assessments one week and two weeks later.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention consists of manual therapy techniques applied to the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle, including superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique. In one of the experimental groups, this treatment is followed by passive stretching. The control group receives no intervention. Algometric measurements (pressure pain threshold) are taken before and after the intervention, and at one-week and two-week follow-up points to assess the effectiveness and persistence of the treatment.

Control Group

Control Group: Will not receive any intervention but will undergo algometric assessments under the same conditions to enable comparisons with the experimental groups.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention consists of manual therapy techniques applied to the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle, including superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique. In one of the experimental groups, this treatment is followed by passive stretching. The control group receives no intervention. Algometric measurements (pressure pain threshold) are taken before and after the intervention, and at one-week and two-week follow-up points to assess the effectiveness and persistence of the treatment.

Interventions

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Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching

The intervention consists of manual therapy techniques applied to the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle, including superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique. In one of the experimental groups, this treatment is followed by passive stretching. The control group receives no intervention. Algometric measurements (pressure pain threshold) are taken before and after the intervention, and at one-week and two-week follow-up points to assess the effectiveness and persistence of the treatment.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Be an undergraduate student in Physiotherapy.
* Be between 18 and 40 years old.
* Have experienced cervical pain at least once in their life.
* Present pain localized in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle.
* Voluntarily agree to participate in the study by signing an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

* Suffer from migraines.
* Have any diagnosed neurological disorders.
* Have suffered a recent injury or trauma in the cervical region.
* Have scoliosis or any other relevant spinal pathology.
* Present any musculoskeletal condition that could interfere with the study outcomes.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Universidad de Murcia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Angel Martínez Carrasco

Professor Doctor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Universidad de Murcia

Murcia, , Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

Other Identifiers

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M10/2024/519

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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