Satisfaction and Feasibility Evaluation of an Electronic Massager Compared to Massage Therapist-delivered Massage

NCT ID: NCT07042776

Last Updated: 2026-01-23

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-02
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-31

Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to evaluate the practicality and acceptability of using an electronic massager. Additionally, it aims to compare user satisfaction between the experience with an electric massager and a massage provided by a professional massage therapist.

Detailed Description

This study is being done to understand how practical and acceptable EMMA, an electronic massage device, is, and the satisfaction of the EMMA massage compared to massage therapy given by a certified massage therapist. Participants will also be asked to have two massages, one given by EMMA and another delivered by a massage therapist. The order in which participants will receive each massage will be determined by randomization.

Conditions

Massage Therapy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

EMMA treatment, then therapist-delivered massage

Subjects in this arm will first undergo massage therapy utilizing the EMMA Massager (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation). A minimum of 24 hours later, the subjects will undergo a massage therapist-delivered massage.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

EMMA (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

For the EMMA massage, the subject lies down on the robot platform in a prone position. A therapist sets the robot parameters. The EMMA electronic massager applies massage to the focus points on the back of the participants guided by cameras and computer programs. Treatment lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

Therapist-delivered massage

Intervention Type: OTHER

For the therapist-delivered massage treatment, the licensed massage therapist will follow standard of care protocol. Treatment lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

Therapist-delivered massage, then EMMA treatment

Subjects in this arm will first undergo a massage therapist-delivered massage treatment. A minimum of 24 hours later, the subjects will undergo massage therapy utilizing the EMMA Massager (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

EMMA (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

For the EMMA massage, the subject lies down on the robot platform in a prone position. A therapist sets the robot parameters. The EMMA electronic massager applies massage to the focus points on the back of the participants guided by cameras and computer programs. Treatment lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

Therapist-delivered massage

Intervention Type: OTHER

For the therapist-delivered massage treatment, the licensed massage therapist will follow standard of care protocol. Treatment lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

Interventions

EMMA (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation)

For the EMMA massage, the subject lies down on the robot platform in a prone position. A therapist sets the robot parameters. The EMMA electronic massager applies massage to the focus points on the back of the participants guided by cameras and computer programs. Treatment lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Therapist-delivered massage

For the therapist-delivered massage treatment, the licensed massage therapist will follow standard of care protocol. Treatment lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 years or older
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Women of childbearing potential who self-report not being pregnant and agree to employ an effective method of birth control (surgical sterilization or oral contraceptives, barrier method with spermicides, intrauterine device, etc.) during the study period
• Ability to complete all aspects of this trial

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Patients with inability of staying in a prone position
• Patients with bleeding disorders
• Patients with a current diagnosis of cancer or being treated for cancer
• Patients with allergies and/or local skin affectations
• An unstable medical or mental health condition as determined by the physician investigator

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Brent A. Bauer

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Brent Bauer, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Shawn Fokken, CCRP

Role: CONTACT

GIMResearchStudies@mayo.edu

507-293-2740

Facility Contacts

Shawn Fokken, CCRP

Role: primary

GIMResearchStudies@mayo.edu

507-293-2740

Other Identifiers

25-002916

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id