Magnetic Resonance Elastography to Monitor Response to Manual Therapy in Myofascial Pain

NCT ID: NCT07278570

Last Updated: 2025-12-16

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

78 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-05

Study Completion Date

2027-08-30

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this research is to develop and test new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods that look at how muscles and tissues under the skin (myofascial tissues) move and respond to pressure. The investigators want to see how these tissues differ between healthy people and people with pain or injury, and how they change after hands-on treatment (Tuina therapy). The results will also be compared to a group that receives standard care without Tuina therapy.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Can MR elastography (MRE) show changes in how the fascia and the layers between muscles move and stretch before and after manual therapy?
2. Do changes seen on MRE scans match changes in pain, function, and other symptoms reported by participants?
3. Can MRE measurements before treatment help predict which participants are most likely to improve with manual therapy?

In this randomized controlled trial, participants with myofascial pain will be randomly assigned (randomized) to either the Tuina group or the Usual Care group following a home-based care program without manual therapy. All treatments are noninvasive, hands-on techniques commonly used in clinical practice to reduce tissue tightness and improve movement.

Participants will be asked to undergo three MRI scans and to complete questionnaires and other standard clinical assessments about their pain, physical function, and quality of life.

Detailed Description

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This research study is linked to the prior study NCT05604066 (Magnetic Resonance Elastography of Myofascial Pain Syndrome), which developed and validated the MRE techniques and biomarkers used in the current trial.

Conditions

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Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Lower Back Myofascial Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Tuina + Usual Care

Participants will receive Tuina therapy twice weekly for three consecutive weeks (a total of six sessions) in addition to usual care.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Tuina treatment

Intervention Type OTHER

Tuina is a manual therapy involving techniques that apply targeted shear and stretching forces along muscular and fascial planes. Tuina therapy will be administered to subjects twice weekly for three consecutive weeks (a total of six sessions). Each session will last 30-60 minutes and will be administered by licensed Tuina practitioners trained and credentialed at Mayo Clinic.

Usual care

Intervention Type OTHER

Standard care will be followed, including a patient education course, lifestyle guidance, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and home remedies.

Usual Care Only

Participants will receive usual care only for three weeks, no additional manual therapy will be provided.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Usual care

Intervention Type OTHER

Standard care will be followed, including a patient education course, lifestyle guidance, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and home remedies.

Interventions

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Tuina treatment

Tuina is a manual therapy involving techniques that apply targeted shear and stretching forces along muscular and fascial planes. Tuina therapy will be administered to subjects twice weekly for three consecutive weeks (a total of six sessions). Each session will last 30-60 minutes and will be administered by licensed Tuina practitioners trained and credentialed at Mayo Clinic.

Intervention Type OTHER

Usual care

Standard care will be followed, including a patient education course, lifestyle guidance, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and home remedies.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adult males or females (age ≥ 18 years)
* A history of chronic low back for at least 3 months. (Measured by patient history and physical exam)
* A palpable taut band or nodule within the skeletal muscle
* Hypersensitive tender spot within the taut band
* Recognition of current pain complaint by pressure on the tender nodule/taut band
* Painful limit to the full stretch range of motion

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Any contraindication to an MRI exam, or severe claustrophobia that would prevent safe completion of the scan
* Previous therapy in the area to be treated within 3 months
* Previous severe back injury (including fracture) or surgery
* Any neurological conditions or active systemic disease (e.g. diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis) that impaired sensation/pain perception
* Severe osteoarthritis
* Skin injuries in the area to be treated
* Inability to provide consent.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ziying Yin

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ziying Yin, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Related Links

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https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05604066?id=NCT05604066&rank=1

NCT05604066 - Magnetic Resonance Elastography of Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Other Identifiers

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4R33AT012185-02

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

25-009844

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id