IASTM and Vibration Effects on Pain, Functionality, and Kinesiophobia in Lumbar Disc Herniation

NCT ID: NCT07293676

Last Updated: 2025-12-19

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-25

Study Completion Date

2026-03-15

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and vibration massage therapy on pain, functionality, and kinesiophobia in individuals with lumbar disc herniation.

Detailed Description

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The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and Percussion massage therapy on pain, functionality, and kinesiophobia in individuals with lumbar disc herniation. In addition, participants will be randomly assigned to three groups Conventional Therapy, Percussion Massage Therapy, and IASTM and the study will aim to examine and compare the pre- and post-treatment effects of these three interventions on pain, functionality, and kinesiophobia.

Conditions

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Vibration Lumbar Disc Herniation Soft Tissue Mobilization

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Conventional exercise group

The exercise program will be performed at home for four weeks, twice daily. Exercise progression will begin with 10 repetitions and will be individualized according to each participant's condition. Exercises that provoke pain will be discontinued as advised. Participants will be provided with an illustrated exercise brochure, and follow-up will be conducted once a week through phone calls.

First, participants will be instructed to lie on their backs on a flat surface with their knees bent, placing approximately a 30 cm elevation (such as two pillows) under the calves to assume a relaxation position and maintain it for 30 seconds. The exercise program will include hip flexor and lumbar extensor stretching, hamstring stretching, bridge exercises, erector spinae strengthening (prone superman), quadruped alternating arm-leg raises, and cat-camel exercises.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exercise

Intervention Type OTHER

The exercise program will be performed at home twice daily for a period of four weeks. Participants will begin with 10 repetitions, and the number of repetitions will be individualized based on each person's clinical condition. They will be advised to discontinue any exercises that cause pain. An illustrated exercise brochure will be provided, and weekly follow-up will be conducted through phone calls to ensure adherence.

At the start of the program, participants will be instructed to lie supine on a flat surface, bend their knees, and place approximately 30 cm of support (such as two pillows) under their lower legs to achieve a relaxation position, holding it for 30 seconds. The exercise program will include hip flexor and lumbar extensor stretching, hamstring stretching, bridge exercises, erector spinae strengthening in the prone "superman" position, quadruped alternating arm-leg lifts, and cat-camel exercises.

IASTM Group

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization treatment will be applied twice per week for a total of eight sessions. The intervention will be performed using stainless-steel tools of various sizes specifically designed for different anatomical regions (Figure 2). Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization will be administered to the iliocostalis lumborum, erector spinae, and quadratus lumborum muscles, as well as to the superficial and deep fascia. Before the application, a thin layer of petroleum jelly will be applied to the area to facilitate smooth gliding of the instrument.

The IASTM treatment will be delivered for a total of six minutes, with each technique (sweep, fan, brush, and sweep) being performed for 8-10 repetitions along the affected muscle fibers.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exercise

Intervention Type OTHER

The exercise program will be performed at home twice daily for a period of four weeks. Participants will begin with 10 repetitions, and the number of repetitions will be individualized based on each person's clinical condition. They will be advised to discontinue any exercises that cause pain. An illustrated exercise brochure will be provided, and weekly follow-up will be conducted through phone calls to ensure adherence.

At the start of the program, participants will be instructed to lie supine on a flat surface, bend their knees, and place approximately 30 cm of support (such as two pillows) under their lower legs to achieve a relaxation position, holding it for 30 seconds. The exercise program will include hip flexor and lumbar extensor stretching, hamstring stretching, bridge exercises, erector spinae strengthening in the prone "superman" position, quadruped alternating arm-leg lifts, and cat-camel exercises.

IASTM

Intervention Type OTHER

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization will be administered twice a week for a total of eight sessions. The treatment will be performed using stainless steel tools of various sizes specifically designed for different anatomical regions. The intervention will target the iliocostalis lumborum, erector spinae, quadratus lumborum muscles, as well as both the superficial and deep fascia. Before beginning the procedure, a thin layer of petroleum jelly will be applied to the skin to ensure smooth gliding of the instrument.

During the treatment, instrument-assisted mobilization will be applied over the muscle fibers using the sweep, fan, brush, and sweep techniques, with each technique performed for 8-10 repetitions. The total duration of the application will be six minutes.

Percussion Massage Therapy Group

Vibration massage therapy will be applied twice per week for a total of eight sessions. After positioning the participant in the prone position, the session will begin. For vibration massage, the No. 2 standard ball attachment of the Theragun™ and the Theragun Pro device, which provides 1750 percussions per minute, will be used. The Theragun will be held perpendicular to the muscle at all times, and no additional pressure other than the weight of the device itself will be applied. Throughout the procedure, the massage gun will be kept in continuous contact with the skin, maintaining consistent pressure.

The vibration massage will be administered to the erector spinae and lumbar paravertebral muscle groups. A total of 10 minutes of percussion massage will be applied to the lateral portions of the lower back erector spinae muscles (5 minutes on each side), and the massage gun will be moved in a straight line from the distal to the proximal direction within approximately 30 seconds.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exercise

Intervention Type OTHER

The exercise program will be performed at home twice daily for a period of four weeks. Participants will begin with 10 repetitions, and the number of repetitions will be individualized based on each person's clinical condition. They will be advised to discontinue any exercises that cause pain. An illustrated exercise brochure will be provided, and weekly follow-up will be conducted through phone calls to ensure adherence.

At the start of the program, participants will be instructed to lie supine on a flat surface, bend their knees, and place approximately 30 cm of support (such as two pillows) under their lower legs to achieve a relaxation position, holding it for 30 seconds. The exercise program will include hip flexor and lumbar extensor stretching, hamstring stretching, bridge exercises, erector spinae strengthening in the prone "superman" position, quadruped alternating arm-leg lifts, and cat-camel exercises.

Percussion massage therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Vibration massage therapy will be administered twice per week for a total of eight sessions. After positioning the participant in the prone position, the treatment session will begin. The vibration massage will be delivered using the Theragun™ device equipped with the No. 2 standard ball attachment, operating at a frequency of 1750 percussions per minute. The device will be held perpendicular to the muscle throughout the application, and no additional pressure other than the weight of the device itself-will be applied. Continuous contact between the massage gun and the skin will be maintained to ensure consistent pressure. The intervention will target the erector spinae and lumbar paravertebral muscles. A total of 10 minutes of percussion massage will be applied to the lateral portions of the lower back, with 5 minutes administered to each side. During the treatment, the device will be guided in a straight path from the distal toward the proximal region within approximately 30 seconds.

Interventions

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Exercise

The exercise program will be performed at home twice daily for a period of four weeks. Participants will begin with 10 repetitions, and the number of repetitions will be individualized based on each person's clinical condition. They will be advised to discontinue any exercises that cause pain. An illustrated exercise brochure will be provided, and weekly follow-up will be conducted through phone calls to ensure adherence.

At the start of the program, participants will be instructed to lie supine on a flat surface, bend their knees, and place approximately 30 cm of support (such as two pillows) under their lower legs to achieve a relaxation position, holding it for 30 seconds. The exercise program will include hip flexor and lumbar extensor stretching, hamstring stretching, bridge exercises, erector spinae strengthening in the prone "superman" position, quadruped alternating arm-leg lifts, and cat-camel exercises.

Intervention Type OTHER

IASTM

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization will be administered twice a week for a total of eight sessions. The treatment will be performed using stainless steel tools of various sizes specifically designed for different anatomical regions. The intervention will target the iliocostalis lumborum, erector spinae, quadratus lumborum muscles, as well as both the superficial and deep fascia. Before beginning the procedure, a thin layer of petroleum jelly will be applied to the skin to ensure smooth gliding of the instrument.

During the treatment, instrument-assisted mobilization will be applied over the muscle fibers using the sweep, fan, brush, and sweep techniques, with each technique performed for 8-10 repetitions. The total duration of the application will be six minutes.

Intervention Type OTHER

Percussion massage therapy

Vibration massage therapy will be administered twice per week for a total of eight sessions. After positioning the participant in the prone position, the treatment session will begin. The vibration massage will be delivered using the Theragun™ device equipped with the No. 2 standard ball attachment, operating at a frequency of 1750 percussions per minute. The device will be held perpendicular to the muscle throughout the application, and no additional pressure other than the weight of the device itself-will be applied. Continuous contact between the massage gun and the skin will be maintained to ensure consistent pressure. The intervention will target the erector spinae and lumbar paravertebral muscles. A total of 10 minutes of percussion massage will be applied to the lateral portions of the lower back, with 5 minutes administered to each side. During the treatment, the device will be guided in a straight path from the distal toward the proximal region within approximately 30 seconds.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Individuals between 30 and 60 years of age
* Individuals diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation at the protrusion level
* Individuals with no cognitive, intellectual, or mental impairments and who are able to express themselves
* Individuals with a VAS score greater than 5
* Individuals experiencing pain for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria

* Individuals with a history of lumbar surgery
* Individuals who are pregnant
* Individuals who have had a spinal tumor or any other malignancy within the past six months
* Individuals who have received physiotherapy for low back pain within the last six months
* Individuals with orthopedic conditions such as fractures
* Individuals diagnosed with neurological, rheumatological, or psychological disorders
* Individuals with diagnoses such as infection, spondylosis, spondylolysis, osteoporosis, or ankylosing spondylitis will be excluded from the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

30 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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burak menek

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Burak Menek

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Uludag University

Central Contacts

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İlayda Gundogmus

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +90 534 434 99 34

Email: [email protected]

Burak Menek, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Email: [email protected]

Other Identifiers

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E-10840098-202.3.02-1887

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id