Effect of Massage Therapy on Muscle Fatigue

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main objective of the current proposal is to investigate the clinical and physiological changes triggered by massage therapy in a group of individuals with chronic low back pain experiencing muscular fatigue. The investigators believe these objectives are in line with the 2014 Massage Therapy Research Fund research priorities, since the results produced by these investigations will generate knowledge with regard to the short term clinical efficacy of massage therapy and will provide critical information related to the physiological mechanisms underlying massage therapy clinical effects. Most importantly, the combined assessment of clinical and physiological outcomes will also yield key information to identify specific biological components of the massage therapy intervention. Determining the presence of a biological mechanism is, as for any treatment, considered one of the necessary criteria to declare a causal relationship between a specific intervention and its associated clinical effects. The investigators strongly believe that the proposed research will contribute to the identification of specific mechanisms that will complement the emerging clinical evidence supporting massage therapy in the treatment of chronic low back pain. The proposed research project will involve researchers and future practitioners of massage therapy. In conjunction with a high quality research environment, it is the goal of the investigators to create an educational environment for undergraduate and graduate students that will foster interdisciplinary collaboration in order to ensure a diversified; high quality training of young researchers and clinician scientists working in the field of manual therapies.

Official Title
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Effect of Massage Therapy on Muscle Fatigue in Individuals With Low Back Pain: Physiological or Clinical Changes

Conditions
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Low Back Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Massage


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Non specific low back pain Exclusion Criteria: Low back pain of specific origin including but not limited to: herniated disk fractures spondylolisthesis inflammatory rheumatic disease infectious disease neuromuscular disease vascular disease connective tissue disease severe disabling pain neurologic signs and symptoms pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: repeated measures crossover
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Massage<br>Massage therapy of the lumbar muscles in a prone position during 30 minutes | Other: Massage<br>* Massage therapy localized to the back of the individuals for a duration of 30 minutes<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Rest during 5 minutes in a prone position | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median frequency slope of the lumbar muscles (Hz/s) | Fatigue will be assess during a extensor muscle endurance task throught surface electromyography electrodes (the more the slope value is negative and high, the more the muscle presents an important fatigue) | assessed immediatly after massage or rest | 
| Maximal isometric force of the lumbar muscles (Newtons) | Back extensor isometric force is assess throught surface electromyography electrodes during a five seconds maximal volontary contraction | assessed immediatly after massage or rest | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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massage