Clinical trial NCT06982456: Manual Therapy Techniques for Cervical Pain: Algometric Evaluation
Official title: Effects of Massage, Pressure Release, and Stretching in the Treatment of Cervical Pain: An Algometric Assessment
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Phase: NA
Conditions: Myofascial Pain Syndromes
Massage
Stretching
Keywords: Trigger Points
Pain Measurement
Physical Therapy
Passive Stretching
Lead sponsor: Universidad de Murcia
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-05-21
Enrollment: 105
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 40
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: 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 purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: 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: 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.

Eligibility criteria: 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.

Primary outcomes:
measure: PPT - Pressure Pain Threshold
timeFrame: Three weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Brief questionnaire (self-reported).
timeFrame: Time of assessment: The day after the intervention
measure: Data collection form (demographic questionnaire).
timeFrame: Prior to the intervention (baseline).
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Murcia
country: Spain
facility: Universidad de Murcia
Study officials:
References: