Clinical trial NCT02389140: Blood Flow Within Active Myofascial Trigger Points Following Massage
Official title: Blood Flow Within Active Myofascial Trigger Points Following Massage
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Myofascial Pain
Tension-type Headache
Keywords: Blood flow
Glucose
lactic acid
Lead sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2015-03-17
Enrollment: 28
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 21
Maximum age (years): 49
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: The physiological response at the myofascial trigger point (MTrP) to massage is not known, yet would provide important objective evidence for a treatment effect and clarify the resolution process of a MTrP.

Detailed description: The physiological response at the myofascial trigger point (MTrP) to massage is not known, yet would provide important objective evidence for a treatment effect and clarify the resolution process of a MTrP. The long-term goal is to understand how therapeutic intervention affects the physiology of the MTrP. The objective of the proposed research is to assess, in a placebo controlled trial, the effectiveness of trigger point release massage (also known as ischemic compression) on blood flow at an active MTrP. The central hypothesis is that the contraction nodule of an active MTrP is characterized by an ischemic state comprised of reduced blood flow and subsequent dysregulation in carbohydrate metabolism. The investigators hypothesize that trigger point release (TPR) can positively impact blood flow leading to a change in high energy carbohydrate tension. The present study has been formulated, in part, from a preliminary study conducted by the investigators, which supports reduced blood flow and physiological disruption at active MTrPs. The proposed research will provide a physiological basis for massage to corroborate subjective reports of reduced pain sensitivity, impart credibility to treatment techniques, and provide insight into a mechanism of action for healing the MTrP.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Chronic or episodic tension-type headache
* active MTrP in upper trapezius
* age 21-49
* BMI between 18.5-24.9
* either gender
* any race or ethnicity

Exclusion Criteria:

* No or latent MTrP in the upper trapezius
* migraine 4+/month
* cluster headache
* fibromyalgia
* neurological disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis)
* cardiovascular disease (e.g. prior heart attack or stroke)
* diabetes
* pregnancy
* a bleeding disorder (Self-report of hemophilia, known lack/deficiency of clotting factors, or presently °taking anti-coagulants (e.g. warfarin, Coumadin))
* narcotic use
* currently receiving massage
* prior trigger point injection or needling therapies
* allergy to lidocaine-type anesthetics such as lidocaine and prilocaine

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Blood Flow as measured by microdialysis
timeFrame: 1 hr pre intervention and 1 hr post intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Glucose as measured by microdialysis
timeFrame: 1 hr pre intervention and 1 hr post intervention
measure: Change in Lactate as measured by microdialysis
timeFrame: 1 hr pre intervention and 1 hr post intervention
measure: Change in Pyruvate as measured by microdialysis
timeFrame: 1 hr pre intervention and 1 hr post intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Aurora
country: United States
facility: University of Colorado Hospital
state: Colorado
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Colorado, Denver
name: Albert Moraska, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Moraska AF, Hickner RC, Rzasa-Lynn R, Shah JP, Hebert JR, Kohrt WM. Increase in Lactate Without Change in Nutritive Blood Flow or Glucose at Active Trigger Points Following Massage: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018 Nov;99(11):2151-2159. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.06.030. Epub 2018 Aug 6.