Myofascial Pain SyndromesNCT06982456
Manual Therapy Techniques for Cervical Pain: Algometric Evaluation
A study testing Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching in people with Myofascial Pain Syndromes and Massage, run by Universidad de Murcia at 1 site in Spain.
Trial 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Myofascial Pain Syndromes, Massage, Stretching
- What is being tested?
- Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 105 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 19 May 2025to 13 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Massage, Pressure Release, and Stretching in the Treatment of Cervical Pain: An Algometric Assessment
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Myofascial Pain Syndromes, Massage, Stretching
- Being tested
- Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching
- Keywords
- Trigger Points, Pain Measurement, Physical Therapy, Passive Stretching
- Medical subject headings
- Myofascial Pain Syndromes
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive StretchingOther
The intervention consists of manual therapy techniques applied to the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle, including superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique. In one of the experimental groups, this treatment is followed by passive stretching. The control group receives no intervention. Algometric measurements (pressure pain threshold) are taken before and after the intervention, and at one-week and two-week follow-up points to assess the effectiveness and persistence of the treatment.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group 1 | Experimental | 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. Receives: Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching |
| Experimental Group 2 | Experimental | 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 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. Receives: Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching |
| Control Group | Placebo comparator | Control Group: Will not receive any intervention but will undergo algometric assessments under the same conditions to enable comparisons with the experimental groups. Receives: Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PPT - Pressure Pain Threshold
Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measured with an algometer (kg/cm²) on the upper trapezius fibers.
Measurements will be taken pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at one and two weeks post-intervention.
Measured: Three weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Brief questionnaire (self-reported).
Subjective assessment of the discomfort or pain experienced in the treated area the day. post-treatment discomfort report.
Measured: Time of assessment: The day after the intervention
Data collection form (demographic questionnaire).
Collection of participant characteristics including age and sex. Do you suffer from neck pain regularly?
Measured: Prior to the intervention (baseline).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 May 2025
- Study start19 May 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion6 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion13 Jun 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Myofascial Pain SyndromesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- 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.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de Murcia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Angel Martínez Carrasco, Universidad de Murcia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06982456
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- M10/2024/519
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 13 May 2025
- Last updated
- 21 May 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 May 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Massage, Pressure Release, and Stretching in the Treatment of Cervical Pain: An Algometric Assessment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06982456
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- M10/2024/519
- Conditions
- Myofascial Pain Syndromes, Massage, Stretching
- Keywords
- Trigger Points, Pain Measurement, Physical Therapy, Passive Stretching
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de MurciaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 19 May 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 6 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 13 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 May 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- 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.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group 1 | Experimental | Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive StretchingThe 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 | Experimental | Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive StretchingThe 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 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 | Placebo comparator | Other: Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive StretchingControl Group: Will not receive any intervention but will undergo algometric assessments under the same conditions to enable comparisons with the experimental groups. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive StretchingThe intervention consists of manual therapy techniques applied to the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle, including superficial massage, deep massage, and pressure release technique. In one of the experimental groups, this treatment is followed by passive stretching. The control group receives no intervention. Algometric measurements (pressure pain threshold) are taken before and after the intervention, and at one-week and two-week follow-up points to assess the effectiveness and persistence of the treatment. | Other | Control Group, Experimental Group 1, Experimental Group 2 |
Primary outcome
PPT - Pressure Pain Threshold
Time frame: Three weeks
Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measured with an algometer (kg/cm²) on the upper trapezius fibers. Measurements will be taken pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at one and two weeks post-intervention.
2 secondary outcomes
Brief questionnaire (self-reported).
Time frame: Time of assessment: The day after the intervention
Data collection form (demographic questionnaire).
Time frame: Prior to the intervention (baseline).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 May 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Manual Therapy on the Upper Trapezius with or without Passive Stretching in people with Myofascial Pain Syndromes and Massage, run by Universidad de Murcia at 1 site in Spain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
PPT - Pressure Pain Threshold (time frame: Three weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 May 2025.