Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)LAM-RANCT07456657
Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy Massage on Pain and Wrist Mobility in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A study testing Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and Inert Almond Oil Massage in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), run by University of Baghdad at 1 site in Iraq.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to standard care or standard care alone. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- What is being tested?
- Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and Inert Almond Oil Massage
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIraq
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 1 Nov 2026
- 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 20 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 20 to 60 years
- Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis meeting the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria
- Seropositive for Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
- Stable dosage of RA medications (NSAIDs, csDMARDs, bDMARDs) for at least 3 months prior to enrollment with commitment to maintain the regimen
Who cannot join
- Acute joint inflammation or infection in the hands or upper back during screening
- Recent surgery (within 6 months) affecting hands or upper back
- Dermal lesions, open wounds, infections, or significant vascular pathology at treatment sites
- Serious comorbidities (uncontrolled diabetes, renal failure, cancer, severe cardiac/respiratory disease, coagulopathies, anticoagulant use)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Previous lavender aromatherapy massage within 6 months
- Documented hypersensitivity to lavender aromatherapy massage
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Iraq1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Marjan Teaching Hospital
Hillah, Babil Governorate, 51001
Ether Haider, PhD Candidate, +9647810626779, ethar.najm2102m@conursing.uobaghdad.edu.iq
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy Massage on Pain Intensity and Wrist Joint Mobility in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to standard care or standard care alone. Pain intensity and wrist mobility will be measured before and after the intervention period. The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of complementary therapies in reducing pain and improving joint function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Read the detailed description
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, particularly affecting small joints such as the wrist. Despite pharmacological treatments, many patients continue to experience persistent pain and functional limitations.
Lavender aromatherapy massage is considered a complementary therapy that may help reduce pain and improve circulation and joint flexibility through both mechanical stimulation and the therapeutic properties of lavender essential oil.
This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group receiving lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to routine medical care, and a control group receiving routine medical care only.
Pain intensity will be assessed using a standardized pain scale, and wrist joint mobility will be measured using appropriate clinical assessment tools before and after the intervention period.
The results of this study may contribute to evidence-based practice by determining whether lavender aromatherapy massage can be recommended as a safe and effective complementary intervention for managing pain and improving joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Being tested
- Lavender Aromatherapy Massage, Inert Almond Oil Massage
- Keywords
- Lavender Aromatherapy, Massage Therapy, Wrist Mobility, Pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Medical subject headings
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Lavender Aromatherapy MassageOther
Massage therapy using lavender essential oil applied to the wrist according to the study protocol , twice weekly.
Inert Almond Oil MassageOther
Massage using inert almond oil without lavender essential oil, applied with the same duration and procedure as the experimental group , twice weekly.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender Aromatherapy Massage Group | Experimental | Participants will receive lavender aromatherapy massage . The massage will be applied using lavender essential oil according to the study protocol , twice weekly Receives: Other: Lavender Aromatherapy Massage |
| Inert Almond Oil (Placebo Massage) | Placebo comparator | Participants in this group will receive massage using inert almond oil without lavender essential oil according to the same duration , twice weekly and procedure as the experimental group .This serves as a placebo control to maintain participant blinding. Receives: Other: Inert Almond Oil Massage |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Measured: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).
Secondary outcomes (1)
Wrist Joint Mobility
Wrist joint mobility will be assessed using a goniometer.
Measured: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026
- Primary completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)Studies 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
- Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to routine care, and a control group receiving routine care only.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Baghdad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ethar Haider Fadhil, University of Baghdad
- Investigators
- Serwan Jafar Bakey, Phd, Principal investigator, University of Baghdad, College of Nursing
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07456657
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Lavender-RA-01
- Acronym
- LAM-RA
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to privacy and confidentiality considerations and institutional regulations.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy Massage on Pain Intensity and Wrist Joint Mobility in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07456657
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LAM-RA / Lavender-RA-01
- Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Keywords
- Lavender Aromatherapy, Massage Therapy, Wrist Mobility, Pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of BaghdadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Mar 2026 (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.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to standard care or standard care alone. Pain intensity and wrist mobility will be measured before and after the intervention period. The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of complementary therapies in reducing pain and improving joint function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Detailed description
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, particularly affecting small joints such as the wrist. Despite pharmacological treatments, many patients continue to experience persistent pain and functional limitations.
Lavender aromatherapy massage is considered a complementary therapy that may help reduce pain and improve circulation and joint flexibility through both mechanical stimulation and the therapeutic properties of lavender essential oil.
This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group receiving lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to routine medical care, and a control group receiving routine medical care only.
Pain intensity will be assessed using a standardized pain scale, and wrist joint mobility will be measured using appropriate clinical assessment tools before and after the intervention period.
The results of this study may contribute to evidence-based practice by determining whether lavender aromatherapy massage can be recommended as a safe and effective complementary intervention for managing pain and improving joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to routine care, and a control group receiving routine care only.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender Aromatherapy Massage Group | Experimental | Other: Lavender Aromatherapy MassageParticipants will receive lavender aromatherapy massage . The massage will be applied using lavender essential oil according to the study protocol , twice weekly |
| Inert Almond Oil (Placebo Massage) | Placebo comparator | Other: Inert Almond Oil MassageParticipants in this group will receive massage using inert almond oil without lavender essential oil according to the same duration , twice weekly and procedure as the experimental group .This serves as a placebo control to maintain participant blinding. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 20 to 60 years
- Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis meeting the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria
- Seropositive for Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
- Stable dosage of RA medications (NSAIDs, csDMARDs, bDMARDs) for at least 3 months prior to enrollment with commitment to maintain the regimen
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Acute joint inflammation or infection in the hands or upper back during screening
- Recent surgery (within 6 months) affecting hands or upper back
- Dermal lesions, open wounds, infections, or significant vascular pathology at treatment sites
- Serious comorbidities (uncontrolled diabetes, renal failure, cancer, severe cardiac/respiratory disease, coagulopathies, anticoagulant use)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender Aromatherapy MassageMassage therapy using lavender essential oil applied to the wrist according to the study protocol , twice weekly. | Other | Lavender Aromatherapy Massage Group |
| Inert Almond Oil MassageMassage using inert almond oil without lavender essential oil, applied with the same duration and procedure as the experimental group , twice weekly. | Other | Inert Almond Oil (Placebo Massage) |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity
Time frame: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
1 secondary outcome
Wrist Joint Mobility
Time frame: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).
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 16 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to privacy and confidentiality considerations and institutional regulations.
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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.
Serwan Jafar Bakey, Phd principal investigator
University of Baghdad, College of Nursing
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and Inert Almond Oil Massage in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), run by University of Baghdad at 1 site in Iraq.
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 4 inclusion and 7 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Sep 2026. 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 Iraq. 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?
Contact Ethar Haider Fadhil, PhD Candidate (+9647810626779, ethar.najm2102m@conursing.uobaghdad.edu.iq), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain Intensity (time frame: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 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 16 Sep 2026.