Musculoskeletal PainNCT07917702
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Manual Therapy on Musculoskeletal Pain in Adolescent Dancers
A study testing Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Manual Therapy and Expectation-Enhancement Education in people with Musculoskeletal Pain and Chronic Pain, run by Gwangju Health University at 1 site in South Korea.
Trial summary
Adolescent dancers are at high risk of musculoskeletal pain due to repetitive, high-intensity training. Persistent pain may lead to kinesiophobia (fear of movement), which can further impair physical function according to the fear-avoidance model. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Chronic Pain, Kinesiophobia
- What is being tested?
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Manual Therapy and Expectation-Enhancement Education
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSouth Korea
- Study dates
- 9 Nov 2026to 15 Dec 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 13 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Adolescent dancers or dance majors aged 13 to 18 years
- Musculoskeletal pain in a specific body region (e.g., lower back, ankle) for at least 3 months
- Understanding of the study purpose and voluntary assent from the participant, with written informed consent from a legal guardian
Who cannot join
- Metal implants in the head or implanted electronic devices (e.g., cardiac pacemaker)
- Current pregnancy
- Current use of psychiatric medication
- Acute inflammatory disease
- Bleeding disorder or current use of anticoagulants
- Recent trauma, surgery, or skin disease at the painful (measurement) site
- History of epilepsy
- Any other physical condition that makes participation in the study or intervention inappropriate
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 Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Manual Therapy on Musculoskeletal Pain in Adolescent Dancers: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial
Adolescent dancers are at high risk of musculoskeletal pain due to repetitive, high-intensity training. Persistent pain may lead to kinesiophobia (fear of movement), which can further impair physical function according to the fear-avoidance model. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used as a top-down intervention for musculoskeletal pain; however, it remains unclear whether its analgesic effect results from true neural stimulation or from contextual factors such as treatment expectation.
This three-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial will enroll 24 adolescent dancers aged 13 to 18 years with musculoskeletal pain lasting at least 3 months. Participants will be randomly allocated, stratified by pain site, to (1) active tDCS plus manual therapy, (2) sham tDCS plus manual therapy, or (3) sham tDCS plus manual therapy plus structured expectation-enhancement education. Each participant will receive a single intervention session. Outcomes will be assessed before, immediately after, and 1 week after the intervention. The study aims to distinguish the neurophysiological effect of tDCS from the effect of treatment expectation on pain, kinesiophobia, and related outcomes.
- Conditions
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Chronic Pain, Kinesiophobia
- Being tested
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Manual Therapy, Expectation-Enhancement Education
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Musculoskeletal Manipulations, Adolescent, Placebo Effect
- Medical subject headings
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Chronic Pain, Kinesiophobia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active Transcranial Direct Current StimulationDevice
Anodal tDCS delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes using saline-soaked sponge electrodes, with the anode over the primary motor cortex (C3/C4) and the cathode over the contralateral frontal area according to the international 10-20 system. Current is ramped up and down gradually.
Sham Transcranial Direct Current StimulationDevice
Identical electrode placement and procedure as active tDCS for 20 minutes, with current delivered only for the first 30 seconds and then turned off.
Manual TherapyOther
Manual therapy including instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (Graston technique) applied to the painful region for 15 minutes, with the tool held at 30 to 60 degrees, within a tolerable pain range (VAS 3 to 4).
Expectation-Enhancement EducationBehavioural
A 5- to 10-minute structured education session delivered by the investigator using a standardized script that explains the principles and expected effects of the treatment.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS + Manual Therapy (ANT) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Other: Manual Therapy |
| Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy (SCT) | Sham comparator | Not described Receives: Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Other: Manual Therapy |
| Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy + Expectation-Enhancement Education (ECT) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Other: Manual Therapy; Behavioral: Expectation-Enhancement Education |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS)
Pain intensity rated on a 0 to 10 scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable). Higher scores indicate greater pain.
Measured: Baseline (before intervention), immediately after intervention, and 1 week after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 2026
- Study start9 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion9 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Musculoskeletal PainStudies 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Gwangju Health University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Chonnam National University
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Hyunjoong Kim, PhD, Principal investigator, Gwangju Health University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07917702
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1040198-260618-HR-137-04
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- 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 4 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Manual Therapy on Musculoskeletal Pain in Adolescent Dancers: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07917702
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1040198-260618-HR-137-04
- Conditions
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Chronic Pain, Kinesiophobia
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Musculoskeletal Manipulations, Adolescent, Placebo Effect
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Gwangju Health UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Chonnam National University
- Study start
- 9 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 9 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Nov 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.
Adolescent dancers are at high risk of musculoskeletal pain due to repetitive, high-intensity training. Persistent pain may lead to kinesiophobia (fear of movement), which can further impair physical function according to the fear-avoidance model. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used as a top-down intervention for musculoskeletal pain; however, it remains unclear whether its analgesic effect results from true neural stimulation or from contextual factors such as treatment expectation.
This three-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial will enroll 24 adolescent dancers aged 13 to 18 years with musculoskeletal pain lasting at least 3 months. Participants will be randomly allocated, stratified by pain site, to (1) active tDCS plus manual therapy, (2) sham tDCS plus manual therapy, or (3) sham tDCS plus manual therapy plus structured expectation-enhancement education. Each participant will receive a single intervention session. Outcomes will be assessed before, immediately after, and 1 week after the intervention. The study aims to distinguish the neurophysiological effect of tDCS from the effect of treatment expectation on pain, kinesiophobia, and related outcomes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active tDCS + Manual Therapy (ANT) | Experimental | Device: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Other: Manual Therapy |
| Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy (SCT) | Sham comparator | Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Other: Manual Therapy |
| Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy + Expectation-Enhancement Education (ECT) | Experimental | Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Other: Manual Therapy, Behavioral: Expectation-Enhancement Education |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adolescent dancers or dance majors aged 13 to 18 years
- Musculoskeletal pain in a specific body region (e.g., lower back, ankle) for at least 3 months
- Understanding of the study purpose and voluntary assent from the participant, with written informed consent from a legal guardian
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Metal implants in the head or implanted electronic devices (e.g., cardiac pacemaker)
- Current pregnancy
- Current use of psychiatric medication
- Acute inflammatory disease
- Bleeding disorder or current use of anticoagulants
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Active Transcranial Direct Current StimulationAnodal tDCS delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes using saline-soaked sponge electrodes, with the anode over the primary motor cortex (C3/C4) and the cathode over the contralateral frontal area according to the international 10-20 system. Current is ramped up and down gradually. | Device | Active tDCS + Manual Therapy (ANT) |
| Sham Transcranial Direct Current StimulationIdentical electrode placement and procedure as active tDCS for 20 minutes, with current delivered only for the first 30 seconds and then turned off. | Device | Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy (SCT), Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy + Expectation-Enhancement Education (ECT) |
| Manual TherapyManual therapy including instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (Graston technique) applied to the painful region for 15 minutes, with the tool held at 30 to 60 degrees, within a tolerable pain range (VAS 3 to 4). | Other | Active tDCS + Manual Therapy (ANT), Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy (SCT), Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy + Expectation-Enhancement Education (ECT) |
| Expectation-Enhancement EducationA 5- to 10-minute structured education session delivered by the investigator using a standardized script that explains the principles and expected effects of the treatment. | Behavioural | Sham tDCS + Manual Therapy + Expectation-Enhancement Education (ECT) |
Primary outcome
Change in Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS)
Time frame: Baseline (before intervention), immediately after intervention, and 1 week after intervention
Pain intensity rated on a 0 to 10 scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable). Higher scores indicate greater pain.
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 4 Nov 2026.
- 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.
Hyunjoong Kim, PhD principal investigator
Gwangju Health University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Manual Therapy and Expectation-Enhancement Education in people with Musculoskeletal Pain and Chronic Pain, run by Gwangju Health University at 1 site in South Korea.
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 3 inclusion and 8 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Nov 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 South Korea. 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 Hyunjoong Kim, PhD (+82-62-958-7598, hjkim@ghu.ac.kr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS) (time frame: Baseline (before intervention), immediately after intervention, and 1 week after intervention). 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 4 Nov 2026.