Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Longitudinal Stripping Massage vs. Percussion Device for Neck Pain: Ultrasound Study.

ConditionChronic Neck Pain
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-60
SponsorPoznan University of Physical Education

About this trial

This study evaluates whether a single session of percussion therapy can reduce muscle tension and increase blood flow in the transverse cervical artery in individuals with neck pain. The investigators will evaluate muscle stiffness using ultrasound elastography, and assess blood flow in the transverse cervical artery via Doppler imaging before and after treatment. The primary objective is to determine how this therapy affects neck muscle relaxation and vascular responses, specifically within the upper trapezius region.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Age: 18-60 years

Neck pain persisting for at least 3 months

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score between 3 and 7

Neck Disability Index (NDI) between 30% and 48%

Disqualifiers

Pregnancy and postpartum period

History of cervical spine or shoulder surgery

Diagnosed fibromyalgia, radiculopathy, or myelopathy

Myofascial therapy within the last 3 months

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Percussion Therapy

    Device

    Theragun device applied to dominant side of upper trapezius muscle. Session duration: 3 minutes.

  • Longitudinal stripping masage

    Other intervention

    Longitudinal stripping massage of dominant side of upper trapezius muscle. Session duration: 3 minutes.

Treatment groups

35 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Percussion Therapy ArmExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Longitudinal Stripping Massage ArmExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Neck pain intensity on Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Neck pain intensity evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale slide scale (score range 0-10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain). The patient marks their pain level using the slider, and the result is recorded as a numerical score. Unit of Measure: points

Time frame
Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

Secondary outcomes

1

Neck pain-related disability on Neck Disability Index (NDI)

Neck pain-related disability measured with the Neck Disability Index (score range 0-50 points, where higher scores indicate greater disability). Unit of Measure: points

Time frame
Baseline, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)
2

Shear-wave elastography of upper trapezius muscle: mean stiffness

Ultrasound shear-wave elastography of the upper trapezius muscle at the midpoint (foramen magnum-acromion line) to evaluate the mean stiffness value. Measurements performed supine with head stabilized, arms alongside body, cervical spine neutral. Probe placed at the midpoint of the trapezius. Ultrasound gel applied for optimal contact. The measurement is performed 3 times and the average value is used; repeated if discrepancies. Same researcher throughout. Unit of Measure: kilopascals (kPa)

Time frame
Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)
3

Myotonometry of upper trapezius muscle: oscillation frequency

Assessment of myofascial tissue tone (oscillation frequency) of the upper trapezius at the midpoint (foramen magnum-acromion line) using MyotonPRO device. Measurements performed supine with head stabilized, arms alongside body, cervical spine neutral. Probe placed perpendicular to the muscle surface at the midpoint of the trapezius. Same researcher throughout. Unit of Measure: hertz (Hz)

Time frame
Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)
4

Myotonometry of upper trapezius muscle: dynamic stiffness

Assessment of biomechanical properties (dynamic stiffness) of the upper trapezius at the midpoint (foramen magnum-acromion line) using MyotonPRO device. Measurements performed supine with head stabilized, arms alongside body, cervical spine neutral. Probe placed perpendicular to the muscle surface at the midpoint of the trapezius. Same researcher throughout. Unit of Measure: newtons per meter (N/m)

Time frame
Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

Other outcomes

1

Peak systolic velocity (Vs) of the transverse cervical artery.

Doppler ultrasound of the transverse cervical artery to evaluate Vs. Measurements performed supine with head stabilized, arms alongside body, cervical spine neutral. Probe positioned over the transverse cervical artery. Ultrasound gel applied for optimal contact. The measurement is performed 3 times and the mean value is used; repeated if discrepancies. Same researcher throughout. Unit of Measure: millimeters per second (mm/s)

Time frame
Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)
2

End-diastolic velocity (Vd) of the transverse cervical artery.

Doppler ultrasound of the transverse cervical artery to evaluate Vd. Measurements performed supine with head stabilized, arms alongside body, cervical spine neutral. Probe positioned over the transverse cervical artery. Ultrasound gel applied for optimal contact. The measurement is performed 3 times and the mean value is used; repeated if discrepancies. Same researcher throughout. • Unit of Measure: millimeters per second (mm/s)

Time frame
Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)
3

Resistive index (RI) of the transverse cervical artery.

Doppler ultrasound of the transverse cervical artery to evaluate RI. Measurements performed supine with head stabilized, arms alongside body, cervical spine neutral. Probe positioned over the transverse cervical artery. Ultrasound gel applied for optimal contact. The measurement is performed 3 times and the mean value is used; repeated if discrepancies. Same researcher throughout. • Unit of Measure: dimensionless (lub ratio / score)

Time frame
Baseline, 20 minutes post-therapy, 2 days post-therapy (follow-up), immediately before next therapy session, 20 minutes post-second therapy, and 2 days post-second therapy (final follow-up)

Sponsors and contacts

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Poznan University of Physical Education

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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