Back Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Gua sha
Brief summary
The purpose of the study is to investigate whether Gua sha is an effective modality for relieving chronic low back pain specifically in the aged population by comparing the baseline measures of pain intensity, self-perceived disability, back range of motion, back local muscle stiffness, depression, sleeping quality, quality of life, biomarkers measurement, and analgesic intake on days 1 and 7 after a single session of Gua sha treatment. In addition, the investigators are going to compare between Gua sha and hot pack treatments for the above parameters.
Detailed description
Subjects will be randomized to receive firstly either one of the treatment arms, and then crossed over to receive another arm after 30 days washing out period. It is expected that Gua sha is 1) effective in reducing the intensity of chronic low back pain in the elderly; 2) effective in helping one or more outcome measures in this study and 3) more effective on relieving the low back pain than hot pack in terms of the outcome measures in this study.
Interventions
OTHERGua sha
A smooth, rounded-edged Gua sha tool will be press-stroked into the flesh enough to contact the fascial layer start at the midline of the subject's back. A stroke line is typically 4 to 6 inches long. Press-stroking will be repeated in one direction until the petechiae raises on that stroke line, typically 8 to 12 strokes. Gua sha will then be continued at the next stroke line directly adjacent to the one before, until the area covered the lower one third of the back.
OTHERHot pack
A hydrocollator pack will be used and it will be stored at 42-43oC in the hydrocollator. 6 layers of towel will be used to cover the hydrocollator pack when applying to the back of the subjects.
Sponsors
Massachusetts General Hospital
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age 60 or above * Self-reported painful restriction of lumbar spine mobility for at least 3 months or self-reported low back pain on at least 5 days a week for at least 3 months * Have pain intensity score 40 or above on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline
Exclusion criteria
* Prior history of radiculopathy or spinal stenosis or spinal fusion or failed surgery syndrome * Having radiating pain below the knee * Received the following surgery at the region of treatment in the past 12 months laminectomy, laminotomy or discectomy * Serious illness (e.g. malignancy) * Having wounds or skin lesions at the region of treatment * Having blood pressure at140/90 mmHg or above at baseline * Having Body Mass Index (BMI) at 18.5 or lower at baseline (as calculated by the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres (kg/m2) * Having active psychiatric disorders, significant mood disorder or dementia
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain intensity | Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment | Visual Analog Scale (VAS) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Biomarkers for inflammation and anti-inflammation | Day 0 before treatment, day 7 after treatment | Saliva specimen is collected from each subject for measuring the levels of Tumor |
| Self-perceived disability | Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment | Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) |
| Depression level | Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment | Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) |
| Back range of motion | Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment | By using inclinometer |
| Quality of life | Day 0 before treatment, day 7 after treatment | Short-Form (12) Questionnaire (SF-12) |
| Record for oral intake of NSAIDs and analgesic drugs | Day 0 before treatment, day 7 after treatment | Record |
| Sleeping quality | Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index (PSQI) |
Countries
Hong Kong
Outcome results
None listed