Pain
Conditions
Keywords
massage therapy, pain tolerance, pain threshold
Brief summary
Therapeutic massage has been thought to reduce anxiety and increase relaxation in human patients.This study is meant to determine the immediate effects of therapeutic massage on pain tolerance and threshold.
Detailed description
Patients participated in two trials of a pain stimulus test that measured pain threshold and pain tolerance. One trial was titled Massage Protocol and the other, No-Massage Protocol. During the Massage Protocol, they received a therapeutic massage to the forearm before participating in the pain stimulus test. During the No-Massage Protocol they did not receive a massage before participating in the pain stimulus test. Their pain threshold and tolerance for both trials were compared against each other. Each patient was randomized as to which protocol they participated in first.
Interventions
OTHERNo Massage Protocol
Participants did not receive therapeutic massage prior to completing the Cold Pressor Test.
OTHERProphylactic Therapeutic Massage
Participants received a 5 minute prophylactic therapeutic massage prior to completing the Cold Pressor Test. The massage was completed distally-to-proximally in the following order: superficial strokes to the entire forearm, deep strokes to the entire forearm, one-handed palmar kneading of the entire forearm with participant's forearm stabilized by the massager's the other hand, bilateral thumb kneading of the forearm in strips until the entire forearm was addressed, bilateral transverse thumb motions over palmar surface of the hand, single thumb kneading of thenar and hypothenar eminences simultaneously, bilateral thumb kneading to the dorsum of hand, deep stroking to the entire forearm, and superficial stroking to the entire forearm.
Sponsors
Kyle Knight
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
-generally healthy
Exclusion criteria
* pregnant * smoker * cold allergy * Raynaud's disease * cryophobia
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Pain Tolerance | Approximately 3 minutes | Pain tolerance is measured as using the Cold Pressor Test. It is calculated as the amount of time elapsed between submersion of the hand in cold water and removal due to intolerance of the stimulus. Data will be reported as the change in pain tolerance between massage and no massage. |
| Change in Pain Threshold | Approximated 3 minutes | Pain threshold is measured using the Cold Pressor Test. It is calculated as the amount of time elapsed between submersion of the hand in cold water and the first report of pain. Data will be reported as the change in pain threshold between massage and no massage. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed