Neck Pain, Massage Therapy
Conditions
Keywords
manuel massage, percussion massage, rondomized controlled trial, neck pain
Brief summary
This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of classical hands-on massage and percussion massage in individuals with neck pain. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of the two massage techniques. The study evaluated changes in muscle mechanical properties, pressure pain sensitivity, and anxiety, as well as patient satisfaction and therapist fatigue. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the effects of different massage techniques in the management of neck pain.
Detailed description
Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can affect daily activities and quality of life. Massage therapy is frequently used as a conservative treatment approach. Although percussion massage devices have become increasingly popular, evidence comparing their effects with traditional hands-on massage remains limited. This randomized comparative study was designed to investigate the immediate physiological and psychological responses to these two massage techniques. The study also examined therapist-related outcomes to provide additional insight into the clinical application of manual and device-assisted massage.
Interventions
OTHERManual Massage
A single 20-minute session of manual massage was administered to the neck region by a physiotherapist.
OTHERPercussion Massage
A single 20-minute session of percussion massage was administered to the neck region by a physiotherapist using a percussion massage device.
Sponsors
Tarsus University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
the outcome assessor was blinded to group allocation. Participants and massage practitioners were not blinded due to the interventions.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Being between 18 and 25 years of age. Being a student at Tarsus University. Reporting neck pain within the previous three months. Having a minimum pain intensity score of 3 on a 10-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Being otherwise healthy. Not currently receiving physiotherapy or massage treatment for neck pain. Voluntarily agreeing to participate and providing written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* History of cervical spine surgery. History of significant cervical trauma. Diagnosed neurological, rheumatological, or systemic musculoskeletal disorders. Presence of acute inflammatory conditions. Infection in the cervical or thoracic region. Contraindications to massage therapy, including open wounds, severe osteoporosis, or thrombosis. Use of regular analgesic or muscle relaxant medication within 24 hours prior to the intervention.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Stiffness | Baseline and immediately after the 20-minute intervention. | Muscle stiffness was assessed bilaterally in the cervical paravertebral, upper trapezius, and middle trapezius muscles using the MyotonPRO device. Three consecutive measurements were obtained at each site, and the mean value was recorded. Stiffness was expressed in N/m. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in State Anxiety | Baseline and immediately after the 20-minute intervention. | State anxiety was assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I), consisting of 20 items scored on a 4-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. |
| Change in Radial Pulse Rate | Baseline and immediately after the 20-minute intervention. | Radial pulse rate was measured manually to evaluate acute cardiovascular responses to the massage interventions. Heart rate was recorded in beats per minute (bpm). |
| Therapist Fatigue - Secondary Outcome Measure | Immediately before and immediately after each 20-minute intervention session. | Therapist fatigue was assessed using an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 (no fatigue) to 10 (worst imaginable fatigue). Higher scores indicate greater perceived physical fatigue. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed