Effects of Myofascial Massage and Patient-therapist Communication Levels on Shoulder Muscle Properties in Breast Cancer Survivors With Myofascial Pain

University of Michigan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pain, Myofacial

Treatments: Behavioral: Massage

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06679400

HUM00250137

U24AT011969 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of the proposed study is to assess how myofascial massage alters stiffness and microvascular perfusion of shoulder muscles and how these changes are influenced by patient-therapist interactions.

The primary hypothesis is that stiffness of shoulder muscles will be decreased, and microvascular perfusion will be increased after a 30-minute myofascial massage, and that the addition of patient-therapist communication levels will result in greater changes with certain levels.

Full description

Please note that there are certain details left off of this registration in order to collect information regarding certain aspects of the trial. These details (approved by the IRB) will be updated at the end of the trial.

Enrollment: 21 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Previous unilateral breast cancer diagnosis
• Treatment for primary breast cancer was completed 3 months to 2 years prior to enrollment (defined as completion of all treatments except oral maintenance therapies)
• Myofascial pain in upper quadrant of the chest
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Chronic neuromuscular or orthopedic injury currently affecting upper extremity function that is unrelated to their cancer diagnosis
• Currently undergoing physical therapy, occupational therapy or other treatment for side effects related to their cancer diagnosis or other injury to the upper extremity
• History of fibromyalgia
• Broken or bruised skin in the chest/shoulder area
• Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
• Currently receiving treatment for other forms of cancer

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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21 participants in 2 patient groups

Massage with communication level 1

Experimental group

Description:

The therapist and the participant will have this level of communication (known as level 1 here). Further details will be explained at the end of the study.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Massage

Massage with communication level 2

Experimental group

Description:

The therapist and the participant will have this level of communication (known as level 2). Further details will be explained at the end of the study.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Massage