Efficacy of Massage in Stroke Spasticity

Mahidol University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Stroke; Sequelae

Treatments: Procedure: Physical therapy program; Procedure: Thai Traditional Massage (TTM)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01448980

Si205/2011

Details and patient eligibility

About

Stroke is one of the common diseases in the elderly. It is the third ranking cause of death and affects health care system in our country. One of the most important consequences of stroke is spasticity. Some stroke patients suffered from severe spasticity or hypersensitive reflex to stimuli. It can cause contracture, limit self care function, transfer or ambulation. Most of stroke patients have to depend on their relatives or families.

Full description

Thai traditional massage is one of the popular alternative medicine in Thailand. Lots of stroke patients who suffered from spasticity sought treatment. To the investigators knowledge, there is no study concerning efficacy of massage in decreasing spasticity for stroke patients.

Enrollment: 396 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Stroke with onset of >=6 months
• Age >=50 years
• Spasticity grade of knee flexor or elbow flexor was 2-3 classified by Modified Ashworth scale (MAS)
• Ability to follow command and communicable

Exclusion criteria

• Having contraindications for massage including fever > 38 degree, uncontrolled blood pressure, bleeding tendency, on anticoagulant drug, having ulcer or healing fracture of limbs, contamination skin disease, severe osteoporosis
• Serious contact diseases, for example AIDS, TB
• History of malignancy
• Fixed joint contracture at elbow or knee of paralyzed limb
• History of botulinum toxin injection or Phenol/Alcohol nerve block within 3 months
• Previous history of TTM
• Severe dementia or uncontrolled psychiatric problems

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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396 participants in 2 patient groups

Physical therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group will receive physical therapy 2 time per week for 6 weeks

Treatment:

Procedure: Physical therapy program

Thai Traditional Massage

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group will receive Thai traditional massage program 2 times per week for 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Procedure: Thai Traditional Massage (TTM)