Massage of the Low Back Muscles Assessed With Ultrasound Scanning

Anglo-European College of Chiropractic

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Treatments: Other: Quiet non-instructed rest for 3 minutes; Procedure: Specific massage for fascial release

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01174667

AECC 290710

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of the study is to use diagnostic ultrasound to compare the thickness of soft tissues in the low back in a group of patients with chronic low back pain treated with massage to a control group of non-treated patients.

It is hypothesized that on average, soft tissue thickness in the lumbar region will change in the group receiving massage compared to the control group.

Full description

A specialized form of massage designed to reduce fascial restrictions will be compared to a no-treatment control group based on a change in thickness of the lumbodorsal fascia as determined by ultrasound imaging.

Enrollment: 70 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• History of chronic low back pain far at least 3 months
• Able to read and write English
• Between 18-64 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• Prior lumbar surgery
• Infected or broken skin over the lumbodorsal fascia
• Major structural spinal deformity
• Specific cause of low back pain, such as tumor, infection, fracture
• Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant medications
• Pregnancy
• Litigation for low back pain
• Systemic infection

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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70 participants in 2 patient groups

Fascial massage

Experimental group

Description:

A specific type of fascial massage to release restricted lumbodorsal fascia.

Treatment:

Procedure: Specific massage for fascial release

No treatment control

No Intervention group

Description:

Patient will rest quietly without receiving any instruction.

Treatment:

Other: Quiet non-instructed rest for 3 minutes