Pain Modulatory Profiles in Massage for Healthy Participants

University of Florida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Musculoskeletal Pain; Healthy

Treatments: Other: Pain Free Massage; Other: Pain Inducing Massage; Other: Coldpressor

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03490474

IRB201800213

Details and patient eligibility

About

One in ten adults experience widespread pain. Neck pain, for example, is a prevalent condition with a high rate of recurrence that affects between 10.4% and 21.3% of the population annually.

Massage is a common manual therapy intervention for individuals with musculoskeletal pain. However, the mechanisms of massage are not well established. Also, the conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm is a dynamic quantitative sensory testing measure of a pain inhibitory process in which pain sensitivity is lessened in response to a remotely applied painful stimulus.

This study will evaluate the association between pain inducing massage and the conditioned pain modulation paradigm.

Full description

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is the physical manifestation of the diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC), an endogenous pain inhibitory pathway in which pain inhibits pain. Conditioned pain modulation is less efficient in individuals with chronic pain conditions and it is a predictor for the development of chronic pain.

Massage is a common manual therapy intervention for individuals with musculoskeletal pain. Greater changes in pain sensitivity occur following pain inducing massage suggesting a mechanism dependent upon the efficiency of the conditioned pain modulation response.

The study team will evaluate the association between pain inducing massage and the conditioned pain modulation paradigm. Healthy participants will be randomly assigned to receive a pain inducing massage, a pain free massage, or participate in a coldpressor task. Pre-and post intervention pain sensitivity including conditioned pain modulation will be assessed. The study team will determine if analgesia induced by massage is similar to the conditioned pain modulation paradigm and compare changes in pain sensitivity between groups.

Previous research has indicated pain inducing massage is more effective than pain free massage suggesting a mechanism dependent upon conditioned pain modulation. However, this study will be the first to systematically investigate if analgesia induced by pain inducing massage is similar to the conditioned pain modulation paradigm. Furthermore, this study will be the first to determine the association between baseline conditioned pain modulation and massage related hypoalgesia.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• pain free
• blood pressure under 140/90 mmHg
• ability of therapist to locate necessary trigger points on participant

Exclusion criteria

• blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg
• inability of therapist to locate necessary trigger points on participant
• systemic medical condition known to affect sensation (i.e. diabetes)
• regular use of prescription pain medication to manage pain
• current or history of chronic pain condition
• currently using blood thinning medication
• any blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia
• any contraindication to application of ice or cold pack, such as: uncontrolled hypertension, cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, and circulatory compromise
• non-English speaking

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Pain Inducing Massage

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive manual pressure applied to one myofascial trigger point.

Treatment:

Other: Pain Inducing Massage

Pain Free Massage

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive light touch applied to one myofascial trigger point.

Treatment:

Other: Pain Free Massage

Coldpressor

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants will place hand into water cooled to 6 degrees Celsius (males) or 8 degrees Celsius (females).

Treatment:

Other: Coldpressor