Effects of Gua Sha and Thermotherapy on Chronic Neck Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Interventions: Other: Gua Sha; Device: Thermotherapy

• Registration Number: NCT01233180
• Lead Sponsor: Universität Duisburg-Essen

Brief Summary

Gua Sha massage is a traditional chinese medical treatment. It is mostly used in the treatment of the common cold and pain syndromes. Gua Sha involves pressuring the skin by a round-edged instrument until small petechiae appear. This so called "sha", considered as the removal of blood stasis by traditional practitioners, will fade within a few days. Normally, this treatment is not considered as painful, but as relaxing and easing tense muscles.

In this study, the investigators will investigate the effectivity of Gua Sha massage in treating chronic neck pain. The investigators will research effects on subjective pain intensity, neck pain specific disability and haptic perception.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2010-09
• Study First Submitted: 2010-11-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-11-02
• Study First Posted: 2010-11-03
• Status Verified: 2011-02
• Primary Completion: 2011-02
• Study Completion: 2011-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-02-22
• Last Update Posted: 2011-02-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• Chronic mechanical neck pain, at least 40 mm on a 100mm visual analog scale.
• Pain for at least 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

• radicular symptoms
• congenital spine deformity
• pregnancy
• rheumatic diseases
• oncologic diseases
• other severe psychiatric or somatic comorbidity
• recent invasive or surgical treatment of the spine
• participation in other studies
• skin diseases in the area to be treated

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Gua Sha	Gua Sha	Single Gua Sha treatment of the neck and shoulder region.
Thermotherapy	Thermotherapy	Single use of a mud heat pad on the neck and shoulder region.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Neck pain intensity (100mm visual analog scale)	Day 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Neck disability index (NDI)	Day 4	The Neck Disability Index is an instrument to assess neck pain complaints.; Reference: Vernon H, Mior S. The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1991;14:409-415.
Haptic perception	Day 4	The design consists of two angle legs, of which one angle leg has to be readjusted to a given angle adjustment. This is done by haptic perception without visual feedback. The deviation of the adjusted angle from the locked angle is measured.; Reference: Grunwald, M., Ettich, C., Busse, F., Assmann, B., Dähne, A., Gertz, H.-J., (2002): Angle paradigm: A new method to measure right parietal dysfunctions in anorexia nervosa. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology , 17, pp. 485- 496

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Department for Internal and Integrative Medicine; 🇩🇪 Essen, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany