Aromatherapy Massage in Chronic Low Back Pain

May 5, 2026 updated by: Atahan TURHAN, Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

The Effect of Aromatherapy Massage in Individuals With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of adding aromatherapy massage with a mixture of lavender and orange oil to conventional physical therapy in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain on pain, central sensitization, functionality, sleep, quality of life, kinesiophobia, anxiety, and depression in this patient population.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Merkez
      • Kırşehir, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Kırşehir Research and Training Hospital, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18-65 years
  • Chronic nonspecific low back pain ≥ 6 months
  • Volunteering to participate
  • Receiving treatment at physical therapy clinic

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of orthopedic surgery, fracture, trauma
  • Inflammatory, rheumatologic, neurological, psychiatric disorders
  • Asthma
  • Current psychiatric medication use
  • Peripheral neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia
  • Long-term corticosteroid use
  • Skin lesions/open wounds in treatment area
  • Allergy to lavender, orange, or almond oil
  • Positive allergic reaction to patch test

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Conventional Physiotherapy
Hotpack (10 min) TENS (20 min) Ultrasound (5 min) Stretching & stabilization exercises (15 min) Frequency: 5 sessions/week for 4 weeks
Other: Conventional Physiotherapy
Hotpack (10 min) TENS (20 min) Ultrasound (5 min) Stretching & stabilization exercises (15 min) Frequency: 5 sessions/week for 4 weeks
Experimental: Aromatherapy Massage + Conventional Physiotherapy

Same conventional physiotherapy protocol

Aromatherapy massage:

Lavender + orange essential oil (%1.5 in sweet almond oil) 15 min/session 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks Massage techniques: effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration
Other: Aromatherapy Massage + Conventional Physiotherapy
Same conventional physiotherapy protocol Aromatherapy massage: Lavender + orange essential oil (%1.5 in sweet almond oil) 15 min/session 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks Massage techniques: effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
McGill Pain Questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks
The McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form consists of 15 items evaluating sensory and affective dimensions of pain. Each item is scored on a 0-3 Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 45. Higher scores indicate greater pain severity.
Baseline, 4 weeks
Pressure Pain Threshold (Algometer)
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks
Pressure pain threshold will be measured using an algometer to evaluate sensitivity in predefined anatomical points. The device quantifies the minimum pressure that induces pain.
Baseline, 4 weeks
Central Sensitization Inventory
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The Central Sensitization Inventory is a 25-item questionnaire assessing symptoms related to central sensitization. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0-4), with total scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater central sensitization symptoms.
Baseline and 4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Disability (Oswestry Disability Index)
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The Oswestry Disability Index consists of 10 items assessing functional disability related to low back pain. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, with total scores converted into percentage disability (0-100%).
Baseline and 4 weeks
Quality of Life (SF-36)
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The SF-36 Health Survey evaluates quality of life across 8 domains including physical functioning, role limitations, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role, and mental health. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status.
Baseline and 4 weeks
Anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory)
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a 21-item scale measuring anxiety severity. Each item is scored from 0 to 3, with total scores ranging from 0 to 63.
Baseline and 4 weeks
Depression (Beck Depression Inventory)
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The Beck Depression Inventory consists of 21 items assessing depressive symptoms. Total scores classify depression severity as minimal, mild, moderate, or severe.
Baseline and 4 weeks
Kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia)
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia includes 17 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Total scores range from 17 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater fear of movement.
Baseline and 4 weeks
Sleep Quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index evaluates sleep quality across 7 components. Total scores range from 0 to 21, with scores above 5 indicating poor sleep quality.
Baseline and 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 20, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 20, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 5, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KAEU-T.ATAHAN-014

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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