Stripping Massage on Rhomboid Major and Minor Active Trigger Points in Upper Thoracic Pain

Effects of Stripping Massage on Rhomboid Major and Minor Active Trigger Points in Patients With Upper Thoracic Pain.

Aim of this randomized controlled trial is to see the effects of stripping massage on rhomboids major and minor active trigger points in patients with upper thoracic pain for reducing pain, enhancing thoracic range of motion and physical functioning

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Upper Thoracic Pain Due to Active Trigger Points
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: stripping massage + conventional therapy; Other: Conventional therapy

Detailed Description

Spine pain is a common condition that results in considerable levels of disability and lost work time and has a major impact on society, a lifetime prevalence ranging from 15.6% to 19.5% for thoracic pain. Thoracic pain is more prevalent in women than in men (2:1). The origin of spine pain is clearly multifactorial and often includes number of anatomical structures. One plausible etiology of symptoms associated with thoracic pain may be the presence of myofascial pain. Myofascial pain is generally associated with the presence of trigger points. Trigger points are hypersensitive spots within taut bands of skeletal musculature whose stimulation can be associated with referred pain and autonomic phenomena. Trigger points can be either active or latent depending on the association with symptoms. For instance, active trigger points (MTrPs) are associated with spontaneous pain, and the local and referred pain reproduces the symptoms of the patient, totally or partially.

Stripping massage (SM) is a gliding tissue massage technique that focuses on the deeper layers of the fascia and skeletal muscle.This technique involves gliding pressure along a muscle, usually from one attachment to the other in the direction of the muscle fibers. Applying SM to tender spots in muscles can cause ischaemia followed by reflexive hyperaemia. This increases the local blood flow, which improves pliability of the muscles and fascia and helps break down adhesions and decrease pain sensations. SM acts as a mechanical stress that stimulates parasympathetic activity which leads to the release of substances such as endorphins. These chemicals remove the noxious stimulus and decrease the pressure on nociceptors, reducing pain The rationale for the use of this technique is to identify the effects of stripping massage on rhomboids active trigger points in upper thoracic pain patients. This study will see the effects of stripping massage on rhomboids trigger points on pain, thoracic mobility, and functional performance. Aim of this study is to see the effects of stripping massage to figure out whether this technique would be more effective and should be incorporated into clinical settings in relation to conventional treatment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Madiha Ali, MS-OMPT; Phone Number: 0331-3360064; Email: madiha.ali@riphah.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, 44000
      • Recruiting
      • Railway General Hospital
      • Principal Investigator: Aqsa Mustafa, MS-OMPT

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants falling in this category would be recruited into the study.

  • females
  • Age: 18-40
  • Active TrPs in the rhomboid major and minor muscles.
  • Presence of atleast one trigger point in rhomboids (diagnosed by the characteristics like hyperirritable spot in a taut band, twitch response and referral pain)
  • Presence of Jump sign
  • Segmental hypomobility in upper thoracic region identified with positive springing test
  • upper thoracic pain, defined as pain in the body region encompassing from T1 to T4) pain intensity score of ≥ 3 on the numeric pain rating scale (0-10)
  • symptoms provoked by thoracic movement,or palpation of the rhomboid muscles.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants falling in this category would be excluded from the study.

  • a history of neck trauma
  • previously had surgery in the neck or shoulder area or suffered from physical injury
  • Fractures, Dislocations, Traumatic injuries, Adhesive capsulitis, thoracic outlet syndrome.
  • any rheumatic condition, osteoporosis, cancer, spinal infection, radicular pain, or neuropathy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: stripping massage + conventional Therapy; Stripping Massage Stripping massage on rhomboid major and minor active trigger point in the direction of muscle fiber from origin to insertion of muscle. Frequency: 3 minutes for 3 times/week for 4 consecutive weeks. Conventional therapy including Hot pack for 10 minutes + ischemic compression for 90 secs + CPA glides grade 3 kaltenborn mobilization on thoracic T1 to T4 (5 reps x 1 set) Frequency: 3 times/ week for 4 weeks	Other: stripping massage + conventional therapy; Stripping massage on rhomboid major and minor active trigger point in the direction of muscle fiber from origin to insertion of muscle. Frequency: 3 minutes for 3 times/week for 4 consecutive weeks. Conventional PT including Hot pack for 10 minutes + ischemic compression for 90 secs + CPA glides grade 3 kaltenborn mobilization on thoracic T1 to T4 (5 reps x 1 set) Frequency: 3 times/ week for 4 weeks; Other Names: Stripping massage on rhomboid major and minor active trigger points
Active Comparator: Conventional therapy; Conventional Therapy Conventional PT including Hot pack for 10 minutes + ischemic compression for 90 secs + CPA glides grade 3 kaltenborn mobilization on thoracic T1 to T4(5 reps x 1 set ) Frequency : 3 times/ week for 4 weeks	Other: Conventional therapy; conventional therapy including Hot pack for 10 minutes + ischemic compression for 90 secs + CPA glides grade 3 kaltenborn mobilization on thoracic T1 to T4 (5 reps x 1 set ) Frequency : 3 times/ week for 4 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale NPRS	The NPRS is a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale which is used to assess pain. It scores ranges from 0-10, 0 means No pain and 10 means Severe pain. Patient will be asked to verbally report the pain score.	4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bubble inclinometer	It is an instrument that measures the available range of motion at a joint.	4 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional rating index	The Functional Rating Index (FRI) is an instrument specifically designed to quantitatively measure the subjective perception of function and pain of the spinal musculoskeletal system in a clinical environment	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Madiha Ali, MSOMPT, Riphah International University; Principal Investigator: Aqsa Mustafa, MSompt*, Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 9, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 13, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 13, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 16, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 16, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 13, 2024
• Last Verified: August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Stripping massage, Upper thoracic pain, Active trigger points
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Chest Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: Aqsa Mustafa

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