Investigating Medical Massage Therapy for Patients With Sub-Acute Lower Back Pain (Zeel LBP)

June 3, 2026 updated by: The Geneva Foundation

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a weekly regimen of Medical Massage Therapy (MMT) with provider-directed care shortens the duration of Medically Restricted Duty Days (MRDD) periods in Active-Duty Service Members with Subacute Lower Back Pain (LBP) compared to provider-directed care alone.

The main question the study aims to answer is, when used as an adjunct to provider-directed care, a consistent program of MMT provided by a qualified practitioner, will shorten the duration of MRDD periods, reduce pain, and decrease unnecessary healthcare utilization in patients with Subacute LBP compared to provider-directed care alone. Researchers will study this hypothesis through the comparison of Group #1 (provider-directed care alone) and Group #2 (provider-directed care and MMT).

Participants randomized into the two study groups will be following a 12-week study design (+/- 2 weeks) comprised of their compliance to their provider-directed care, the study intervention (if randomized to Group #2) and study case report forms (CRFs); with a final follow up visit (up to 4 weeks following their final treatment visit).

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) affect approximately 800,000 service members (SMs) annually and result in 25 million days of limited duty. These conditions account for 34% of medical evacuations from theatre, and are the primary reasons for medical separation. Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of MSKI amongst active-duty service members (ADSMs) with a lifetime prevalence rate of up to 80%. The burden of disease for LBP is reaching $100 billion annually in the United States and new methods for prevention and treatment are necessary.

At the present time, there is no "gold standard" for LBP management and strong evidence as to what is most beneficial is lacking. One of the most promising medical options for LBP is massage therapy (MT), given that no special equipment is needed, it can be delivered anywhere, it is non-habit forming, and the likelihood for serious harm is low. Massage therapy is unique in that it can naturally enhance local blood flow, thereby providing vital oxygen and nutrients to areas damaged by MSKI to promote healing, offers relaxation and normalization of soft tissue which reduces pain, lessens swelling, clears local pain mediators, improves cognitive/psychosocial complications (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.), aids in sleep quality, and provides a positive hormone release. To date, however, there has not been a large randomized control trial (RCT) performed on patients with subacute LBP to demonstrate healing and preventing patients from becoming chronically injured.

To address this limitation, we will enroll a total of 200 patients to assess the efficacy of medical massage therapy (MMT) combined with standard of care (SoC) in ADSMs with subacute LBP (intervention) as compared to SoC only (control). Five specific aims have been designed to understand if weekly MMT can reduce medically restricted duty days (MRDD) (Aim #1), decrease pain/disability and improve sleep quality (Aim #2), and lessen the need for prescription medications (Aim #3). Data will be aggregated at the end of the study through survey tools and self-reported information to understand the economic impact of (Aim #4) and to understand which patient phenotypes are optimal for future care (Aim #5).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

220

Phase

  • 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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Active-duty service member
  • 18-64 (inclusive) years of age
  • Medical evidence of subacute low back pain (as indicated by complications lasting 1-3 months)
  • Willingness to comply with treatment and follow-up schedule
  • Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current dx of any of the following:
  • Presence of significant comorbid pain (e.g., polytrauma)
  • Cancer - active/ongoing treatment for
  • Active Infections, including skin lesions and rashes
  • Flu or other severe cold virus or COVID
  • Severe depression or anxiety
  • Symptomatic Inflammatory/Autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid
  • Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis. Acute exacerbation and not in remission
  • High Grade Spondylolisthesis (Grade III and Grade IV)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Severe Osteoporosis (BMD with T-score of -2.5 or lower, along with the presence of one or more fragility fractures)
  • Neurogenic conditions
  • Spinal Stenosis with active neurogenic claudication
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome - acute
  • Radiating pain below the knee or in the presence of true Neurological signs (numbness/weakness)
  • Historical dx of any of the following:
  • Spinal Cord injuries with persisting neurogenic sensory or motor loss
  • Lumbar spine back surgery within the past year
  • Received spinal interventions (e.g., surgery, nerve ablations, steroid injections, etc.) within the past 6 months
  • Current use of blood thinners/anticoagulants
  • Is enrolled or plans to enroll in another clinical trial during this study that would affect the patient's safety or results of this trial
  • [Females only] Currently pregnant (self-reported) or plans to become pregnant during the study intervention period

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Group #1
Provider-directed care
Other: Provider Directed Care
Provider directed care (i.e. Physical Therapy)
Active Comparator: Group #2
Provider-directed care and Medical Massage Therapy
Other: Provider Directed Care
Provider directed care (i.e. Physical Therapy)
Procedure: Medical Massage Therapy
Massage and educational treatment provided by a licensed massage therapist.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (M-ODI)
Time Frame: Baseline Visit, Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
The M-ODI is the most commonly used aid for evaluating disability due to LBP This free instrument delivers medical provider information related to functional limitation and pain management.
Baseline Visit, Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Satisfaction and Treatment History Self-Reported Data
Time Frame: Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Participants will self-report differences in healthcare utilization and prescription medication fulfillment, as well as satisfaction with care.
Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI-LBP)
Time Frame: Baseline Visit, Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Low Back Pain (LBP) questionnaire is an instrument used to assess the impact of low back pain on a person's ability to work and perform daily activities. The questionnaire focuses on absenteeism (missing work), presenteeism (reduced productivity at work), and limitations in non-work activities due to low back pain.
Baseline Visit, Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)
Time Frame: Baseline Visit, Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
The Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS 2.0) is a pain assessment tool that utilizes a numerical rating scale enhanced by functional word descriptors, color coding, and pictorial facial expressions matched to pain levels.
Baseline Visit, Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Global Pain Scale (GPS)
Time Frame: Baseline Visit, Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
The GPS is a comprehensive assessment of pain evaluating pain, emotions, clinical outcomes, and daily activities,. This may be a valuable tool for evaluation and treatment planning for interventional pain management physicians.
Baseline Visit, Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Global Rating of Change Score (GRoC)
Time Frame: Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
The GRoC is a frequently used outcome measure that has ben used to independently score self-perceived improvement in a patient and has been used as an anchor method to determine minimal clinically important change scores. The GRoC is a single-item, recall-based questionnaire of well-being that is based on progress since an initial treatment encounter.
Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29)
Time Frame: Baseline Visit, Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
The PROMIS-29 v2.0 profile assesses pain intensity using a single 0-10 numeric rating item and seven health domains (physical function, fatigue, pain interference, depressive symptoms, anxiety, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and sleep disturbance) using four items per domain.
Baseline Visit, Week 1 Visit, Week 6 Visit, Week 12 Visit, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Physical Therapy Appointment History
Time Frame: Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
How many PT appointments since last study visit, which body part(s) treated, what treatment modalities were performed?
Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Military Specific Duty Status
Time Frame: Baseline Visit, Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)
Baseline Visit, Week 1-12 Visits, and Final Follow-up Visit (up to 16 weeks after Baseline Visit)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

The Geneva Foundation

Collaborators

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Madigan Army Medical Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ghena G. Grinshpun, PhD, MBA, MSF, PMP, Madigan Army Medical Center

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)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 3, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 226029
  • HU00012520022 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS))

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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