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Status unknownNCT04817384Updated Mar 26, 2021

Graston Technique and Classical Massage for Chronic Neck Pain of Children

An interventional study of Graston technique and Classical Massage in Neck and Pain, sponsored by Eastern Mediterranean University. Status unknown. Open to participants aged 10 Years to 12 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-03-26.

Sponsored by Eastern Mediterranean University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Mar 2021), so the status shown — last known as Not yet recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
52
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
10 Years to 12 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

In reviews about manual therapy in children, mild, low-speed spinal mobilizations are emphasized as a safe treatment technique in infants, children and adolescents and have been used in clinics for years. Practices such as manipulation and manual therapy should adjust the force and speed used by the specialist practitioner in accordance with the age and developmental level of the child. Studies have emphasized that massage is an effective method in the treatment of chronic pain for children and adolescents. Significantly low pain and positive mood have been reported by children after these manual therapy sessions. Accordingly, the aim of the planned study is to compare the effects of graston technique and classical massage in children with chronic neck pain.

Read the detailed description

Although there are new physiotherapy interventions for musculoskeletal pain, it is seen that studies about manual techniques are limited in childhood. Graston technique includes a small metallic instrument known as "strigil" and used for therapeutic purposes in ancient Greece and Rome. Another source is based on the traditional Chinese treatment known as "gua sha". Those who found the Graston technique are Dr. Konin, Dr. Greenstein, and Dr. Schrader. The basis of the Graston technique used today was inspired by James Cyriax. When the effects of the Graston technique are investigated, they aim to reduce pain, evaluate and increase soft tissue mobility, and improve range of motion and function. This technique is applied using specially designed curved stainless steel tools. These devices create micro trauma to restore normal elasticity and function in soft tissue. The different structures of the instruments allow to modify the degree of treatment. Small size instruments can be used on smaller anatomical structures and mild symptoms. Larger sized instruments are suitable for large treatment areas and severe conditions. Instruments are applied to the soft tissue at 30-60 degree angles with multi-directional stroking movements. The application time is applied for a maximum of 30 to 60 seconds per tissue site. In addition, whether the problem is acute or chronic is the most important factor that determines the duration of treatment. Total treatment time with instruments is generally minimum 8 minutes. It is applied with a maximum of 20 minutes.

In reviews about manual therapy in children, mild, low-speed spinal mobilizations are emphasized as a safe treatment technique in infants, children and adolescents and have been used in clinics for years. Practices such as manipulation and manual therapy should adjust the force and speed used by the specialist practitioner in accordance with the age and developmental level of the child. Studies have emphasized that massage is an effective method in the treatment of chronic pain for children and adolescents. Significantly low pain and positive mood have been reported by children after these manual therapy sessions. Accordingly, the aim of the planned study is to compare the effects of graston technique and classical massage in children with chronic neck pain.

02

Conditions studied

  • Neck
  • Pain

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Keywords

  • graston
  • massage
  • children
  • musculoskeletal
03

In context

Neck Pain

1,232 studies on the registry are indexed under Neck Pain; 255 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 52 is close to the median of 52 across 1,004 interventional studies indexed under Neck Pain.

Browse Neck Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Eastern Mediterranean University is the lead sponsor of 136 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
10 Years to 12 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • The children who have a chronic neck pain diagnosed by physician.
  • The children who have minimum 10 degree limitation in at least one of neck movements.
  • The children who have pain in neck region higher than 3 from Wong Baker pain scale.
  • The children who state that they have neck pain for at least 3 months

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The children who have other pain related to neurological or other orthopedic problem apart from neck region.
  • The children who have any chronic disease requiring use of medicine like Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus.
  • The children who have open wound in neck region which may affect the interventions.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
52 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Graston technique group

    For Graston practice, instruments made of stainless steel material of a type suitable for the body structures and sizes of the children will be preferred. The treatment time takes approximately 20-25 minutes depending on the area being treated. The instant effects of the people will be looked at.

    Other: Classical Massage

  • Experimental
    Classical massage group

    The trapezius, erector spina and levator scapula muscles will be applied with one hand or both hands, starting with general stroking. The intermediate to be used is baby oil or natural oils. The application time will be approximately 20 minutes.

    Other: Graston technique

Interventions

  • OtherGraston technique

    For Graston practice, children will be asked to sit with a support forward. Vaseline will be used as an intermediate during the application. Instruments made of stainless steel material of a type suitable for the body structures and sizes of the children will be preferred. Larger instruments will be used for larger areas and smaller for smaller regions and fibrocytic areas. The frequency of the plastering and friction movements will be applied in 60 repetitions per minute. While the graston technique is applied to individuals; Superficial muscles in the entire dorsal region will be included in the treatment. These muscles, respectively, the levator scapula, trapezius, and erroctor spina muscles were selected. The treatment time takes approximately 20-25 minutes depending on the area being treated. The instant effects of the people will be looked at.

  • OtherClassical Massage

    In the neck massage application, the patient should be prepared, and the clothes in the upper back and neck area should be removed. The position of the patient will be in a sitting position with a pillow in front of him. The trapezius, erector spina and levator scapula muscles will be applied with one hand or both hands, starting with general stroking. The intermediate to be used is baby oil or natural oils. The application time will be approximately 20 minutes.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Level of Pain measured by Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale

    The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale is a pain scale that was developed by Donna Wong and Connie Baker. The scale shows a series of faces ranging from a happy face at 0, or "no hurt", to a crying face at 10, which represents "hurts like the worst pain imaginable". The child will be asked to determine their level of pain according to this scale before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: change from baseline to immediately after the intervention

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain Threshold measured by Pressure Algometry

    Pressure algometry will be used to measure threshold. The pressure on the painful region is recorded in number (P).

    Time frame: change from baseline to immediately after the intervention

  2. Range of motions of neck joint measured by universal goniometer

    Universal goniometer will be used for neck joint. Flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotations will be recorded in degrees.

    Time frame: change from baseline to immediately after the intervention

  3. Satisfaction level from the application measured by VAS

    The child will be asked to specify his/her satisfaction from the manual therapy (graston or classical massage) after the practice. The Visual Analogue Scale will be used to show the level. Zero will ne no any satisfaction and Ten will be too much satisfaction. The line starting from zere to ten cm will be given to child and asked to sign how much he/she is satisfied from the intervention.

    Time frame: immediately after the intervention

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 26, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04817384
Lead sponsor
Eastern Mediterranean University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 26, 2021
Start date
Apr 1, 2021 (estimated)
Primary completion
Aug 1, 2021 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 1, 2021 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 26, 2021

Study contacts

ZEHRA G TOPCU
Contact
zehra.guchan@emu.edu.tr
+903926303067 ext. 2496
Esra Mıhçıoğlu
Contact
+903926303067

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is status unknown, as verified in Mar 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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