An interventional study of Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and Inert Almond Oil Massage in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), sponsored by University of Baghdad. Recruiting at 1 site in Iraq. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-16.
Sponsored by University of Baghdad · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to standard care or standard care alone. Pain intensity and wrist mobility will be measured before and after the intervention period. The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of complementary therapies in reducing pain and improving joint function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, particularly affecting small joints such as the wrist. Despite pharmacological treatments, many patients continue to experience persistent pain and functional limitations.
Lavender aromatherapy massage is considered a complementary therapy that may help reduce pain and improve circulation and joint flexibility through both mechanical stimulation and the therapeutic properties of lavender essential oil.
This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of lavender aromatherapy massage on pain intensity and wrist joint mobility in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group receiving lavender aromatherapy massage in addition to routine medical care, and a control group receiving routine medical care only.
Pain intensity will be assessed using a standardized pain scale, and wrist joint mobility will be measured using appropriate clinical assessment tools before and after the intervention period.
The results of this study may contribute to evidence-based practice by determining whether lavender aromatherapy massage can be recommended as a safe and effective complementary intervention for managing pain and improving joint mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
3,332 studies on the registry are indexed under Arthritis, Rheumatoid; 443 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 120 is above the median of 96 across 2,220 interventional studies indexed under Arthritis, Rheumatoid.
Browse Arthritis, Rheumatoid studies →University of Baghdad is the lead sponsor of 170 studies on the registry; 69 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will receive lavender aromatherapy massage . The massage will be applied using lavender essential oil according to the study protocol , twice weekly
Other: Lavender Aromatherapy Massage
Participants in this group will receive massage using inert almond oil without lavender essential oil according to the same duration , twice weekly and procedure as the experimental group .This serves as a placebo control to maintain participant blinding.
Other: Inert Almond Oil Massage
Massage therapy using lavender essential oil applied to the wrist according to the study protocol , twice weekly.
Massage using inert almond oil without lavender essential oil, applied with the same duration and procedure as the experimental group , twice weekly.
Pain Intensity
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).
Wrist Joint Mobility
Wrist joint mobility will be assessed using a goniometer.
Time frame: Baseline and after completion of the intervention period (e.g., 4 weeks).
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to privacy and confidentiality considerations and institutional regulations.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Apr 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Oct 2026, 6 months after the start.
Of 292 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Arthritis, Rheumatoid, half reached primary completion within 24 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 39. This study's planned 6 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 348 studies reached it within 27 months; a quarter within 13 and three quarters within 47.
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