Electronic Approach to the Human Massage Therapist

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Lower Back Pain

In brief

The purpose of this study is to gather information about patient experience receiving a massage through a robotic EMMA (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation) compared to receiving a massage from a massage therapist.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07040397

Run by

Mayo Clinic

People needed

40

Starts

2026-01-30

Expected to finish

2026-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-04

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• be 18 years of age or older.
• report a primary pain point in the lower back.
• Pain intensity reported at baseline
• Women of childbearing potential who self-report not being pregnant and agree to employ an effective method of birth control (surgical sterilization or oral contraceptives, barrier method with spermicides, intrauterine device, etc.) during the study period
• be able to participate fully in all aspects of the study.
• have understood and signed study informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Patients with the inability to stay in a prone position
• Patients with bleeding disorders
• Patients with allergies and/or local skin affectations
• have used pain medications or participated in a pain treatment within three days of study enrollment.
• have an implanted device (including a lap band) in the targeted area of massage therapy.
• have used an investigational drug within 30 days of study enrollment.
• have a history of any major cardiovascular events including heart valve disease, ongoing angina, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or peripheral vascular disease.
• have clinically significant acute or chronic progressive or unstable neurologic, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, metabolic disease (such as uncontrolled diabetes type 2) active cancer, actively receiving treatment for cancer or within 1 year of cancer remission.
• surgical intervention for pain within 1 month prior to enrollment.
• active infection, wound or other external trauma to the areas to be treated with massage therapy.
• have a known history of any condition or factor judged by the investigator to preclude participation in the study or which might hinder adherence.

Where it is running

• Mayo Clinic in Rochester — Rochester, Minnesota, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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