Percussive Massage Therapy Using Heat Attachment in Chronic Low Back Pain

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Conditions studied: Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)

In brief

Low back pain is a global problem that currently affects many people's participation in daily activities, and its prevalence has been increasing over the years. Exercise is among the most effective treatment approaches for reducing and preventing pain and disability related to low back pain. To enhance the effects of exercise, various adjunctive methods may be needed. Local vibration applications delivered through mechanical devices are offer practical and time-efficient application, which may reduce the physiotherapist's manual workload, while also providing potential benefits for patients with musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Percussive Massage Therapy (PMT) applied using a heat-therapy attachment on pain, disability, spinal mobility, health-related quality of life, kinesiophobia, and patient satisfaction in individuals with chronic low back pain. Patients with chronic low back pain who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to either the PMT group or the Control group (CG). All participants will receive a conventional rehabilitation program consisting of supervised exercise training and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 2 weeks, 5 days per week, for approximately 45 to 60 minutes per day. The CG will receive only this conventional rehabilitation program. In addition, participants in the PMT group will receive PMT immediately after each conventional rehabilitation session, consisting of an 8-minute application (4 minutes per side) over the paravertebral muscles using a percussive massage therapy device. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and post-treatment (end of week 2). Pain intensity will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); disability using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI); spinal flexibility using the finger-to-floor distance test; health-related quality of life using the Short Form-36v2 (SF-36v2); and kinesiophobia using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Treatment satisfaction will be assessed post-treatment using the Global Perceived Effect Scale (GPE), and all data will be recorded on a data collection form.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07346651
Run by: Fenerbahce University
People needed: 48
Starts: 2026-01-12
Expected to finish: 2026-08-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-01-16

Who can join

Age: 25 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Age 25 to 55 years.
Diagnosis of chronic low back pain confirmed by a physician (pain localized to the lumbar region, above the inferior gluteal folds and below the costal margin) with a duration of ≥ 3 months.
Baseline pain intensity of 30-80 mm on the Visual Analog Scale (3 cm ≤ VAS ≤ 8 cm).

You may not qualify if…

History of, or planned, surgery involving the low back or abdominal region.
Malignancy, vertebral fracture, or other serious spinal pathology.
Spinal injection or intervention within the past 3 months (e.g., epidural injection, facet joint steroid injection, neuroplasty).
Long-term use of analgesic or corticosteroid medications that may affect musculoskeletal symptoms.
Diagnosis of radiculopathy or neuropathy (with or without spinal canal stenosis).
Cognitive impairment that would preclude providing informed consent.
Significant structural spinal deformity (e.g., spondylolisthesis, congenital spinal deformities).
Progressive neurological disorder affecting the lower limbs/spine or inflammatory spinal disease (e.g., axial spondyloarthritis), or cardiovascular instability.
Pregnancy.
Medical conditions contraindicating exercise participation

Where it is running

Göztepe Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yalçın City Hospital — Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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