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Receive hand massage therapy sessions for lower back pain | stella

Back to Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Lower Back trials

Recruiting

Hand Massage Therapy to Help Lower Back Pain

Plain-English translation of NCT07278570 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated February 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This study is testing whether Tuina (a traditional Chinese hand massage therapy) can help relieve chronic lower back pain when added to your regular care. Researchers will use a special MRI scan to measure changes in your muscle tissue before and after treatment. Half of participants will receive six Tuina sessions over three weeks, while the other half will continue with usual care only.

Chronic lower back pain caused by tight, sensitive muscle knots can be difficult to treat. Researchers want to see if this traditional massage therapy actually helps relax these problem muscles and reduce pain, and whether a special imaging technique can measure that improvement.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 18 years or older
you have had chronic lower back pain for at least three months
your doctor has found a tight band or knot in your back muscle during physical exam
you have a tender, sensitive spot within that muscle knot that causes your current pain
you have limited ability to stretch your back fully due to pain

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant or breastfeeding
you have a pacemaker, metal implants, or severe claustrophobia that would make an MRI unsafe
you received other treatments in your lower back area within the last three months
you have a history of serious back injury, fracture, or back surgery
you have a neurological condition or active disease (like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis) that affects how you feel pain

What participation looks like

If you join this study, you will have MRI scans of your lower back at the beginning and end. You'll be randomly assigned to either receive six Tuina massage sessions (twice weekly for three weeks) plus your usual care, or to continue with usual care alone. Throughout the three weeks, researchers will track your pain levels and use the MRI images to measure whether your muscle tissue changes.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 6, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

United States

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota

Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota

Key details

Sponsor

Mayo Clinic

Collaborators

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Enrollment target

~78 participants

Started

February 2026

Primary completion

August 2027

Age range

18 Years and older

Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in February 2026.

Contact the research team directly

Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.

Central contact

Melissa L Bush

Mayo Clinic

Interested in joining?

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View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov