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Magnetic Resonance Elastography to Monitor Response to Manual Therapy in Myofascial Pain

NCT07278570 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 78

Last updated 2026-02-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The purpose of this research is to develop and test new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods that look at how muscles and tissues under the skin (myofascial tissues) move and respond to pressure. The investigators want to see how these tissues differ between healthy people and people with pain or injury, and how they change after hands-on treatment (Tuina therapy). The results will also be compared to a group that receives standard care without Tuina therapy.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Can MR elastography (MRE) show changes in how the fascia and the layers between muscles move and stretch before and after manual therapy?
2. Do changes seen on MRE scans match changes in pain, function, and other symptoms reported by participants?
3. Can MRE measurements before treatment help predict which participants are most likely to improve with manual therapy?

In this randomized controlled trial, participants with myofascial pain will be randomly assigned (randomized) to either the Tuina group or the Usual Care group following a home-based care program without manual therapy. All treatments are noninvasive, hands-on techniques commonly used in clinical practice to reduce tissue tightness and improve movement.

Participants will be asked to undergo three MRI scans and to complete questionnaires and other standard clinical assessments about their pain, physical function, and quality of life.

Conditions

  • Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Lower Back
  • Myofascial Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Tuina treatment

Tuina is a manual therapy involving techniques that apply targeted shear and stretching forces along muscular and fascial planes. Tuina therapy will be administered to subjects twice weekly for three consecutive weeks (a total of six sessions). Each session will last 30-60 minutes and will be administered by licensed Tuina practitioners trained and credentialed at Mayo Clinic.

OTHER

Usual care

Standard care will be followed, including a patient education course, lifestyle guidance, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and home remedies.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

    collaborator NIH

  • Mayo Clinic

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Ziying Yin, Ph.D. · Mayo Clinic

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-01
Primary Completion
2027-08-30
Completion
2027-08-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07278570 on ClinicalTrials.gov