Gua Sha for Chronic Low Back Pain in Elderly
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02314507 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : December 11, 2014
Last Update Posted : March 18, 2015
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Back Pain | Other: Gua sha Other: Hot pack | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 12 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Effects of Gua Sha and Hot Pack for Relieving Chronic Low Back Pain in Elderly: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial |
Study Start Date : | July 2014 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2014 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2014 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Gua sha
Paritcipants in this group will receive a single treatment of Gua sha conducted by a well-trained nurse or Chinese practitioner
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Other: Gua sha
A smooth, rounded-edged Gua sha tool will be press-stroked into the flesh enough to contact the fascial layer start at the midline of the subject's back. A stroke line is typically 4 to 6 inches long. Press-stroking will be repeated in one direction until the petechiae raises on that stroke line, typically 8 to 12 strokes. Gua sha will then be continued at the next stroke line directly adjacent to the one before, until the area covered the lower one third of the back.
Other Name: Skin scraping |
Active Comparator: Hot Pack Therapy
Participants in this group will receive a single treatment of Hot Pack conducted by a well-trained nurse or Physiotherapist
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Other: Hot pack
A hydrocollator pack will be used and it will be stored at 42-43oC in the hydrocollator. 6 layers of towel will be used to cover the hydrocollator pack when applying to the back of the subjects. |
- Pain intensity [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment ]Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
- Back range of motion [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment ]By using inclinometer
- Biomarkers for inflammation and anti-inflammation [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, day 7 after treatment ]Saliva specimen is collected from each subject for measuring the levels of Tumor
- Self-perceived disability [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment ]Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)
- Depression level [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment ]Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
- Sleeping quality [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, Day 1 and day 7 after treatment ]Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index (PSQI)
- Quality of life [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, day 7 after treatment ]Short-Form (12) Questionnaire (SF-12)
- Record for oral intake of NSAIDs and analgesic drugs [ Time Frame: Day 0 before treatment, day 7 after treatment ]Record

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 60 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 60 or above
- Self-reported painful restriction of lumbar spine mobility for at least 3 months or self-reported low back pain on at least 5 days a week for at least 3 months
- Have pain intensity score 40 or above on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline
Exclusion Criteria:
- Prior history of radiculopathy or spinal stenosis or spinal fusion or failed surgery syndrome
- Having radiating pain below the knee
- Received the following surgery at the region of treatment in the past 12 months laminectomy, laminotomy or discectomy
- Serious illness (e.g. malignancy)
- Having wounds or skin lesions at the region of treatment
- Having blood pressure at140/90 mmHg or above at baseline
- Having Body Mass Index (BMI) at 18.5 or lower at baseline (as calculated by the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres (kg/m2)
- Having active psychiatric disorders, significant mood disorder or dementia

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02314507
Hong Kong | |
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | |
Kowloon, Hong Kong |
Principal Investigator: | John Yuen, PhD | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
Responsible Party: | John Yuen, Assistant Professor, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02314507 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
GS-001 |
First Posted: | December 11, 2014 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 18, 2015 |
Last Verified: | March 2015 |
Gua sha |
Back Pain Low Back Pain Pain Neurologic Manifestations |