Tiny study hints craniosacral therapy may relieve dry mouth in cancer survivors
NCT ID NCT05882890
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tested whether craniosacral therapy — a gentle hands-on treatment — could reduce dry mouth in 11 people who had radiation or surgery for throat or mouth cancer at least two years earlier. Participants received manual therapy on the neck, throat, and mouth area, plus breathing and posture exercises. The study measured changes in dry mouth symptoms using questionnaires and a pain scale. Because it was very small and had no comparison group, the results are only a first step and need larger, more rigorous trials to confirm any benefit.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- craniosacral therapy (manual fascial treatment) and posture/breathing exercises
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to ease dry mouth and improve quality of life for head and neck cancer survivors.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 11 people, no control group, and no blinding. Results may not apply to everyone, and the therapy's effects are not proven yet.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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11 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2022
- Finished
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Nov 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 81 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Have finished radiation treatment and/or surgery for oro-pharyngeal head or necḱ cancer at least two years before enrolling the project * They shall score at least 4 on an xerostomia numeric scale where 0 is no xerostomia. Exclusion Criteria: * Persons who by surgery have got both their submandibular saliva glands removed. * Persons with known intercranial aneurism. * Persons who have got a skull fracture during the last 6 months. * Women who are trying to get pregnant. * Persons who have sequela after a trauma on their neck that needed hospitalization. * People with hernia on medulla oblongata. * I will wait to treat people until after one month after they have received any dural puncture, or after 12 weeks of pregnancy. * If I during my journal procedure of my participant finds any signs of active disease, I will send them to their doctor and do not start my treatment before the doctors approval.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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- Rahbek kraniosakralterapi -FysioDanmark Skødstrup
Skødstrup, Århus, 8530, Denmark
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Center for Kræft og Sundhed
Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark
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