Can a gentle head massage ease your back pain?
NCT ID NCT04199091
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested whether teaching people with chronic back pain simple craniosacral therapy self-help techniques could reduce their pain and improve function. 76 participants were split into two groups: one learned craniosacral therapy techniques, and the other learned progressive muscle relaxation. Both groups attended 24 sessions over 12 weeks. The goal was to see if craniosacral therapy could be a useful, drug-free self-help strategy.
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 self-help techniques
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a gentle, drug-free self-help option for managing chronic back pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 76 participants. The mechanisms of craniosacral therapy are not well understood, and results may not apply to everyone.
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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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Center for Integrative Medicine and Planetary Health, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen
Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45130, Germany
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