A 12-minute massage to boost immunity? science puts it to the test
NCT ID NCT06565065
First seen Aug 19, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial asks whether a standardized 12-minute osteopathic lymphatic massage can enhance immune readiness in healthy adults. Thirty participants will each receive the massage, a sham light touch, and a 15-minute exercise session in random order across three visits. Blood draws at multiple time points will measure immune cells and signaling molecules to see if the massage changes the immune profile compared with the other interventions.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) - a standardized 12-minute lymphatic massage protocol
- What this could lead to
- If OMT measurably boosts immune cell activity, it could support a drug-free way to enhance immune readiness in healthy people.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early study in 30 healthy adults, so results may not apply broadly. The effect may be no different from sham touch or exercise, and blood markers don't always reflect real immune protection.
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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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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 years and older
- 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: * Individuals must be 18 years or older. * Individuals must provide informed consent. * Individuals must be healthy with a BMI under 30, with no primary or secondary immune deficiency or autoimmune disease/must not be immunocompromised. * Individuals must not be using or recently have used any immune-altering medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus * Individuals must not have had lymphatic OMT or other physical manipulation such as acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy in the previous four weeks before study enrollment. * Individuals must have the ability to receive OMT with lymphatic techniques. * Individuals must be able to tolerate 12 minutes of moderate physical activity. * Individuals must not be pregnant or breastfeeding. * Individuals must not have had a splenectomy or other spleen or oncologic surgery within the past 6 months. * Individuals must be infection-free for the past 6 weeks before starting the study and have not received any immunizations within the past 6 weeks. * Individuals must be willing to avoid strenuous activity at least 24 hours before each visit. * Individuals must be willing to abstain from moderate to intense activity in the 4 hours between their 2nd blood draw and their final blood draw at each of their three visits. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals are younger than 18 years of age. * Individuals who do not provide informed consent. * Individuals with a BMI over 30, or with primary or secondary immune deficiency or autoimmune disease or is immunocompromised. * Individuals using or recently have used any immune-altering medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus * Individuals who have had lymphatic OMT or other physical manipulation such as acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy in the previous four weeks before study enrollment. * Individuals who don't have the ability to receive OMT with lymphatic techniques. * Individuals who cannot tolerate 12 minutes of moderate physical activity. * Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding. * Individuals who have had a splenectomy or other spleen or oncologic surgery within the past 6 months. * Individuals who have had an infection in the 6 weeks before starting the study and or have received any immunizations within the past 6 weeks. * Individuals not willing to avoid strenuous activity at least 24 hours before each visit. * Individuals not willing to abstain from moderate to intense activity in the 4 hours between their 2nd blood draw and their final blood draw at each of their three visits.
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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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Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona, California, 91766, United States
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