Massage vs. talk therapy: which changes your brain chemicals more?
NCT ID NCT06987786
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study will compare how massage and talk therapy affect stress and bonding hormones (cortisol and oxytocin) in people with chronic neck or back pain. Twenty-five adults with pain lasting at least 3 months will try both treatments in random order. Researchers will measure hormone levels from saliva before and after each session to see if the patient-therapist relationship influences pain and mood.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
massage (soft tissue mobilization) and talk-based therapy
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help explain how the bond between patient and therapist affects pain relief, potentially improving non-drug treatments for chronic pain.
What could go wrong
This is a very small early study (25 people) looking at hormone levels, not a treatment itself. Results may not apply to everyone and may not lead to new therapies.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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CORE 2200 West Main Street
Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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