Massage therapy may speed up recovery from lower back pain in military members

NCT ID NCT07615816

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: The Geneva Foundation Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether adding weekly medical massage therapy to standard care (like physical therapy) helps active-duty service members with subacute lower back pain recover faster and use less healthcare. About 220 participants will be split into two groups: one gets standard care alone, the other gets standard care plus massage. The trial tracks pain, disability, work productivity, and satisfaction over 12 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Medical massage therapy
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a non-drug option to help people with lower back pain recover faster and use less healthcare.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage study with no phase, so results are uncertain. The benefit may be small or no different from standard care alone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Low Back Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LOWER BACK PAIN MEDICAL MASSAGE THERAPY SUBACUTE LOWER BACK PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Madigan Army Medical Center
RECRUITING

Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, 98431, United States

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