Cupping vs. gentle touch: which massage eases chronic neck pain?
NCT ID NCT07120659
First seen Jan 05, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 31 times
Summary
This pilot study will test two massage techniques—vacuum (cupping) massage and soft tactile massage—in 60 adults with chronic neck pain lasting at least 3 months. Participants will receive six weekly sessions, and researchers will use sensory tests to measure changes in pain pathways. The goal is to understand how each massage works and to guide personalized, non-drug treatments for neck pain.
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This is a summary of
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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Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Institute of Community Medicine, National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NAFKAM
RECRUITINGTromsø, Troms, 9013, Norway
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
massage therapy (vacuum massage and tactile massage)
What this could lead to
If successful, this study could help tailor massage therapies to individual needs and support integrating non-drug treatments for chronic neck pain into standard care.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study with only 60 participants, so results may not apply broadly. It compares two massage types without a placebo group, and the main focus is on understanding pain mechanisms, not proving long-term relief.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.