Shiatsu therapy for long-lasting non-inflammatory pain in children and teens
Official title: The Efficacy of Adjunctive Shiatsu Therapy for Non-Inflammatory Chronic Pain in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Arm Prospective Trial
Run by Tel Aviv University · NCT06929598 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will try weekly 30-minute Shiatsu sessions alongside regular care to see if they improve quality of life for children and adolescents (ages 10–18) with non-inflammatory chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 10 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Tel Aviv University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2028 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 29, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06929598 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents aged 10–18 with diagnosed non-inflammatory chronic pain who are actively followed at the participating pediatric rheumatology or pain clinics and can attend weekly Shiatsu sessions and provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe conditions such as bone metastasis, those with inflammatory pain diagnoses, individuals unable to attend or tolerate Shiatsu sessions, or those who received Shiatsu within the prior six months are unlikely to benefit from this specific protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Children and adolescents aged 10–18 with non-inflammatory chronic pain who are followed at the Pediatric Rheumatology and Pediatric Pain Clinics at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center will receive a 30-minute Shiatsu session once weekly for six weeks in addition to their usual care. About 40 participants will be enrolled and will complete questionnaires on quality of life and family impact before, during, and after the intervention period. The design is a single-arm add-on intervention without randomization or a separate control group. The primary outcomes are changes in patient-reported quality of life and family impact measures over the course of the treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding Shiatsu could improve quality of life and reduce the day-to-day impact of non-inflammatory chronic pain for pediatric patients.
How similar studies have gone: Some small studies of manual and massage-based complementary therapies in pediatric pain populations have reported modest symptom or quality-of-life improvements, but rigorous evidence specifically for Shiatsu in this group is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Children and adolescents aged 10-18 years * Diagnosed with non-inflammatory chronic pain syndromes * Actively followed by the Pediatric Rheumatology and/or Pediatric Pain Clinics at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (at least twice a year) * Informed consent signed by at least one legal guardian (or both guardians in cases of separated parents) * If participant is 16 years or older, they must also sign the informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Informed consent cannot be obtained from the participant or their legal guardians * Legal guardians unable to provide informed consent * Patients with severe conditions (e.g., bone metastasis) * Patients unable to participate in Shiatsu therapy sessions * Participation in Shiatsu therapy within 6 months prior to study enrollment * Participant or legal guardian refuses participation
Where it's running
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Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Tel Aviv, Israel Recruiting -
Tel Aviv Univrsity
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Merav Heshin-Bekenstein, MD — Dana Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Study coordinator: Eyal Cohen-Sela, MD
- Email: cohensela@mail.tau.ac.il
- Phone: +972-3-6974247
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.