NCT01085604

Recurrent Low Back Pain:Linking Mechanisms to Outcomes

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 69 (actual)
• Sponsor: Drexel University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if trunk neuromuscular control strategies are changed by therapeutic exercises emphasizing core stabilization. Hypothesis: subjects with low back pain who demonstrate clinically meaningful improvements in function and pain will have significantly improved trunk motor control strategies. Hypothesis: measures of trunk control will demonstrate 'construct-validity'. This will be tested using a known group method demonstrating: * no significant change in motor control measures within the untreated, healthy control group. * significant changes within the low back subjects who demonstrate clinically meaningful improvements.

Detailed description

A growing body of evidence suggests that poor neuromuscular control of the lumbopelvic region is an important finding in a large number of patients with recurrent and chronic low back pain and may play a role in recurrence of symptoms. Despite findings of altered trunk motor control in individuals with low back pain, the neuromuscular strategies underlying these alterations have not been satisfactorily characterized. The aims of this study are to(1) identify which neural control strategies are altered following a rehabilitation program that emphasizes trunk control and stability using a motor learning approach and (2) provide preliminary evidence of a link between hypothesized mechanism and effectiveness for programs designed to improve trunk control.

Conditions

• Low Back Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Core Stabilization	The 8-week core stabilization program emphasizes use of specific local stabilizing muscles (transverse abdominis\[TrA\], lumbar multifidus\[LM\]) to restore active control and stability to the trunk. This program emphasizes training using isometric co-contractions and a progression (3 stages) based upon a motor learning paradigm. Stage 1: emphasizes neutral position of the spine and activation of the TrA and LM. Performance feedback is emphasized and monitored through observation and palpation. Stage 2: promotes maintenance the co-contraction while performing movements of the trunk and superimposing movements of the upper and lower extremities. Trunk conditioning is also emphasized (i.e., curl ups, quadruped leg/arm lifts and side support). Feedback is gradually reduced. Stage 3: emphasis on maintenance of the co-contraction while performing exercises on an unstable surface or during perturbation of the activity. Random practice patterns are used to enhance motor learning.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-08-01
• Primary completion: 2015-04-01
• Completion: 2015-06-01
• First posted: 2010-03-12
• Last updated: 2018-08-02

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States