NCT03502187

Subacute Low Back Pain in Active Duty

Home-based Approaches for Subacute Low Back Pain in Active Duty: Randomized, Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 133 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Tennessee · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The overall objective of this project is to compare three home-managed treatment regimens for subacute low back pain: Progressive Exercise Plan (PEP), NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) core strength training and standard primary care management (PCM). Each of the two treatment arms will be supplemented by Primary Care Management. The specific aim of the study is to determine whether the two treatment regimes are significantly more efficacious than standard PCM alone in improving lower back muscle strength, daily physical activity, physical function, quality of life, and symptoms associated with subacute LBP.

Detailed description

The overall objective of this project is to compare three home-managed treatment regimens for subacute low back pain: Progressive Exercise Plan (PEP), NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) core strength training and standard primary care management (PCM). The central hypothesis is that the NMES with PCM core strength training and PEP with PCM will show significantly greater improvements in muscle strength, pain, mobility/function, daily activity and quality of life (QOL) than PCM alone in military members with low back pain lasting three to eighteen weeks. The rationale for this study is that increasing torso muscle strength and decreasing pain through strength training exercises will significantly improve mobility, physical activity, QOL and reduce disability. Such outcomes could ultimately result in improved deployability, retention of military personnel and decreased economic costs in this population. The specific aims will be to determine whether the two treatment régimes are significantly more efficacious than standard PCM alone in improving lower back muscle strength, daily physical activity, physical function, quality of life, and symptoms associated with subacute LBP. After consent and baseline testing, active duty male and female subjects, ages 18 to \<45, (n=135) with LBP will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Each of the two treatment arms will be supplemented by PCM and compared to a group receiving standard PCM alone. All groups will receive nine weeks of home therapy. Using longitudinal mixed regression models, differences in time trends for the outcome variables among controls and those in the treatment groups will be examined. In these regression analyses, the important primary measures will be expressed as a function of time, treatment group, and group-by-time interactions, while controlling for important covariates. Positive results could translate into accelerated rehabilitation, decreased symptoms and lower medical costs with better patient outcomes.

Conditions

• Subacute Low Back Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Progressive Exercise Plan	The goal of PEP is to reduce back pain, disability, and improve trunk flexibility, strength and endurance through controlled, gradual, progressive back exercises. PEP teaches muscle strengthening exercises and self-management strategies to promote back fitness. PEP sessions provide a standardized self-management framework for performing the exercises at home. PEP is performed every other day/week for about \~1 hour over a period of 9 weeks. PEP consists of 3 sequential phases with each phase lasting 3 weeks. Exercises become progressively more difficult and intense, focusing on back stretching and strengthening that progressively load and unload the lumbar spine by means of flexion/extension exercises. The PEP group will perform 31 exercise sessions for 60 minutes on alternating days.
DEVICE	NeuromuscularElectricalStimulation(NMES)	The NMES treatment group will receive a portable battery-operated device, Recovery Back (Neurotech®, Minnetonka, MN) with a 2-garment site-specific system: back \& abdomen. NMES muscle contractions will be elicited by an electrical impulse generated by the Recovery Back system. The device delivers a pre-set program of NMES using a symmetrical biphasic square pulse waveform. (Moore SR, Shurman J, 1997) The garments are light-weight, breathable fabric that wraps around the waist with precise placements for the reusable electrodes. The controller uses a rechargeable battery with charger supplied. The NMES protocol consists of 30-minutes of NMES stimulation alternating between the abdominal and lumbar site over 9-weeks (one day Back training, next day Abdominal training).
BEHAVIORAL	Primary Care Management (PCM)	All participants will receive standard primary care management for subacute LBP. Primary Care Management follows the clinical practice guidelines for low back pain.(Chou et al., 2007) Service members are to stay as active as possible and progressively increase their activity. Medications prescribed begin with paracetamol and NSAIDs as first-line drugs. Second-line drugs include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, tramadol, and opioids. All participants will receive an information sheet on LBP advising them to remain active and use self-care options such as heat application. To provide an attention control, the PCM only group will receive weekly communication from the study coordinator regarding pain and medication usage.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-04-17
• Primary completion: 2020-05-28
• Completion: 2020-05-28
• First posted: 2018-04-18
• Last updated: 2022-01-25
• Results posted: 2022-01-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study