NCT06787209

Effects of a Hip Flexor and Extensor Muscle Training Program in Individuals with Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Lucía Pilar Vicente Pina · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of a physiotherapy intervention program in the lumbopelvic area in chronic low back pain patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is a specific stretching and strengthening program for the hip musculature beneficial for function and symptom reduction in patients with non-specific chronic low back ain? 2. Are patients who have greater hip extension dysfunction going to benefit more from a specific program of stretching and strengthening of hip muscles? 3. Are there more alteration in pelvis alignement and movement in standig position compared to seated position in those patiens with lesser hip range of movement? 4. Are patiens with lesser hip range of movement going to show more dysfunction in the lumbopelvic region? Participants will: * Visit the physiotherapy clinic once a week to complete the therapeutic exercise session. * Repeat the session in their houses if its possible between 3 or 4 times a week and record the number of days they repeat the session at home. * Answer some questionaires at the begining of the intervention, after 4 weeks, a month and three months.

Detailed description

This study aims to enhance healthcare interventions for chronic low back pain, focusing specifically on patients whose pain may be linked to restricted hip extension mobility. Patients will be referred from the healthcare system to the physiotherapy center, where the principal investigator, Lucía Vicente, will randomize participants into either the intervention or control group. Each participant will complete an initial evaluation at the start of the intervention and again after 4 weeks. Additional questionnaires will be administered one and three months post-intervention. Pelvic movement changes will also be tracked before each in-person session. The program will focus on strengthening the pelvic muscles, particularly by targeting hip extensor strengthening and hip flexor stretching.

Conditions

• Chronic Low-back Pain (cLBP)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Program to improve lumbopelvic function.	Each individual will receive a weekly session log at the start of the intervention, allowing them to record the total number of sessions performed between in-person visits and the perceived exertion. In the strengthening phase, both compound and isolated exercises will be performed. These exercises will be of low intensity and maintained for prolonged periods until the patient reaches fatigue or can no longer perform the repetitions correctly. If the patient reaches 40 repetitions, the exercise will be progressed in difficulty. The patient will have one minute of rest after each set. Each session will include a total of 4 sets focused on the gluteal muscles The speed of execution for each repetition will be between 4-6 seconds. After the strengthening phase, three unilateral static stretches targeting the hip flexors will be performed, each lasting one minute. The entire program will be performed using bodyweight exercises and adapted exercises that can be done at home.
BEHAVIORAL	generic health care	The patients will receive 10 physiotherapy sessions at the health center throughout 4 weeks.They will be taught active exercises and undergo passive therapies to address their low back pain. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. The intervention will therefore be variable depending on the assigned physiotherapist, as there is no standardized protocol for action.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-01
• Primary completion: 2025-12-01
• Completion: 2026-03-01
• First posted: 2025-01-22
• Last updated: 2025-01-22

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain