The Neural Basis of Lumbosacral Proprioceptive Impairment in Recurrent Low Back Pain

NCT01540617 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2012_SBrumagne_MRIproprio
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Low back pain (LBP) is a well known health problem in Western society that is significantly responsible for socio-economic problems like absenteeism and disability. The lifetime prevalence of LBP is 60-80% and approximately 85% of this LBP has a "non-specific" character whereby the underlying causes and risk factors cannot be demonstrated. While many people recover within a month, most individuals will have recurrence within a year with more severe symptoms. This might be due to insufficient knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. Impaired proprioception, the ability to discern body/limb positions and movements, may cause and maintain LBP shown by an altered postural control strategy. Specifically, patients with LBP rely more on proprioceptive signals from the ankles due to less reliable proprioceptive input of proximal segments. Moreover, they show a decreased variability in postural control and less postural robustness, while variability is a prerequisite for optimal functioning of biological systems. However, further clarification of the neural correlates is necessary. Deficits in proprioception, as found in a subgroup of patient with LBP, are associated with a decreased ability of the brain to process proprioceptive inputs. The aim of this project is to clarify the central changes in individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain and healthy controls. To evaluate these central changes MRI techniques (3DTFE, DTI and RS-fMRI) will be used. In addition, the association between central changes and postural control tasks will be evaluated.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Keywords

Low back pain; Proprioception; Postural control; Spine; Variability; MRI; Vibration; Brain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Structural changes in white matter pathways (3DTFE and DTI) (in individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain compared to healthy controls)

  One time point

• Changes in resting state activity between individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain and healthy controls)

  One time point

• Proprioceptive postural control (center of pressure displacement in response to muscle vibration)

  One time point

Study Arms (2)

Persons with low back pain

Healthy persons

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Leuven and surrounding area

You may qualify if:

• Age: 20-50 year
• At least 6 months of low back pain with/without referred pain in buttock/thigh
• At least 3 episodes of disabling low back pain
• At least a score of 14% on the Oswestry Disability Index
• Willingness to sign the informed consent
• Met the MRI related requirements
• Age: 20-50 year
• No history of low back pain
• A score of 0% on the Oswestry Disability Index
• Willingness to sign the informed consent
• Met the MRI related requirements

You may not qualify if:

• History of major trauma and/or major orthopedic surgery of the spine, the pelvis or the lower quadrant
• One of the following conditions: Parkinson, MS, Stroke with sequels....
• Radicular symptoms
• Not Dutch-speaking
• Strong opioids
• Neck pain
• Ankle problems
• Smoking

Sponsors & Collaborators

• KU Leuven: lead
• Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Leuven, 3000, Belgium

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Claeys K, Brumagne S, Dankaerts W, Kiers H, Janssens L. Decreased variability in postural control strategies in young people with non-specific low back pain is associated with altered proprioceptive reweighting. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Jan;111(1):115-23. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1637-x. Epub 2010 Sep 8.

  PMID: 20824281 BACKGROUND

• Brumagne S, Janssens L, Knapen S, Claeys K, Suuden-Johanson E. Persons with recurrent low back pain exhibit a rigid postural control strategy. Eur Spine J. 2008 Sep;17(9):1177-84. doi: 10.1007/s00586-008-0709-7. Epub 2008 Jul 2.

  PMID: 18594876 BACKGROUND

• Brumagne S, Janssens L, Janssens E, Goddyn L. Altered postural control in anticipation of postural instability in persons with recurrent low back pain. Gait Posture. 2008 Nov;28(4):657-62. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2008.04.015. Epub 2008 Jun 9.

  PMID: 18541428 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Simon Brumagne, Professor

  KU Leuven

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof. dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2012
• First Posted: February 29, 2012
• Study Start: April 1, 2012
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2014
• Study Completion: April 1, 2014
• Last Updated: April 14, 2014

Record last verified: 2014-04

Locations

BE (1)