Limiting Trunk Flexion as a Self-treatment for Low Back Pain

NCT01830751 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: LMRIS 12-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 106
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of the proposed study is to test the effect of an intervention technique that reduces trunk flexion upon rising, on the outcome measures of self-reported back pain and functional impairment in individuals with chronic or recurrent non-specific low back pain (LBP). The intervention is a self-administered and requires no medical intervention or drugs. The technique referred to as the restrained sitting treatment (RST), involves training in minimizing forward bending of the trunk immediately upon rising. The technique builds upon a previous randomized controlled study conducted and published by members of the research team. The underlying premise of RST exploits the natural diurnal pattern as the intervertebral discs (people are tallest when they first wake up). The discs are fully hydrated upon rising, disc internal hydrostatic pressures and external forces acting on surrounding soft tissues are greatest at this time, and these pressures and forces can increase significantly with trunk flexion. The RST technique utilizes a back support used in sitting during the first hour upon rising to minimize trunk flexion during this critical period as the intervertebral discs begins the diurnal cycle of fluid loss. The study will test the null hypothesis that there are no significant difference in outcome (LBP, work or social function/disability) between groups performing RST, the experimental group performing RST upon rising, the control group performing prior to going to bed.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Keywords

self treatment technique; chronic; non specific; LBP; control trunk flexion; diurnal

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Score (numerical rating scale 0-10)

  Change in mean number of days reporting disability from beginning to end of intervention phase

  Baseline and 3 months (end of intervention phase)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Functional limitation in work

  Baseline and 3 months (end of intervention phase)

• Medication taken for back pain

  Baseline and 3 months (end of intervention phase)

Study Arms (2)

Limit trunk flexion upon rising

EXPERIMENTAL

Immediately upon rising particpants perform the Restrained Sitting Treatment intervention for one hour.

Other: Restrained Sitting Treatment

Limit trunk flexion before going to bed

SHAM COMPARATOR

Immediately prior to going to bed, particpants perform the Restrained Sitting Treatment intervention for one hour.

Other: Restrained Sitting Treatment

Interventions

Restrained Sitting Treatment OTHER

Training in avoidance of trunk flexion, with the use of a tall backrest with lumbar support to which the participant straps themselves. Participants are taught to strap into the backrest while while seated in a chair, and with hips and knees bent at right angles, for one hour at the appointed time of day.

Limit trunk flexion before going to bed; Limit trunk flexion upon rising

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of chronic or recurrent low back pain
• Six month or longer history of non-specific LBP
• Minimum 90 days in pain in the last six months
• Average pain score of past month ≥3 on a 0-10 numerical rating scale

You may not qualify if:

• Red flags (tumor, metabolic diseases, Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, prolonged steroid use, pregnancy, back surgery)
• Evidence of nerve root compression (pain reproduction with SLR\>45º, weakness of major lower extremity muscle group, decreased deep tendon reflexes at knee or ankle, decreased sensation to pinprick)
• Acute trauma to low back

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety: lead

Study Sites (1)

Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety

Hopkinton, Massachusetts, 01748, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Organizing Pneumonia; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Bronchiolitis; Bronchitis; Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Graft vs Host Disease; Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• Raymond W McGorry, MS, PT

  Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 29, 2013
• First Posted: April 12, 2013
• Study Start: March 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2016
• Study Completion: March 1, 2018
• Last Updated: March 8, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-03

Locations

US (1)