Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Elastic Resistance Versus Free Weight Training Of Gluteus Medius In Improving Pain, Strength, And Overall Gait Speed In Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

NCT06976242 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: KMU/DIR/CTU/2025/001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of elastic resistance training and free weight training in strengthening the gluteus medius muscle among patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Weakness in the gluteus medius can contribute to pelvic instability and altered gait patterns, which may exacerbate low back pain. While both elastic resistance and free weight exercises are commonly used in rehabilitation, there is limited evidence comparing their relative benefits in this population. This study evaluates improvements in pain, muscle strength, and overall gait speed following each intervention. The findings will help guide clinicians in choosing the most effective and accessible strengthening method for patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Keywords

Gluteus Medius; Low Back Pain; Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain; Exercise Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Pain Intensity

  Pain will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), a self-reported 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).

  Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention

• Change in Gluteus Medius Muscle Strength

  Muscle strength will be measured using a manual muscle testing to assess isometric strength of the gluteus medius. A system of manually testing weakness of muscles by assuming different positions and performing movements against gravity or gravity eliminated depending on the strength of the and 5 indicates the muscle can hold anti-gravity position against maximum resistance.

  Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention

• Change in Overall Gait Speed

  Gait speed will be measured using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), recorded in meters per second (m/s).

  Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Elastic Resistance Training with Conventional Training

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants in this group will receive elastic resistance training with conventional training. The intervention would be given 5 times per week on alternate days for 4 weeks. Each exercise session will be given in 2sets of 8 repetitions each set.

Procedure: Elastic Resistance Training; Procedure: Conventional Training

Free Weight Training along with Conventional Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The participants in this group will receive free weight training along with conventional training. The intervention frequency will be the same as group A (5 times/week for 4 weeks). Each exercise session will be given in 2 sets of 8 repetitions each set.

Procedure: Free Weight Exercises; Procedure: Conventional Training

Interventions

Elastic Resistance Training PROCEDURE

The type of resistance exercises in which the participants use the Thera Band of yellow and red colours (weight about 2-2.5 kg with full elongation) for resistance training

Also known as: Resistance Band Training, Theraband Exercise

Elastic Resistance Training with Conventional Training

Free Weight Exercises PROCEDURE

The type of resistance exercises in which the participants use weight cuffs (weight 2-2.5 kg) tied to their lower leg for resistance training

Free Weight Training along with Conventional Training

Conventional Training PROCEDURE

The conventional training includes side-lying hip abductions, standing weighted abductions, and lateral step-ups exercises.

Elastic Resistance Training with Conventional Training; Free Weight Training along with Conventional Training

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age 30-60 years
• Both males and females of any race and ethnicity
• Musculoskeletal condition that affects the gluteus Medius of hip
• MMT for gluteus medius is 3 or less than 3
• chronic stage of nonspecific low back pain
• Cognitively intact (mini mental scale) and able to walk 10 meters with or without support.
• Volunteer participations.

You may not qualify if:

• Post-surgical conditions like TKR, THR.
• Any contraindication to exercise.
• Female individuals who have muscular weakness due to pregnancy
• Any neurological conditions (myopathies, neuropathies) causing muscular weakness
• Chronic low back pain in which Gluteus Medius weakness is not measurable.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Khyber Medical University Peshawar: lead

Study Sites (1)

Rehman Medical Institute

Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (11)

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  PMID: 25700608 BACKGROUND

• Kasitinon D, Li WX, Wang EXS, Fredericson M. Physical Examination and Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: an Updated Review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2021 Dec;14(6):406-412. doi: 10.1007/s12178-021-09730-7. Epub 2021 Oct 29.

  PMID: 34713383 BACKGROUND

• Bauer CM, Rast FM, Ernst MJ, Meichtry A, Kool J, Rissanen SM, Suni JH, Kankaanpaa M. The effect of muscle fatigue and low back pain on lumbar movement variability and complexity. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2017 Apr;33:94-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.02.003. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

  PMID: 28226298 BACKGROUND

• Lanza MB, Rock K, Marchese V, Addison O, Gray VL. Hip Abductor and Adductor Rate of Torque Development and Muscle Activation, but Not Muscle Size, Are Associated With Functional Performance. Front Physiol. 2021 Oct 14;12:744153. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.744153. eCollection 2021.

  PMID: 34721067 BACKGROUND

• Sheahan PJ, Diesbourg TL, Fischer SL. The effect of rest break schedule on acute low back pain development in pain and non-pain developers during seated work. Appl Ergon. 2016 Mar;53 Pt A:64-70. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2015.08.013. Epub 2015 Sep 10.

  PMID: 26674405 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 26646514 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 26900496 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 37996958 BACKGROUND

• Lorenzetti S, Ostermann M, Zeidler F, Zimmer P, Jentsch L, List R, Taylor WR, Schellenberg F. How to squat? Effects of various stance widths, foot placement angles and level of experience on knee, hip and trunk motion and loading. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018 Jul 17;10:14. doi: 10.1186/s13102-018-0103-7. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 30026952 BACKGROUND

• Psilander N, Eftestol E, Cumming KT, Juvkam I, Ekblom MM, Sunding K, Wernbom M, Holmberg HC, Ekblom B, Bruusgaard JC, Raastad T, Gundersen K. Effects of training, detraining, and retraining on strength, hypertrophy, and myonuclear number in human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2019 Jun 1;126(6):1636-1645. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00917.2018. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

  PMID: 30991013 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

• Gulab Noor, MSPT

  Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Khyber Medical University Peshawar

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Dr Hazrat Bilal, PhD*

  Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Khyber Medical University Peshawar

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants and assessors performing pre- and post-intervention evaluations will be blinded to group allocation to reduce bias.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to either an elastic resistance training group or a free weight training group to compare outcomes related to pain, strength, and gait speed.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 8, 2025
• First Posted: May 16, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 29, 2025
• Study Completion: August 15, 2025
• Last Updated: September 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: Data requests can be submitted starting 12 months after article publication.
• Access Criteria: Access can be requested by qualified researchers through proper approval of the investigators.

Locations

PA (1)