Physiotherapy in Emergency Department for Acute Lumbar Spasm

NCT06987656 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024/254
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This retrospective observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions-such as manual therapy, electrotherapy (TENS), and individualized exercise programs-in managing acute lumbar spasm in patients presenting to the emergency department. By analyzing medical records from January to June 2024 at Düzce University Faculty of Medicine, the study will compare outcomes between patients receiving only pharmacological treatment and those receiving additional physiotherapy. Primary outcomes include changes in pain levels (measured by Visual Analog Scale), medication usage, patient satisfaction, and re-admission rates within an 8-week follow-up period. The findings aim to inform the integration of physiotherapy into emergency care protocols for acute lumbar spasm.

Conditions

Acute Low Back Pain; Musculoskeletal Pain; Emergency Care

Keywords

Physiotherapy; Acute Low Back Spasm; Emergency Department; Manual Therapy; Exercise Therapy; Pain Management

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) From Admission to Discharge

  At Emergency Department Admission and at Time of Discharge (up to 12 hours)

  VAS score (0-10 scale)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Level of Patient Satisfaction Recorded at Discharge

  At Discharge (within 12 hours of Emergency Department Admission)

Study Arms (2)

Pharmacologic Treatment Only Group

Patients who received standard pharmacologic treatment only, including NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and analgesics, without any physiotherapy intervention.

Drug: Standard Pharmacologic Treatment

Pharmacologic + Physiotherapy Group

Patients who received standard pharmacologic treatment along with physiotherapy interventions, including spinal mobilization, electrotherapy (TENS), and individualized exercise programs.

Drug: Standard Pharmacologic Treatment; Other: Physiotherapy Intervention

Interventions

Standard Pharmacologic Treatment DRUG

Standard pharmacologic management including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants (e.g., thiocolchicoside), and analgesics (e.g., paracetamol, tramadol) for acute lumbar spasm.

Pharmacologic + Physiotherapy Group; Pharmacologic Treatment Only Group

Physiotherapy Intervention OTHER

Physiotherapy interventions included spinal mobilization (Maitland techniques), myofascial release, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and personalized exercise programs, as documented in patient medical records.

Pharmacologic + Physiotherapy Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study will include adult patients aged 18 to 65 who are admitted to the Emergency Department of Düzce University Faculty of Medicine between June 1, 2025, and December 25, 2025, with a diagnosis of non-specific acute lumbar spasm. The study will retrospectively analyze data from electronic medical records to evaluate physiotherapy and pharmacologic treatment outcomes.

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged between 18 and 65 years
• Presented to the emergency department with non-specific acute lumbar spasm
• No serious pathology on initial evaluation (e.g., infection, malignancy, fracture)
• No contraindications to physiotherapy or physical activity
• Agreed to participate in the study and signed the informed consent (if applicable in prospective cases)

You may not qualify if:

• History of chronic low back pain
• Presence of neurological deficits (e.g., paresis, paralysis)
• Diagnosed with serious medical conditions such as infection, malignancy, or spondylodiscitis
• Pregnancy or contraindications related to reproductive health
• History of spinal surgery within the past year
• Cognitive or physical impairments limiting treatment participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Duzce University: lead
• Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Duzce University

Düzce, Düzce, 81620, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Uludag V, Tekin RT, Bogan M, Senguldur E, Demir MC. Integrating physiotherapy into the emergency department for acute low back spasm: a retrospective comparative study. Physiother Theory Pract. 2026 Jan 30:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2026.2624519. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41614542 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Pain; Emergencies; Agnosia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 15, 2025
• First Posted: May 23, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2025
• Study Completion: July 1, 2025
• Last Updated: September 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)