Comparing Myofascial Exercise and Trigger Point Therapy for Non-Specific Low Back Pain

NCT07362420 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: NYCU114206AE
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 105
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if two common physical therapy approaches, used alone or together, can help reduce pain and improve daily function in adults with nonspecific low back pain. Nonspecific low back pain means low back pain without a clear medical cause. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

• Be assigned to one of the three treatment groups by chance
• Receive treatment twice a week for four weeks
• Complete simple assessments before treatment starts, after the first treatment session, and after the final session The results of this study may help physical therapists choose better noninvasive treatment options for people with nonspecific low back pain.

Conditions

Non-specific Low Back Pain

Keywords

Non-specific Low Back Pain; Low Back Pain; Myofascial Trigger Points; Myofascial Chain; Exercise Therapy; Manual Therapy; Physical Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity is assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Participants rate their current low back pain on an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Lower scores indicate less pain.

  Baseline (before the first treatment session), immediately after the first treatment session, and after the final treatment session (4 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Functional performance

  Baseline (before the first treatment session) and after the final treatment session (4 weeks)

• Low Back Pain-Related Disability

  Baseline (before the first treatment session) and after the final treatment session (4 weeks)

• Myofascial Chain Extensibility

  Baseline (before the first treatment session) and after the final treatment session (4 weeks)

• Myofascial Chain Endurance

  Baseline (before the first treatment session) and after the final treatment session (4 weeks)

• Muscle Function

  Baseline (before the first treatment session) and after the final treatment session (4 weeks)

Study Arms (3)

Myofascial Trigger Point Manual Compression Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group receive myofascial trigger point manual compression only. A licensed physical therapist applies sustained manual pressure to identified myofascial trigger points using standardized, noninvasive procedures.

Other: Myofascial Trigger Point Manual Compression

Myofascial Chain-Based Specific Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group receive a myofascial chain-based specific exercise program only. The supervised exercise program is delivered by a physical therapist and focuses on movement control and muscle function within targeted myofascial chains.

Other: Myofascial Chain-Based Specific Exercise

Combined Manual Compression and Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group receive a combined intervention consisting of myofascial trigger point manual compression followed by a myofascial chain-based specific exercise program within the same treatment session.

Other: Myofascial Trigger Point Manual Compression; Other: Myofascial Chain-Based Specific Exercise

Interventions

Myofascial Trigger Point Manual Compression OTHER

This intervention consists of noninvasive hands-on manual pressure applied by a licensed physical therapist to identified myofascial trigger points associated with nonspecific low back pain. Treatment sessions are provided twice per week over a four-week period. Manual compression is applied using standardized clinical procedures at an intensity tolerated by the participant. The selection of trigger points follows predefined criteria to ensure consistency across treatment sessions. This intervention is noninvasive and does not involve the use of any drugs or medical devices.

Combined Manual Compression and Exercise Group; Myofascial Trigger Point Manual Compression Group

Myofascial Chain-Based Specific Exercise OTHER

This intervention is a supervised, noninvasive exercise program delivered by a licensed physical therapist. Participants attend exercise sessions twice per week for four weeks. The program focuses on movement control and muscle function within targeted myofascial chains and is tailored based on functional muscle performance. Exercise selection and progression follow standardized clinical criteria to promote safe and consistent implementation. This intervention is noninvasive and does not involve the use of any drugs or medical devices.

Combined Manual Compression and Exercise Group; Myofascial Chain-Based Specific Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 to 65 years
• Nonspecific low back pain lasting longer than 6 weeks
• Average low back pain intensity of 3 or higher on a 0-10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale
• Presence of at least 6 myofascial trigger points identified across bilateral target muscles
• Presence of muscle function impairments in at least 6 muscle groups based on functional muscle testing
• Able to understand study procedures and participate in an exercise-based intervention
• Willing and able to attend treatment sessions and complete study assessments

You may not qualify if:

• Currently pregnant
• Diagnosed spondylolisthesis or vertebral compression fracture
• Known malignancy or history of cancer affecting the spine
• Previous lumbar spine surgery
• Known neurological, infectious, or systemic disease that may affect pain or movement
• Any other medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would interfere with safe participation in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University: lead

Study Sites (1)

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Taipei, Taipei City, 112304, Taiwan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Central Study Contacts

Ya-Lun Wu, PT

CONTACT

+886 908103159; allen06190529.be13@nycu.edu.tw

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2026
• First Posted: January 23, 2026
• Study Start: January 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Last Updated: January 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)