Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain According to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

NCT07648927 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: BAU-FTR-2026-07/03
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder associated with substantial disability and reduced quality of life. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used to identify structural spinal abnormalities, the relationship between MRI findings and treatment outcomes remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to evaluate whether the effectiveness of a standardized physical therapy program differs according to baseline lumbar MRI findings. Medical records of 240 patients with low back pain who underwent lumbar MRI and completed 15 sessions of physical therapy between January 2022 and February 2026 will be reviewed. Patients will be classified into six MRI-based groups: disc herniation, disc degeneration, Modic changes, facet arthropathy, spinal stenosis, and non-specific MRI findings. Treatment outcomes will be assessed using changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores before and after treatment. The findings may contribute to identifying patient subgroups that respond differently to conservative treatment and support more individualized rehabilitation strategies.

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Physical Therapy; Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease; Lumbar Disc Herniation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) from pre-treatment to post-treatment (after completion of 15 sessions of physical therapy).

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the 15-session physical therapy program (approximately 3 weeks).

Study Arms (1)

Patients with Low Back Pain Receiving Standard Physical Therapy

OTHER

Patients aged 18-65 years who presented with low back pain, underwent lumbar MRI examination, and completed a standardized 15-session physical therapy program consisting of hot pack application, ultrasound therapy, interferential current therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Participants will be retrospectively classified according to baseline MRI findings into disc herniation, disc degeneration, Modic changes, facet arthropathy, spinal stenosis, and non-specific MRI groups for outcome analyses.

Procedure: Standard Physical Therapy Program

Interventions

Standard Physical Therapy Program PROCEDURE

Participants received a standardized physical therapy program consisting of 15 treatment sessions. The treatment protocol included hot pack application, therapeutic ultrasound, interferential current therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). All interventions were administered as part of routine clinical care for low back pain.

Patients with Low Back Pain Receiving Standard Physical Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 65 years.
• Completion of 15 sessions of physical therapy.
• Availability of accessible MRI images in the medical records.
• No history of lumbar spine surgery.
• Absence of conditions that may cause low back pain, including fibromyalgia, neuropathy, spondyloarthropathy, or scoliosis.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of comorbid conditions that may cause low back pain (fibromyalgia, rheumatologic diseases, scoliosis, herpes zoster, polyneuropathy, central pain syndromes).
• Presence of systemic neuromuscular disorders.
• Acute disc herniation or vertebral fracture.
• Receipt of fewer or more than 15 sessions of physical therapy.
• Missing data in follow-up records.
• Use of analgesic medications during the treatment period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bahçeşehir University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bahcesehir university

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Intervertebral Disc Displacement

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical

Central Study Contacts

zeynep Iyigun, Prof. MD

CONTACT

+905056987368; znperdogan@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: prof., MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2026
• First Posted: June 15, 2026
• Study Start: June 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 25, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 10, 2026
• Last Updated: June 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)