Psoas Major Muscle Intervention on Chronic Lumbar Pain in Cleaning Professionals.

NCT07672197 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: OST1-022
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of a psoas major muscle intervention on non-specific and chronic lumbar pain in cleaning professionals. It is expected that this intervention will reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the effect of psoas major stretching techniques. To collect data, participants will rate their pain intensity on a numeric pain scale at rest and during maximal lumbar flexion. Secondary variables include lumbar flexion range of motion (ROM), assessed by the Schöber test, and hip ROM, which will be measured before and after the intervention using a digital goniometer.

Conditions

Lumbar Pain; Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)

Keywords

manual therapy; cleaning professionals; psoas major; stretching technique

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Low Back Pain Intensity at Rest Assessed Using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS, 0-10)

  Low back pain intensity at rest will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), a self-reported scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity and therefore a worse outcome.

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Lumbar Range of Motion Assessed Using the Schober Test

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention.

• Hip Flexion Range of Motion Assessed Using a Digital Goniometer

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Experimental group

EXPERIMENTAL

Psoas major stretching

Other: Psoas stretching technique

Control group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Other: Placebo

Interventions

Psoas stretching technique OTHER

The patient is positioned supine at the edge of the table. The investigator places their hands on both of the participant's knees, applying gentle downward pressure on the ipsilateral knee to stretch the psoas major muscle. This stretch is held for 30 seconds and performed bilaterally (once on each side) to the experimental group.

Experimental group

Placebo OTHER

Patient is positioned supine at the edge of the table. The investigator places one hand on the participant's ipsilateral knee without applying any pressure or force, and the other hand on the contralateral knee for stabilization. This position is maintained for 30 seconds to match the duration of the experimental intervention. The technique was performed bilaterally (once on each side) to the control group.

Control group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Being a cleaning professional for at least 4 years
• Report at least 1 episode of lumbar pain in the last 3 months

You may not qualify if:

• Any severe spinal condition (such as spondylolisthesis, spine fracture, etc.)
• Any severe neurological or rheumatological condition
• Pregnancy
• Daily use of pain medication

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto: lead

Study Sites (1)

Escola Superior de Saúde do Porto

Porto, 4200-072, Portugal

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Pourahmadi M, Asadi M, Dommerholt J, Yeganeh A. Changes in the macroscopic morphology of hip muscles in low back pain. J Anat. 2020 Jan;236(1):3-20. doi: 10.1111/joa.13086. Epub 2019 Sep 1.

  PMID: 31475359 BACKGROUND

• Abdol Rahman, M. N., Muhamad Jaffar, M. S., Hassan, M. F., Ngali, M. Z., & Pauline, O. Exposure level of ergonomic risk factors in hotel industries. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. 2017. 226, 012018.

  BACKGROUND

• Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Thomas S. Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. BMJ. 2006 Jun 17;332(7555):1430-4. doi: 10.1136/bmj.332.7555.1430. No abstract available.

  PMID: 16777886 BACKGROUND

• Badarin K, Hemmingsson T, Hillert L, Kjellberg K. Physical workload and increased frequency of musculoskeletal pain: a cohort study of employed men and women with baseline occasional pain. Occup Environ Med. 2021 Jan 17;78(8):558-66. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2020-107094. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 33455921 BACKGROUND

• Mallio CA, Russo F, Vadala G, Papalia R, Pileri M, Mancuso V, Bernetti C, Volpecina M, Di Gennaro G, Beomonte Zobel B, Denaro V. The importance of psoas muscle on low back pain: a single-center study on lumbar spine MRI. N Am Spine Soc J. 2024 May 1;18:100326. doi: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100326. eCollection 2024 Jun.

  PMID: 38947493 BACKGROUND

• Scherzer T, Rugulies R, Krause N. Work-related pain and injury and barriers to workers' compensation among Las Vegas hotel room cleaners. Am J Public Health. 2005 Mar;95(3):483-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.033266.

  PMID: 15727981 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

• Natália MO Campelo

  ESS

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Natália MO Campelo, PhD

CONTACT

+351 222 061 000; nmc@ess.ipp.pt

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: All evaluations will be conducted by an independent, blinded assessor who is not involved in administering the interventions. First, participants will complete a screening questionnaire to confirm they meet all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Baseline measurements will then be recorded, including pain intensity at rest and during maximal lumbar flexion, as well as lumbar mobility via the Schöber test. Following the initial assessment, the blinded assessor will leave the room, and a separate investigator will administer the assigned intervention. Afterward, the blinded assessor will return to conduct the post-intervention assessment using the same protocols. Participants will be blinded to their group allocation, ensuring a participant- and assessor-blinded study design.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 7, 2026
• First Posted: June 26, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PT (1)