Bowen Therapy and McGill Stabilization Exercises in Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT07694219 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: IRB-UOL-SMC/001-27/2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy combined with McGill stabilization exercises versus Bowen Therapy alone in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The study will evaluate changes in pain intensity, lumbar range of motion, and functional disability over a six-week intervention period. It is hypothesized that the combined intervention will produce greater improvements in clinical outcomes than Bowen Therapy alone.

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP); Chronic Low Back Pain

Keywords

Low back pain; Chronic low back pain; Bowen therapy; Disability index; Lumbar mobility; McGill stabilization; Pain reduction; Range of motion; Rehabilitation exercises

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Functional Disability Measured by the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI)

  Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6

Study Arms (2)

Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received a combined intervention consisting of Bowen Therapy and McGill stabilization exercises for six weeks. The McGill exercise program included curl-up, side-bridge, and bird-dog exercises performed three sessions per week on alternate days, with 30 repetitions and a 10-second isometric hold per repetition. Conventional physiotherapy exercises, including single and double knee-to-chest stretches, prone lying, heel slides, supine bicycling, and bridging exercises, were also provided. Before each treatment session, participants received a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

Procedure: Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise

Bowen Therapy Alone

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants received Bowen Therapy alone for six weeks. Bowen Therapy consisted of gentle rolling manual movements applied to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs, with 2-5 minute intervals between movement sequences. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets following a standardized treatment protocol. Participants also received standard physiotherapy modalities, including a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) before each treatment session.

Procedure: Bowen Therapy

Interventions

Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise PROCEDURE

Bowen Therapy is a manual therapy involving gentle rolling movements applied over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs. Treatment consisted of standardized movement sequences with 2-5 minute intervals between sets to facilitate neuromuscular integration. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets, administered three times per week for six weeks. The McGill stabilization exercise program consisted of evidence-based core stabilization exercises including the curl-up, side-bridge, and bird-dog. Exercises were performed three times per week on alternate days for six weeks, with 30 repetitions and a 10-second isometric hold during each repetition. Participants also performed conventional physiotherapy exercises, including single and double knee-to-chest stretches, prone lying, heel slides, supine bicycling, and bridging exercises.

Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise

Bowen Therapy PROCEDURE

Bowen Therapy is a manual therapy involving gentle rolling movements applied over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs. Treatment consisted of standardized movement sequences with 2-5 minute intervals between sets to facilitate neuromuscular integration. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets, administered three times per week for six weeks. Participants in both study groups received Bowen Therapy according to the same standardized protocol.

Bowen Therapy Alone

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• With chronic localized low back pain lasting over three months
• Without any signs of pain below the gluteal fold
• Fulfills the recommended diagnostic criteria of nonspecific chronic low back pain.

You may not qualify if:

• Lumbar disc herniation
• Lumbar canal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondylitis
• Radiculopathy
• Vertebral fracture
• Neurological deficits
• Pregnancy or radiating pain below the gluteal fold.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sehat Medical Complex: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sehat Medical Complex

Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Fouladi N, Minoonejad H, Rajabi R. Comparing the effects of the postural restoration exercises with and without core stability exercises in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Journal of Modern Rehabilitation. 2023.

  BACKGROUND

• Opara JA, Saulicz E, Szczygiel JW, Szczygiel K. Is the Central Sensitization in Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Structural Phenomenon or Psychological Reaction? A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2025 Jan 17;14(2):577. doi: 10.3390/jcm14020577.

  PMID: 39860583 BACKGROUND

• Baek JE, Kim SH, Shin HJ, Cho HY. Effect of a Healing Program Using Marine Resources on Reducing Pain and Improving Physical Function in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Jan 21;61(2):172. doi: 10.3390/medicina61020172.

  PMID: 40005290 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

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: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2026
• First Posted: July 9, 2026
• Study Start: March 22, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 14, 2024
• Study Completion: April 15, 2025
• Last Updated: July 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)