Clinical Research Directory

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

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: 1. Does hands-on pressure to painful muscle spots (called myofascial trigger point therapy) help lower low back pain? 2. Does a guided exercise program that focuses on how muscles work together help lower low back pain? 3. Does combining hands-on therapy with exercise work better than using either approach alone? Researchers will compare three groups to see which approach leads to greater improvement. One group will receive hands-on trigger point therapy, one group will do a specific exercise program, and one group will receive both treatments. Participants will: * 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.

Effect of Dry Needling Plus Vibration on Myofascial Trigger Points in Individuals With Nonspecific Low Back Pain

This study evaluates whether adding mechanical vibration to dry needling (DN+V) is not inferior to dry needling alone (DN) for reducing low back pain intensity in adults with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), when both interventions are combined with a structured exercise program. The primary hypothesis is non-inferiority in pain reduction (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS) at 1 week after treatment, using a non-inferiority margin of 1 point on the 0-10 NPRS scale. If non-inferiority is confirmed, secondary analyses will explore whether DN+V is superior to DN alone in patient-reported treatment acceptability, pain experienced during the intervention, and post-needling soreness. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: DN plus exercise, or DN+V plus exercise. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at multiple time points up to 4 weeks after treatment, including pain intensity, disability, acceptability, muscle strength, pressure pain threshold, quality of life, and global impression of change. Direct and indirect costs associated with both interventions will also be collected to provide data for a future economic evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of DN+V compared with DN.

Laser Acupuncture Versus Traditional Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is a common condition that may cause persistent pain and limitations in daily activities. This study aims to compare the therapeutic effects of traditional acupuncture and laser acupuncture in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain, focusing on pain, functional disability, and flexibility. Approximately 60 participants aged 20-60 years with low back pain between the 12th rib and gluteal fold lasting at least three months will be recruited. Participants must have a Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score of at least 4 and meet the study eligibility criteria. Individuals with conditions such as sciatica, neurological disease, spinal tumor, osteoporosis, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar spondylolisthesis, ankylosing spondylitis, piriformis syndrome, recent vertebral fracture or lumbar surgery, spinal infection, coagulation disorders, anticoagulant use, long-term corticosteroid use, cauda equina symptoms, severe systemic disease, active inflammatory or infectious skin disease, or known pregnancy will be excluded. Before participation, the research team will explain the study procedures, possible risks and benefits, and participants' rights. After providing informed consent and completing screening, eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the traditional acupuncture group or the laser acupuncture group. Participants cannot choose their treatment group. Both groups will receive treatment twice a week for six weeks, for a total of 12 sessions, with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. The same nine acupuncture points will be used: bilateral BL20 (Pishu), GV3 (Yaoyangguan), bilateral GB30 (Huantiao), bilateral GB34 (Yanglingquan), and bilateral BL25 (Dachangshu). The traditional acupuncture group will receive sterile, single-use needles inserted by an experienced physician and manipulated to produce the intended acupuncture sensation. The laser acupuncture group will receive laser stimulation at the same acupuncture points without needle insertion. The study protocol uses a Handylaser Trion device with an 810-nm wavelength, an energy density of 7.96 J/cm², and approximately 20 seconds of stimulation per point. Participants will be assessed at baseline, week 3, week 6, and week 8. The primary outcome is the modified Oswestry Disability Index (mODI), which evaluates disability related to low back pain. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity measured by the NPRS and flexibility measured by fingertip-to-floor distance. Week 8 serves as a short-term follow-up approximately two weeks after treatment completion. Changes in these outcomes will be compared between the two treatment groups. Participants may experience improvement in pain or physical function, although benefits cannot be guaranteed. Traditional acupuncture may cause temporary discomfort, soreness, minor bleeding, or bruising. Laser acupuncture does not involve needle insertion and may provide a less invasive treatment experience. Participants will be monitored for discomfort or adverse events throughout the study. Participation is voluntary, and participants may withdraw at any time without penalty or loss of appropriate medical care. Personal and medical information will be kept confidential and used for research purposes. The study will be conducted according to applicable ethical standards, including the Declaration of Helsinki and ICH-GCP.

Venlafaxine for Non-specific Low Back Pain

Chronic non-specific low back pain is the leading cause of productivity loss and disability worldwide, constituting a major public health challenge. This study aims to systematically evaluate and compare the role of the antidepressant drug Venlafaxine in chronic non-specific low back pain, which is of critical importance for optimising clinical practice and developing precise, individualised treatment regimens.

Toludesvenlafaxine for Non-specific Low Back Pain

Chronic non-specific low back pain is the leading cause of productivity loss and disability worldwide, constituting a major public health challenge. This study aims to systematically evaluate and compare the role of the antidepressant drug toludesvenlafaxine in chronic non-specific low back pain, which is of critical importance for optimising clinical practice and developing precise, individualised treatment regimens.

Motivating Core-muscle Exercises With Wearable Sensors, Haptics and Interactive Gaming

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a wearable biofeedback smartbelt system can improve pain and disability in adults with chronic lower back pain. The intervention combines a wearable belt that measures muscle activity with a mobile application that provides real-time feedback during exercise. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the MMG-biofeedback system improve disability, as measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), compared to standard care alone over an 8-week period? * Does the system reduce perceived pain levels and improve exercise adherence in individuals with lower back pain over an 8-week period? Researchers will compare participants receiving the MMG-biofeedback belt alongside standard care to those receiving standard care alone to determine whether the addition of real-time muscle activation feedback leads to improved outcomes. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (biofeedback system + standard care) or control group (standard care only) * Complete an 8-week home-based exercise programme, all participants are asked to complete the programme at least 5 times a week * Use the wearable belt and mobile application during exercise sessions (intervention group only) * Receive a booklet with the exercise programme and video links (control group only) * Complete questionnaires on pain, disability, and usability at baseline and after 8 weeks, and at a 3-month follow-up * Have their exercise adherence and engagement monitored throughout the study The study includes an initial pilot phase to assess feasibility, followed by a larger randomised controlled phase to evaluate early clinical effectiveness.

Effectiveness of Motorised Lumbar Support for Non-specific Low Back Pain

Low back pain (LBP) represents a common musculoskeletal conditions worlwide, causing substantial disability and economic burden. While traditional semi-rigid lumbar supports are commonly prescribed to alleviate LBP symptoms, their effectiveness remains limited by their static mechanical properties and lack of adaptability to movement patterns. Motorized lumbar support offer a novel approach by allowing the application of controlled decompressive forces while maintaining functional mobility. This experimental study aims to compare the effectiveness between a motorized lumbar support and a standard semi-rigid support in adults with non-specific LBP. Seventy adults with non-specific low back pain (LBP) will be recruited. Primary outcomes (pain intensity and physical functioning \[daily average\]) will be collected daily, while secondary outcomes (average pain intensity over the last week, pain-related disability, etc.) will be assessed at baseline, 3 and 9 weeks after randomization.

Effectiveness of Pilates on Postural Correction, Core Strength and Flexibility in Younger Individuals With Non-specific Low Backache

The aim of this clinical trial is to study the effects of Pilates intervention versus conventional therapy on postural correction, core strength and flexibility in young individuals with complaint of non-specific low backache. The main question is whether the Pilates has better improvement as compared to the conventional therapy on postural correction, core strength and flexibility moreover to compare the effectiveness of two intervention. Participants of age 18-25 years and with complaint of non-specific low backache will be recruited. 50 participants will be enrolled. Participants will perform Pilates and conventional therapy for 3 times per week for six weeks. Participants will be randomly allocated to two groups and assessor blinding will be done to take baseline assessment. Assessor blinding is done to minimize biasness. Pre and Post assessments will be taken by the assessor. SPSS will be used for the analysis of the data.

Immediate Effects of TENS on Lumbar Erector Spinae Stiffness in Low Back Pain

Low back pain is frequently associated with increased tone and stiffness of the lumbar erector spinae muscles, which may contribute to pain and functional limitation. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive, safe, and widely used modality for pain reduction, but its very short-term (immediate) effects on lumbar muscle stiffness have not been clearly demonstrated. This randomized controlled trial will compare a single 20-minute session of conventional TENS with a control/rest condition in patients with non-specific low back pain. The primary outcomes will be change in lumbar erector spinae muscle stiffness (Myoton) and change in pain intensity (VAS) from baseline to immediately after the intervention. We hypothesize that TENS will produce a greater immediate reduction in muscle stiffness and pain than control.

Effects of Motor Imagery on Pain, Function, Endurance, Kinesiophobia and Sleep Quality in Patients With Non-specific Low Back Pain

Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders all over the world and a leading cause of disability. It affects individuals across different age groups and is typically characterized by pain, stiffness, and functional limitations that reduce physical activity and overall quality of life. Among established clinical approaches, Core exercises are frequently used in the management of LBP, reducing pain and improving functionality by stabilizing the spine. However, despite their widespread use, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of combining core exercises with cognitive interventions, such as action observation. Motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) offer practical, low-cost approaches that can be easily integrated into rehabilitation programs. Motor imagery involves the individual visualizing the physical movement in their mind without performing it, while action observation involves learning specific movements by observing them. These techniques can strengthen the effectiveness of physical exercises by increasing neuromuscular activation. However, it has been reported that motor imagery-based cortical processes facilitate the reorganization of sensory-motor functions during daily activities in LBP patients. Studies in this area are quite limited. The effectiveness of action observation therapy, which is primarily effective in neurological conditions, has not been investigated in non-specific low back pain. Therefore, in this study, the effects of combining action observation therapy with a core exercise program, Pain, Function, Endurance, Kinesiophobia, and Sleep Quality in patients with non-specific low back pain will be examined. The study aims to investigate the effects of combining action observation therapy with core exercises compared with core exercises alone in patients with NSLBP. Patients attending Fizyowell physiotherapy and Healthy Services clinic who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study. This study seeks to explore the potential benefits of integrating cognitive techniques into a conventional exercise-based rehabilitation for NSLBP. To establish participant eligibility before the study begins, a standardized demographic data form will be collected from all subjects who volunteered to participate in the study, including gender, age, height, weight, education, marital status, chronic diseases and medication use, smoking, and alcohol use. In addition, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) will be used to assess the patient's mental state, determine the ability to understand and follow instructions, and identify cognitive disorders that may make it difficult to perform mental interventions. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) will be used to determine each participant's motor imagery ability. Once eligibility is confirmed, baseline assessments will be conducted, including pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability assessed using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index Questionnaire, kinesiophobia evaluated with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), core endurance tested through standardized endurance measures, and sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). After the initial evaluation, the treatment program will be started. Advances in the treatment method specific to the groups they belong to are explained in detail below. Treatment: After the first evaluation, the core exercise program will be applied to the patients in Group 1, 3 days per week for 6 weeks. All sessions will be conducted under the supervision of a physiotherapist at the clinic. Group 2: Conservative Treatment + Action Observation Program. This group will have action observation therapy in addition to the core exercise program. The patients in this group will receive an action observation therapy for 6 minutes before each exercise therapy session. They will watch videos of 2 different activities, the duration of each video is 3 minutes, and they were recorded from 3 planes (frontal, back, and lateral).

Acupoint Application With Yanqing Zhitong Ointment for Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain

This is a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial, recruiting 150 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. The patients will be randomly assigned either to Yanqing Zhitong Ointment acupoint application group (Treatment Group) or the acupuncture group (Control Group) in a 1:1 ratio.

Effects of Different Positions on Mechanical Traction Outcome

Our primary purpose for this study is to investigate the effect of different positions during traction on pain, function, and range of motion in adults with non-specific low back pain.

Effectiveness of Myofascial Release Versus Dry Cupping in Management of Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the differences between the effect of myofascial release technique versus cupping technique on pain intensity level, spinal mobility and functional disabilities level in patients with NSLBP. Methods: The study participants were 60 patients from both genders diagnosed as NSLBP. Their age ranged from 45 to 55 years old. They were assigned randomly into two groups: Group A (MFR): 20 patients received MFR and conventional physical therapy treatment. Group B: 20 patients received cupping technique and conventional physical therapy treatment. Group C: 20 patients received conventional physical therapy treatment only. All groups received treatment protocols three times a week for 4 consecutive weeks.