A Study of a Potential Mechanisms of Spinal Manipulation in the Treatment of Low Back Pain

University of Florida

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Other: lumbar extension exercise; Other: stationary bike; Other: spinal manipulative therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00922220

343-2004

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effect of 3 common physical therapy interventions for people experiencing low back pain on the perception of thermal pain. Additionally, the investigators wished to determine the influence of psychological factors related to fear and anxiety on their findings and to determine whether the effects of the individual interventions were local (specific to the area of application) or global (influenced regions away from the area of application).

Enrollment: 94 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• ages eighteen to sixty
• currently experiencing low back pain OR currently not experiencing low back pain and have not had an episode for the prior six months

Exclusion criteria

• non-English speaking
• systemic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, hypertension)
• current use of psychiatric medication
• pregnancy
• signs and symptoms indicative of nerve root compression (reflex change, myotomal weakness, or sensation change)
• history of surgery to the low back

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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94 participants in 3 patient groups

stationary bike

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants rode a stationary bike for five minutes

Treatment:

Other: stationary bike

lumbar extension exercises

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants performed four sets of fifteen lumbar extension exercises over five minutes

Treatment:

Other: lumbar extension exercise

spinal manipulative therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received spinal manipulative therapy to the low back

Treatment:

Other: spinal manipulative therapy