Ultrasound-guided Biofeedback for Transversus Abdominus Re-education in Non-specific Low Back Pain Patients

University of Patras

Status: Completed

Conditions: Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)

Treatments: Other: Tactile feedback (control intervention); Device: Real-time rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05859425

01

Details and patient eligibility

About

As rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) for monitoring and re-educating deep trunk muscles is becoming more and more popular in current musculoskeletal rehabilitation and research, the purpose of this pilot study was to explore the effects of applying ultrasound-guided imaging as a means of feedback for the activation/contraction of the deep transervsus abdominis muscle of the trunk during an exercise programme in people with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). The outcome mesures being explored were pain intensity (primary outcome) through Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional, muscular and psychosocial parameters.

Full description

Background: It is believed that ultrasound-guided imaging of activation/contraction of the deep abdominal muscles (such as transervsus abdominis) is useful for assisting deep muscle re-education, which is often dysfunctional in non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). Thus, this pilot study aimed to evaluate the use of real-time ultrasound (US) as a feedback device for transverse abdominis (TrA) activation/contraction during an exercise program in chronic NSLBP patients.

Methods: Chronic NSLBP patients are recruited and randomly assigned to an US-guided or control group. The same motor control-based exercise program is applied to both groups. All patients would receive physiotherapy twice per week for 7 weeks. Outcome measures, tested at baseline and post-intervention, include Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), TrA activation level (measured through a pressure biofeedback unit-based developed protocol), seven established motor control tests, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Analysis of variance utilizing a two-way mixed ANOVA model for dependent measures of two factors (treatment group and time point of measurement) of which only one is repeated (time point of measurement) is performed to determine between- and within-group differences before and after treatment. Additionally, independent samples' t-test and paired samples' t-test are used for differences between and within groups, respectively, as well as χ2 tests for differences on the motor control tests and the TrA activation level procedure across the groups.

Enrollment: 23 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• adults aged 18-60 years-old
• suffered from NSLBP lasting longer than 12 weeks, producing moderate or severe disability

Exclusion criteria

• people with previous spinal surgery
• people suffering from systemic diseases
• pregnant women

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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23 participants in 2 patient groups

US-guided biofeedback intervention

Experimental group

Description:

This group received visual feedback using real-time ultrasound (US) for transversus abdominus (TrA) activation, while performing the exercise programme. US-guided TrA imaging was initially performed with participants in crook lying, with the US head positioned along the lateral abdominal wall with reference points at the lower point of the rib cage (last rib) and the anterior superior iliac spine, on the right side of the person, midway between these two points. The US head was moved until the user (health professional-investigator) had the best possible visualization of the lateral abdominal muscles (external oblique, internal oblique and TrA). During the execution of the exercises, the participants could watch the ultrasound screen along with the therapist's guidance, thus receiving information (US-visual feedback) of their TrA activation.

Treatment:

Device: Real-time rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI)

Control (non-US guided) group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group received the traditional tactile feedback from the therapist while performing the motor control exercises for TrA activation. Traditionally, assessment of TrA contraction involves palpation of the muscles. The ability to assess TrA through muscle palpation is largely dependent on examiner's skill, as TrA cannot be directly palpated (feedback sensation being limited from internal oblique muscle). To control the activation of the abdominals the therapist placed his hands on the inside of the anterior superior iliac crests (tactile feedback) and instructed the examinee to pull the abdominal wall inward without moving the spine or pelvis (verbal feedback). The same exercise protocol to the experimental group was performed in this (control) group.

Treatment:

Other: Tactile feedback (control intervention)