Effects of a Myofascial Technique on Biomechanical Properties of the Lumbar Myofascia of Chronic Low Back Pain Adults

Chronic Low Back Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of a Myofascial Technique on Biomechanical Properties of the Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle and Thoracolumbar Fascia in Chronic Low Back Pain Adults Assessed by Elastography, Ultrasonography and Myometry

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04830566
• Other study ID #: 2021-3572
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 19, 2021
• Est. completion date: July 15, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: October 2022
• Source: Université de Sherbrooke
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Non-specific low back pain is a worldwide health issue that remains poorly understood. Some authors have shown that the thoracolumbar fascia of low back pain adults presents changes in biomechanical properties. As it is richly endowed with pain receptors, the thoracolumbar fascia could therefore be a key contributor to this chronic pain condition. Myofascial techniques (MFTs) are commonly used in manual therapy by practitioners of various backgrounds to address fascia biomechanical properties, but there is a paucity of objective evidence on their effects on tissue state. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography, sonoelastography and myometry are emerging imaging techniques that can quantify the biomechanical properties of fascia and underlying muscle. These innovative techniques could in turn contribute to a better understanding of MFTs effects on fascial properties.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the immediate effect of a standardized MFT on the elastography features of the lumbar paraspinal muscle and fascia (i.e. myofascial unit). The secondary objectives are to evaluate the immediate effects of a MFT on: i) ultrasonography features of the myofascial unit; ii) myometry features of the myofascial unit; ii) pain intensity.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 49
• Est. completion date: July 15, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: July 8, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• adults over 18 years of age,

• lumbar pain and/or referred pain above or below the gluteal fold , with intensity > 3/10, persisting for > 6 months and presenting during the day > 50% of the time.

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of serious spinal or lower extremity injury or surgery in the last year

• identifiable back pain or known pathology

• known rheumatological condition

• oral or injectable corticosteroids in the lumbar spine within the last 3 months

• psychiatric disorder

• pregnancy

• manual treatment of the lumbo-sacral region 1 month prior to the experimentation and during the week of the study

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Back Pain
• Chronic Low Back Pain
• Low Back Pain

Intervention

Other:
• Myofascial release technique
Myofascial technique on the thoracolumbar fascia and lumbar paraspinal muscles
• Simulated Myofascial Release technique
Superficial hands contact on the lumbar area

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke	Sherbrooke	Quebec

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Université de Sherbrooke

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Changes in elastography features of the myofascial unit	Evaluated with a shear wave sonoelastography device.	Baseline (before treatment), post-treatment (immediately after treatment)
Secondary	Changes in ultrasonography features of the myofascial unit	Evaluated with a B-mode ultrasound imaging device	Baseline (before treatment) post-treatment (immediately after treatment)
Secondary	Changes in myometry features of the myofascial unit	Evaluated with a myotonometer	Baseline (before treatment) post-treatment (immediately after treatment)
Secondary	Changes in pain intensity	Numeric rating Scale (0 to 10; minimum = 0; maximum = 10; higher score means worst outcome)	Baseline (before treatment) post-treatment (immediately after treatment), at day 2 and at day 7 after the intervention