Efficacy of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electrotherapy Modalities in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Comparison of the Efficacy of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electrotherapy Modalities in Chronic Low Back Pain

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05646173
• Other study ID #: low back pain
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 11, 2022
• Est. completion date: March 27, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: October 2022
• Source: Istanbul Medipol University Hospital
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of our study is to compare the effectiveness of auricular vagus nerve stimulation and conventional physical therapy in patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CBA). 60 patients, aged between 18 and 60, with persistent low back pain for the last 3 months and who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study will be included in the study. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups as conventional therapy (Group I) and auricular vagus stimulation therapy (Group II). Patient Identification Form, Oswestry Disability Index, Lumbal Region Joint Range of Motion and Mobility (Inclinometer, Modified Schober Test, Hand Finger-Ground Distance Test), muscle strength (CSMI-Cybex Humac-Norm isokinetic dynamometer and Lafayette manual muscle strength measuring device) in the evaluation of patients with CKD and endurance tests, postural control and balance assessment (BBS, Biodex Medical Systems), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PUKÖ). After the measurements on the 1st day, 15 sessions of application and the measurements will be repeated the day after the last session. A home exercise program will be created for the patients in both groups. Statistical analysis will be calculated using SPSS for Windows 22 program.

Description:

Low back pain is one of the common problems that 80% of people experience at least once in their lifetime. Treatment of chronic low back pain includes surgical treatment, medical treatment and conservative treatment. The aim of conservative treatment is to raise the patient to the best possible level. Evidence levels for approaches commonly used in the clinic for the treatment of chronic low back pain were generally very low to moderate. It has been stated that the success of treatment is low in patients who are taken to conventional rehabilitation in the clinic, due to the lack of personal programs and the problems caused by the lack of human resources and space.

In recent studies, it has been shown that vagal nerve stimulation modulates peripheral and central nociceptive functions and reduces pain response. As a result, it was found that the pain threshold increased and the mechanical pain sensitivity decreased.

When we look at the literature; Although there are many studies on the treatment of chronic low back pain, there are no studies on the use of vagus nerve stimulation. Vagus nerve stimulation can be used as an adjunct therapy to correct autonomic nerve dysfunction.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: March 27, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: February 8, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• be between the ages of 20-60

• volunteering to work

• Having low back pain for more than 3 months

• Diagnosis of chronic low back pain by the doctor

• Being able to read and write and be cooperative.

• Not having received treatment for the lumbar region in the last 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not having any lumbar surgery or vertebral fracture

• Being neurological, radiculopathy, inflammatory etc disease

• Having spinal deformities such as scoliosis or kyphosis

• Vestibular or respiratory disorder, Auditory or cognitive impairment

• Taking medication that will affect the balance (sedatives, etc.)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Back Pain
• Low Back Pain

Intervention

Device:
• vagus stimülation device
Vagustim is a wearable medical technology device that focuses on non-invasive bilateral auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). VNS is a clinically approved, safe and effective neuromodulation method.
• Electrophysical agents
Electrophysical agents (EPAs) are those modalities that administer thermal, mechanical, electrical or light energy to the patient to provide physiological effects and therapeutic benefits.

Other:
• home exercise program
The home exercise program will be explained to the patients by the physiotherapist and will also be given to the patient in the form of a brochure. Patients will be instructed to do the exercises regularly, three times a day for ten repetitions each day. The content of the exercises is updated weekly.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Turkey	Gamze Demircioglu	Istanbul	Istanbul Avrupa Kitasi

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Turkey, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)	The Oswestry Disability Index is the most commonly used outcome-measure questionnaire for low back pain in a hospital setting. Each section is scored on a 0-5 scale, 5 representing the greatest disability. The index is calculated by dividing the summed score by the total possible score, which is then multiplied by 100 and expressed as a percentage. Thus, for every question not answered, the denominator is reduced by 5. A score of 0-20 reflects minimal disability, 21-40 moderate disability, 41-60 severe disability, 61-80 crippled, and 81-100 bed-bound.	3 week
Secondary	Lumbal Region Joint Range of Motion	we will use Inclinometer.	3 week
Secondary	Modified Schober Test,	Schober's test is a physical examination used in family medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, rheumatology to measure the ability of a patient to flex the lower back.	3 week
Secondary	trunk muscle strength (Lafayette manual muscle strength measuring device)	The Lafayette Manual Muscle Tester (MMT) is an ergonomic hand-held device for objectively quantifying muscle strength. Tests are performed with the clinician applying force to the limb of a patient. The objective is for the clinician to overcome or "break" the patient's resistance.	3 week
Secondary	lower body muscle strength (CSMI-Cybex Humac-Norm isokinetic dynamometer)	A CYBEX Isokinetic Test is used to measure the maximum strength of a joint throughout its available range-of-motion (ROM).	3 week
Secondary	trunk muscle endurance	Trunk muscle endurance of the subjects was evaluated using flexor endurance and Sorensen tests.	3 week
Secondary	Balance assessment (BBS, Biodex Medical Systems),	Using this unique device, clinicians can assess neuromuscular control by quantifying the ability to maintain dynamic bilateral and unilateral postural stability on a static or unstable surface. Use any of four test protocols including fall risk, athletic single leg stability, limits of stability and postural stability.	3 week
Secondary	Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)	The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain.	3 week
Secondary	The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)	The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-item self-reporting questionnaire for evaluating the severity of depression in normal and psychiatric populations. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-item, multiple-choice inventory. Respondents are asked to rate each item based on four response choices according to the severity of the symptoms, ranging from the absence of a symptom to an intense level, during the past week. Individual scale items are scored on a 4-point continuum (0=least, 3=most), with a total summed score range of 0-63. Total score of 0-13 is considered minimal range, 14-19 is mild, 20-28 is moderate, and 29-63 is severe.	3 week
Secondary	The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)	The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over a 1-month time interval. Each of the sleep components yields a score ranging from 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the greatest dysfunction. The sleep component scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 21 with the higher total score (referred to as global score) indicating worse sleep quality.	3 week