The Biomechanical Effects of Manual Therapy - A Feasibility Study

Low Back Pain, Mechanical Clinical Trial

Official title: In Patients With Acute Non-specific Low Back Pain, do Lumbar Inter-vertebral Motion Variables Change Following a Course of Manual Therapy: A Feasibility Study

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale trial to explore if there is a change in intervertebral movement following a course of manual therapy in patients with acute non-specific low back pain (NSLBP).

Research Questions:

1. In patients with acute NSLBP, does lumbar intervertebral movement change following a course of manual therapy?

2. In patients with acute NSLBP, do those who respond to manual therapy (established by patient reported outcomes measures) have different intervertebral movement to those who do not?

Clinical Trial Description

Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is a leading cause of disability and work-days lost worldwide. Yet, in most cases we do not know the specific cause. It is thought to be due to abnormal movement between the spinal bones (vertebrae). The investigators can now measure movement between vertebrae using low-dose quantitative fluoroscopy (QF), or motion x-ray videos. QF is a reliable method of measuring spinal movement which is non-invasive and does not expose the patient to a lot of radiation. In this study, QF will be used as a measuring tool to measure spinal movement in patients with acute NSLBP before manual therapy versus after manual therapy to explore if there is a change in spinal movement. Research suggests that some patients respond to manual therapy and some do not, a secondary question in this study is to explore if there are differences in spinal movement between those who respond to manual therapy (measured using pain and disability questionnaires) and those who do not.

This study is a feasibility study to determine whether the study can be carried out as a full-scale trial. Participants will be recruited from the AECC University College (AECC UC) Clinic. Following an examination, patients with acute low back pain, and who are eligible for the study will be invited to join. Participants will proceed with initial measurements which include validated questionnaires and QF. Following these measurements participants will be randomised into two groups, each containing 15 participants. Both groups will receive an evidence-informed home management booklet, the manual therapy group will receive five manual therapy treatments in two weeks. Participants will return for follow-up measurements two weeks after baseline measurements. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Back Pain
• Low Back Pain
• Low Back Pain, Mechanical

• NCT number: NCT04155970
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Bournemouth University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 6, 2020
• Completion date: March 19, 2021