The Neural Basis of Lumbosacral Proprioceptive Impairment in Recurrent Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Neural Basis of Lumbosacral Proprioceptive Impairment in Recurrent Low Back Pain

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01540617
• Other study ID #: 2012_SBrumagne_MRIproprio
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: February 23, 2012
• Last updated: April 11, 2014
• Start date: April 2012
• Est. completion date: April 2014

Study information

• Verified date: April 2014
• Source: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Belgium: Ethics Committee
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Low back pain (LBP) is a well known health problem in Western society that is significantly responsible for socio-economic problems like absenteeism and disability. The lifetime prevalence of LBP is 60-80% and approximately 85% of this LBP has a "non-specific" character whereby the underlying causes and risk factors cannot be demonstrated. While many people recover within a month, most individuals will have recurrence within a year with more severe symptoms. This might be due to insufficient knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. Impaired proprioception, the ability to discern body/limb positions and movements, may cause and maintain LBP shown by an altered postural control strategy. Specifically, patients with LBP rely more on proprioceptive signals from the ankles due to less reliable proprioceptive input of proximal segments. Moreover, they show a decreased variability in postural control and less postural robustness, while variability is a prerequisite for optimal functioning of biological systems. However, further clarification of the neural correlates is necessary. Deficits in proprioception, as found in a subgroup of patient with LBP, are associated with a decreased ability of the brain to process proprioceptive inputs.

The aim of this project is to clarify the central changes in individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain and healthy controls. To evaluate these central changes MRI techniques (3DTFE, DTI and RS-fMRI) will be used. In addition, the association between central changes and postural control tasks will be evaluated.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 36
• Est. completion date: April 2014
• Est. primary completion date: April 2014
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 20 Years to 50 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria persons with low back pain:

• Age: 20-50 year

• At least 6 months of low back pain with/without referred pain in buttock/thigh

• At least 3 episodes of disabling low back pain

• At least a score of 14% on the Oswestry Disability Index

• Willingness to sign the informed consent

• Met the MRI related requirements

Inclusion Criteria healthy persons:

• Age: 20-50 year

• No history of low back pain

• A score of 0% on the Oswestry Disability Index

• Willingness to sign the informed consent

• Met the MRI related requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of major trauma and/or major orthopedic surgery of the spine, the pelvis or the lower quadrant

• One of the following conditions: Parkinson, MS, Stroke with sequels....

• Radicular symptoms

• Not Dutch-speaking

• Strong opioids

• Neck pain

• Ankle problems

• Smoking

Study Design

Observational Model: Case Control, Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Back Pain
• Low Back Pain

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Belgium	Katholieke Universiteit Leuven	Leuven

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven	Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Belgium, 

References & Publications (3)

Brumagne S, Janssens L, Janssens E, Goddyn L. Altered postural control in anticipation of postural instability in persons with recurrent low back pain. Gait Posture. 2008 Nov;28(4):657-62. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2008.04.015. Epub 2008 Jun 9. — View Citation

Brumagne S, Janssens L, Knapen S, Claeys K, Suuden-Johanson E. Persons with recurrent low back pain exhibit a rigid postural control strategy. Eur Spine J. 2008 Sep;17(9):1177-84. doi: 10.1007/s00586-008-0709-7. Epub 2008 Jul 2. — View Citation

Claeys K, Brumagne S, Dankaerts W, Kiers H, Janssens L. Decreased variability in postural control strategies in young people with non-specific low back pain is associated with altered proprioceptive reweighting. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Jan;111(1):115-23. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1637-x. Epub 2010 Sep 8. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Structural changes in white matter pathways (3DTFE and DTI) (in individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain compared to healthy controls)		One time point	No
Primary	Changes in resting state activity between individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain and healthy controls)		One time point	No
Primary	Proprioceptive postural control (center of pressure displacement in response to muscle vibration)		One time point	No