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Low Intensity Ultrasound Therapy for Upper Back Pain Relief

Primary Purpose

Muscle Spasm

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Active ultrasound therapy device
Placebo ultrasound therapy device
Sponsored by
ZetrOZ, Inc.
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Muscle Spasm focused on measuring trapezius, upper back, muscle pain, pain relief, ultrasound, double blind, Sam, ZetrOZ, muscle, LITUS, low intensity therapeutic ultrasound

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
  • Has acute trapezius muscle pain that has been assessed by a health care practitioner.
  • Has a NRS pain severity score of 3.0 or higher in the trapezius muscle 3-4 times over the past week prior to enrolling in the trial.
  • Subjects must be willing and able to self-administer treatment daily within their place of residence or during normal daily activity, excluding bathing, showering, or other water activities which may result in submersion of the device under test.
  • Not taken any prescription pain medications or muscle relaxers in the 5 days prior to the study and agree not to take any during the study and to maintain any dosage of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug) or non-prescription pain medications constant during the study
  • Has access to a mobile phone or camera and the help of another individual to take a picture of the upper back area immediately after use of the device

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects with known neuropathy will be excluded from the study
  • Women who are pregnant may not participate.
  • Prisoners
  • Smokers
  • Subjects with Type I or Type II Diabetes
  • Subjects who have had surgery in the target area within the last 6 months will be excluded from the study.
  • Subjects who are non-ambulatory (i.e. who cannot walk) will be excluded from the study.
  • Subjects who refuse to agree to not increase current use or initiate new use of pain medication during the course of the trial unless medically necessary to ensure patient safety.
  • Subjects who refuse to agree to not use any cream, gel, or topical solution during the administration of treatment other than the approved ultrasound gel provided to the subject at the initiation of the study.
  • Subjects who refuse to discontinue massage therapy or spinal manipulation during the duration of this study.
  • Subjects who have had massage therapy within 1 day of beginning the protocol
  • Subjects who refuse to discontinue all other interventional treatment modalities (i.e. transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound)
  • Subjects who had a local corticosteroid or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection within the past 3 months.
  • Subjects who have a clinically significant or unstable medical or psychological conditions that would compromise participation in the study.
  • Subjects who have participated in another clinical trial for an investigational drug and/or agent within 30 days prior to screening.
  • Subjects involved in any injury-related litigation in the target area.
  • Subjects with abnormal neurological history, lumbar radicular symptoms, spinal stenosis, foot drop, herniated nucleus pulposus (gel-like substance within a spinal disc), or other structural defects.
  • Subjects with back pain related to major trauma in the last 6 months
  • Subjects with open sores or wounds in the treatment area that would prevent use of the device

Sites / Locations

  • ZetrOZ, Inc.

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Active ultrasound therapy device

Placebo ultrasound therapy device

Arm Description

Patients receive treatment from the Sam Ultrasonic Diathermy Device for 4 hours on days when their trapezius muscle pain score is at least a 3 on a scale of 0-10 (NRS). The active device emits continuous ultrasound at 3 megahertz (MHz) frequency and 0.132 watts/cm2 intensity

Patients apply the Sam Ultrasonic Diathermy Device for 4 hours on days when their trapezius muscle pain score is at least a 3 on a scale of 0-10 (NRS). The placebo device appears and operates identically to the active device except that it does not emit ultrasound.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Pain on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Patients applied the ultrasound device when trapezius muscle pain exceeds a score of 3 or higher by numeric rating scale (NRS). NRS range was 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. Device maybe be worn safely for 4 h per day for 7 days a week. Participants recorded NRS score daily (pre-treatment) and on days when the device was applied participants recorded pain 30 minutes into treatment, 2 hours into treatment and post-treatment (after 4 hours). The post-treatment score is used to find the week average and standard deviation.
Pain on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Change From Day 1 Pre-treatment.
The Day 1 pre-treatment score was used to find the change in pain each week, rated on the numeric rating scale (NRS). NRS was rated from 0-10 with 0 being in no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. Weekly averaged post-treatment scores were subtracted from Day 1 pre-treatment score.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Pain on the Numeric Rating Scale Assessed Before, During, and After Treatment.
Participants recorded pain rated on the numeric rating scale (NRS) at 4 time points: before treatment, 30 minutes into treatment, 2 hours into treatment, and directly after treatment. NRS range was from 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. The average time point scores across the study is used to assess pain during treatment.
Change in Pain Rated on Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) From Pre-treatment to 30 Minutes Into Treatment, 2 Hours Into Treatment, and Post-treatment (4 Hours Into Treatment)
The numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to assess pain before treatment, 30 minutes into treatment, 2 hours into treatment, and post-treatment. NRS range was from 0-10 with 0 being in no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. Change in pain was calculated by subtracting intra-treatment and post-treatment average scores from pre-treatment average score.
Comparison of Pain Level Using Global Rating of Change (GROC) Scale.
Participants were asked to report how their body feels overall compared to the day before, on days when the ultrasound device (or placebo) were applied. The score was reported after the 4-hour treatment completion and rated on a 15-point global rating of change scale, with -7 being "a very great deal worse" than the day before, 0 being "no change" from the day before, and +7 being "a very great deal better" than the day before. The weekly average GROC and average GROC for the entire study (Overall) were assessed.

Full Information

First Posted
May 2, 2014
Last Updated
March 17, 2020
Sponsor
ZetrOZ, Inc.
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT02135094
Brief Title
Low Intensity Ultrasound Therapy for Upper Back Pain Relief
Official Title
Short Term Effects of Long Duration Low Intensity Continuous Ultrasound for Trapezius Muscle Pain
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
March 2020
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
June 2014 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
September 2015 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
September 2015 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
ZetrOZ, Inc.

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to measure the effectiveness of a wearable therapeutic ultrasound device for relief of pain associated with the trapezius muscle of the upper back over a 4-week period. The trapezius muscle is a wide, flat, superficial muscle that covers most of the upper back and the posterior of the neck.The hypothesis is that the ultrasound device will lower the reported daily pain level of subjects suffering from trapezius muscle pain in their upper back. Subjects who participate in the study will self-administer the ultrasound device daily if pain is rated 3.0 or higher on the numeric rating scale (0-10). Subjects will be required to visit the clinical site at enrollment and weeks 2 and 4 for a total of 3 visits. Subjects will report their daily pain levels in a diary. Subject will also report pain levels at 30 min, 2 hours, and 4 hours (treatment completion) after start of each treatment. The wearable ultrasound device, Sam®, has been cleared by the FDA for pain relief, relief of joint contracture, relief of muscle spasm, and increased circulation.
Detailed Description
The study will have approximately 33 subjects randomly assigned into a user group (active ultrasound device) of 25 participants or a control group (inactive ultrasound device) of 8 participants with an equal number of males and females in each group. The research coordinator will be blinded to the assignment of devices to each group. The daily pain scores reported by patients who receive active devices will be compared to those who receive placebo devices. Background: Approximately 50 to 80 million people in the United States suffer from some form of chronic pain. Back pain is the most common neurological disorder in the United States after headaches and costs consumers nearly $50 billion annually. Pharmaceuticals currently dominate the treatment options despite a myriad of public health problems including cost, untoward side effects, and addiction to widely available opioid analgesics. Non-pharmaceutical treatments, such as the one under test, provide a safer and potentially lower cost alternative to traditional analgesic use.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Muscle Spasm
Keywords
trapezius, upper back, muscle pain, pain relief, ultrasound, double blind, Sam, ZetrOZ, muscle, LITUS, low intensity therapeutic ultrasound

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantCare ProviderInvestigatorOutcomes Assessor
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
33 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Active ultrasound therapy device
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Patients receive treatment from the Sam Ultrasonic Diathermy Device for 4 hours on days when their trapezius muscle pain score is at least a 3 on a scale of 0-10 (NRS). The active device emits continuous ultrasound at 3 megahertz (MHz) frequency and 0.132 watts/cm2 intensity
Arm Title
Placebo ultrasound therapy device
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
Patients apply the Sam Ultrasonic Diathermy Device for 4 hours on days when their trapezius muscle pain score is at least a 3 on a scale of 0-10 (NRS). The placebo device appears and operates identically to the active device except that it does not emit ultrasound.
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Active ultrasound therapy device
Other Intervention Name(s)
ZetrOZ ultrasound device, wearable ultrasound device, long duration ultrasound, LITUS device, long duration low intensity device
Intervention Description
low intensity continuous therapeutic ultrasound at 3 megahertz (MHz) frequency and 0.132 Watts/cm2 for treatment duration of 4 hours per day
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo ultrasound therapy device
Other Intervention Name(s)
ZetrOZ ultrasound device, wearable ultrasound device, long duration ultrasound, LITUS device, long duration low intensity device
Intervention Description
The placebo device appears and operates identically to the active device except that it does not emit ultrasound.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Pain on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Description
Patients applied the ultrasound device when trapezius muscle pain exceeds a score of 3 or higher by numeric rating scale (NRS). NRS range was 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. Device maybe be worn safely for 4 h per day for 7 days a week. Participants recorded NRS score daily (pre-treatment) and on days when the device was applied participants recorded pain 30 minutes into treatment, 2 hours into treatment and post-treatment (after 4 hours). The post-treatment score is used to find the week average and standard deviation.
Time Frame
Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4
Title
Pain on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Change From Day 1 Pre-treatment.
Description
The Day 1 pre-treatment score was used to find the change in pain each week, rated on the numeric rating scale (NRS). NRS was rated from 0-10 with 0 being in no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. Weekly averaged post-treatment scores were subtracted from Day 1 pre-treatment score.
Time Frame
Day 1 through Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Pain on the Numeric Rating Scale Assessed Before, During, and After Treatment.
Description
Participants recorded pain rated on the numeric rating scale (NRS) at 4 time points: before treatment, 30 minutes into treatment, 2 hours into treatment, and directly after treatment. NRS range was from 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. The average time point scores across the study is used to assess pain during treatment.
Time Frame
Day 1 through Week 4
Title
Change in Pain Rated on Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) From Pre-treatment to 30 Minutes Into Treatment, 2 Hours Into Treatment, and Post-treatment (4 Hours Into Treatment)
Description
The numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to assess pain before treatment, 30 minutes into treatment, 2 hours into treatment, and post-treatment. NRS range was from 0-10 with 0 being in no pain and 10 the worst pain possible. Change in pain was calculated by subtracting intra-treatment and post-treatment average scores from pre-treatment average score.
Time Frame
Day 1 through Week 4
Title
Comparison of Pain Level Using Global Rating of Change (GROC) Scale.
Description
Participants were asked to report how their body feels overall compared to the day before, on days when the ultrasound device (or placebo) were applied. The score was reported after the 4-hour treatment completion and rated on a 15-point global rating of change scale, with -7 being "a very great deal worse" than the day before, 0 being "no change" from the day before, and +7 being "a very great deal better" than the day before. The weekly average GROC and average GROC for the entire study (Overall) were assessed.
Time Frame
Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Overall

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
65 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Between the ages of 18 and 65 years. Has acute trapezius muscle pain that has been assessed by a health care practitioner. Has a NRS pain severity score of 3.0 or higher in the trapezius muscle 3-4 times over the past week prior to enrolling in the trial. Subjects must be willing and able to self-administer treatment daily within their place of residence or during normal daily activity, excluding bathing, showering, or other water activities which may result in submersion of the device under test. Not taken any prescription pain medications or muscle relaxers in the 5 days prior to the study and agree not to take any during the study and to maintain any dosage of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug) or non-prescription pain medications constant during the study Has access to a mobile phone or camera and the help of another individual to take a picture of the upper back area immediately after use of the device Exclusion Criteria: Subjects with known neuropathy will be excluded from the study Women who are pregnant may not participate. Prisoners Smokers Subjects with Type I or Type II Diabetes Subjects who have had surgery in the target area within the last 6 months will be excluded from the study. Subjects who are non-ambulatory (i.e. who cannot walk) will be excluded from the study. Subjects who refuse to agree to not increase current use or initiate new use of pain medication during the course of the trial unless medically necessary to ensure patient safety. Subjects who refuse to agree to not use any cream, gel, or topical solution during the administration of treatment other than the approved ultrasound gel provided to the subject at the initiation of the study. Subjects who refuse to discontinue massage therapy or spinal manipulation during the duration of this study. Subjects who have had massage therapy within 1 day of beginning the protocol Subjects who refuse to discontinue all other interventional treatment modalities (i.e. transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound) Subjects who had a local corticosteroid or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection within the past 3 months. Subjects who have a clinically significant or unstable medical or psychological conditions that would compromise participation in the study. Subjects who have participated in another clinical trial for an investigational drug and/or agent within 30 days prior to screening. Subjects involved in any injury-related litigation in the target area. Subjects with abnormal neurological history, lumbar radicular symptoms, spinal stenosis, foot drop, herniated nucleus pulposus (gel-like substance within a spinal disc), or other structural defects. Subjects with back pain related to major trauma in the last 6 months Subjects with open sores or wounds in the treatment area that would prevent use of the device
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
George K. Lewis, PhD
Organizational Affiliation
ZetrOZ, Inc.
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
ZetrOZ, Inc.
City
Trumbull
State/Province
Connecticut
ZIP/Postal Code
06611
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
32606899
Citation
Petterson S, Plancher K, Klyve D, Draper D, Ortiz R. Low-Intensity Continuous Ultrasound for the Symptomatic Treatment of Upper Shoulder and Neck Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Pain Res. 2020 Jun 2;13:1277-1287. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S247463. eCollection 2020. Erratum In: J Pain Res. 2020 Jul 27;13:1899-1900.
Results Reference
derived

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Low Intensity Ultrasound Therapy for Upper Back Pain Relief

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