Pulsed Shortwave Therapy Treatment for Chronic Musculoskeletal Low Back Pain (PSWT)
Chronic Low Back Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional other trial for Chronic Low Back Pain
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial.
- In the Investigator's opinion, is able and willing to comply with all trial requirements.
- Male or female ages 18 or above with stable chronic lower back pain
Females of childbearing must be on birth control or practice abstinence during the study period
o Women of childbearing age will be screened with a urine pregnancy test. Women of childbearing potential are defined as any female who has experienced menarche and who is not permanently sterile or postmenopausal. Postmenopausal is defined as 12 consecutive months with no menses without an alternative medical cause.
- ≥3 months duration of chronic low back pain
- a current VAS pain rating ≥5/10
- no radiating pain below the knee
- Most of the pain in the body is present in the lower back or buttock, NOT in the lower extremities, as determined during screening by the principal investigator. The investigator will verbally ask the participant if most of the pain being experienced is in the lower back/buttock area, and rely on the response for inclusion into the study.
- able to complete and tolerate treatment for the study period.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Female participant who is pregnant.
- Significant renal or hepatic impairment confirmed by medical history.
- Prior home use of pulsed shortwave therapy.
- Prior history of spinal fusion or failed spinal surgery syndrome.
- Laminectomy, laminotomy or discectomy within 12 months of enrollment.
- Diagnostic or interventional injections or any low back surgeries not mentioned above, including radiofrequency neuroablation within 6 months of enrollment.
- The addition of strong opiates (hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine), pregabalin and gabapentin to the treatment regime during the course of the trial
- Current implanted cardiac demand pacemakers, defibrillators, cardiac pumps, spinal stimulators or other implanted electronic devices.
- Patients using personal home based electrical stimulation devices are excluded
- Patients with other concomitant illnesses (e.g., malignancy, osteoporosis) which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude successful patient participation will also be excluded
- Active psychiatric disorders will be excluded (e.g. use of antipsychotic medication, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
- Patients diagnosed with history of significant mood disorder will be excluded (e.g., depression or anxiety with adequate control would be acceptable).
- Scheduled elective surgery or other procedures requiring general anaesthesia during the trial.
- Any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the trial, or may influence the result of the trial, or the participant's ability to participate in the trial.
- Participants who have participated in another research trial involving an investigational product in the past 12 weeks.
Sites / Locations
- North Alabama Primary Care
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Placebo Comparator
Study Group
Control Group
Subjects in this group will receive an active pulsed shortwave therapy device.
Subjects in this group will receive a placebo pulsed shortwave device that it does not emit energy.