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A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Low Level Laser Light on Low Back Pain

Primary Purpose

Low Back Pain

Status

Completed

Phase

Not Applicable

Locations

United States

Study Type

Interventional

Intervention

Erchonia FX-635

Placebo Laser

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Low Back Pain

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria:

Primary pain is in the lower back region bound between the lowest rib and the crease of the buttocks
Low back pain is of musculoskeletal origin wherein the etiology is lumbar sprain or strain
Diagnosis is based on positive supportive patient history, physical examination, medication use history and review of relevant records and diagnostic tests
Low back pain is episodic chronic, defined as pain having occurred on at least 15 days of each of the preceding 3 months, with each individual episode having lasted at least 24 hours followed by a subsequent period of at least 24 hours without pain
Self-reported Degree of Pain rating on the 0-100 Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scale of 40 or greater
Subject is willing and able to refrain from consuming any over-the-counter or prescription medications, including herbal supplements for the relief of pain or inflammation, including muscle relaxants throughout study participation, except for the study pain relief medication
Subject is willing and able to refrain from non-study procedure therapies for low back pain throughout study participation
Primary language is English

Exclusion Criteria:

Low back pain is undiagnosed, or has been diagnosed as in whole or in part due to mechanical, inflammatory: neoplastic, metabolic or psychosomatic origins
Non-organic pain, defined as positive findings for 3 or more of the 5 signs in the 'Waddell's Signs of Inorganic Behavior' list
Known herniated disc injury
Known osteoporosis with compression fractures
Osteoporosis defined as a Total SCORE on the Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE) screening questionnaire of > 6, and a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) T-score ≤ -2.5
Congenital deformity of the spine
Current, active chronic pain disease
Cancer or treatment for cancer in the past 6 months, including spinal cord tumors
Use of the analgesics paracetamol, compound analgesics or topical analgesics within 7 days prior to treatment
Use of the muscle relaxants cyclobenzaprine (Lexeril, Fexmid), diazepam (Valium) or meprobamate (Miltown®, Equinil®, Equagesic®, Meprospan®) within 30 days prior to treatment
Use of the muscle relaxants Carisoprodol (Soma®, Sodol®, Soprodol®, Soridol®) or Metaxalone (Skelaxin, Robaxin) within 7 days prior to treatment
Use of the antidepressants duloxetine (Cymbalta®, Effexor), amitriptyline, imipramine (Tofranil), clomipramine (Anafranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), desipramine (Norpramin) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) e.g. Paxil, paroxetine, fluoxetine (Prozac) initiated within 30 days prior to treatment
Consumption of systemic corticosteroid therapy or narcotics within 30 days prior to treatment
Local or epidural injection of corticosteroids in the back within 3 months prior to treatment
Botulinum toxin (Botox®) injection for chronic low back pain within 4 months prior to treatment
Active infection, wound or other external trauma to the treatment areas
Prior surgery to the back or spine
Medical, physical or other contraindications for, or sensitivity to, light therapy
Pregnant, breast feeding, or planning pregnancy prior to study end
Serious known mental health illness such as dementia or schizophrenia; psychiatric hospitalization in past two years
Mental illness/incompetence defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V) definition and criteria
Current and/or prior history of alcohol and/or other substance abuse, defined according to the DSM-V definition and criteria
Developmental disability or cognitive impairment that may compromise study participation
Involvement in litigation or receiving disability benefits related to the study parameters
Participation in a clinical study or other type of research in the past 30 days

Sites / Locations

South Mountain Chiropractic Center
Quarneri Chiropractic Inc.
Bloomfield Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Erchonia FX-635

Placebo Laser

Arm Description

The Erchonia FX-635 is made up of 3 independent 17 milliWatts (mW), 635 nanometer (nm) red laser diodes mounted in scanner devices with flexible arms positioned equidistant from each other.

The Placebo Laser has the same appearance as the Erchonia FX-635 but does not emit any therapeutic light.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Percentage of Participants Whose Change in Pain Rating on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Met the Individual Subject Success Criteria

The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) assesses level or degree of pain. It is a horizontal line anchored on the left by the label '0: no pain at all' and on the right by the label '100: worst pain imaginable'. The subject marks a location on the 0-100 line that appears to represent any level of pain he or she is experiencing at that time. This marking is measured with a 0 to 100 mm ruler and the number recorded. For the primary study outcome, the percent change in the VAS pain score recorded at baseline and endpoint is calculated for each subject. Individual subject success is a 30% or greater change in VAS pain scores. A negative (-) percent change indicates a decrease in pain level and is positive for individual subject success. A positive (+) percent change indicates an increase in pain level and is negative for individual subject success. Overall study success is defined as a 35% or greater difference between the proportion of individual successes in each treatment group.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Change in Total Score on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a 10-item questionnaire to quantify disability for acute or chronic low back pain. Each question is scored on a scale of 0 (least amount of disability) to 5 (most severe disability). The ODI is expressed as a percentage and calculated by dividing the summed score of all questions answered by the total possible score (that is dependent on how many questions are answered) and multiplying by 100. A total score of '0%' means no disability and a total score of '100%' means the maximum disability possible. Therefore, the higher the total score, the worse the disability, and the lesser the total score, the lesser the disability.

Full Information

NCT ID

NCT02538523

First Posted

August 31, 2015

Last Updated

May 26, 2021

Sponsor

Erchonia Corporation

1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number

NCT02538523

Brief Title

A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Low Level Laser Light on Low Back Pain

Official Title

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Evaluation of the Effect of the Erchonia FX-635 on Low Back Pain

Study Type

Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date

May 2021

Overall Recruitment Status

Completed

Study Start Date

April 8, 2016 (Actual)

Primary Completion Date

October 7, 2017 (Actual)

Study Completion Date

December 10, 2017 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title

Sponsor

Name of the Sponsor

Erchonia Corporation

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product

Yes

Data Monitoring Committee

5. Study Description

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effect of low level laser light therapy on reducing low back pain. Half of the participants will receive the actual treatment with the active laser and the other half of the participants will receive a placebo treatment with an inactive laser.

Detailed Description

Back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting 80% of people at some point in their lives. It is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States, second only to headache, and it is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Around $50 billion is spent in the U.S. each year to treat low back pain. Men and women are equally affected, with the most common age affected being between 30 and 50 years. Most low back pain stems from benign musculoskeletal problems, referred to as non-specific low back pain, which is the etiology being evaluated in this study. It is caused by lumbar sprain or strain a stretch injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the low back. Current mainstream treatment approaches for low back pain due to lumbar sprain strain focus on reducing pain and inflammation, including rest; oral and topical over-the-counter and prescription medications; local heat applications; massage and exercise. Alternative treatment options include acupuncture; chiropractic manipulation; biofeedback; traction; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS); and ultrasound. Surgical procedures are also a treatment option for low back pain, and although the outcomes are often poor and do not last, back surgery remains the 3rd most common form of surgery in the United States, with about 300,000 back surgeries performed annually. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) communicates information to the receptors on the membrane of the cell and mitochondrion (the enzymatic engine of the cell). This energetic information reaches the cell's DNA, which directly controls cell function. When the cells receive better information, they work better, as do the tissues they comprise, like bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, etc. In this way, LLLT promotes the healing and regeneration of damaged tissues, having both local effects on tissue function and also systemic effects carried throughout the body by the blood and acupuncture meridians. The key basic physiological effects of low level laser light include increased cell membrane polarization and permeability; Adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP) production and respiratory chain activity; enzyme activity; collagen and epithelial production; capillary formation; macrophage (immune) activity; analgesic effects due to elevated endorphin production, electrolytic nerve blockage, and improved blood and lymph flow; anti-inflammatory effect due to improved circulation and accelerated tissue regeneration; and increased production of antioxidants. Of additional benefit is that light energy from low level lasers will only be absorbed by cells and tissues that are not functioning normally and has no effect on healthy cells. Therefore, low level laser therapy has the potential benefit of providing an effective means of reducing low back pain that is simple, quick, non-invasive and side-effect free.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study

Low Back Pain

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose

Treatment

Study Phase

Not Applicable

Interventional Study Model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

ParticipantInvestigatorOutcomes Assessor

Allocation

Randomized

Enrollment

58 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title

Erchonia FX-635

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Arm Description

The Erchonia FX-635 is made up of 3 independent 17 milliWatts (mW), 635 nanometer (nm) red laser diodes mounted in scanner devices with flexible arms positioned equidistant from each other.

Arm Title

Placebo Laser

Arm Type

Placebo Comparator

Arm Description

The Placebo Laser has the same appearance as the Erchonia FX-635 but does not emit any therapeutic light.

Intervention Type

Device

Intervention Name(s)

Erchonia FX-635

Intervention Description

The Erchonia FX-635 is applied to the lower back and hips area for 20 minutes per treatment administration, 8 times across 4 weeks, 2 times per week.

Intervention Type

Device

Intervention Name(s)

Placebo Laser

Intervention Description

The Placebo Laser is applied to the lower back and hips area for 20 minutes per treatment administration, 8 times across 4 weeks, 2 times per week.

Primary Outcome Measure Information:

Title

Percentage of Participants Whose Change in Pain Rating on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Met the Individual Subject Success Criteria

Description

Time Frame

Baseline and Two Months Post-Procedure

Secondary Outcome Measure Information:

Title

Change in Total Score on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

Description

Time Frame

Baseline and Two Months Post-Procedure

10. Eligibility

Sex

All

Minimum Age & Unit of Time

18 Years

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Primary pain is in the lower back region bound between the lowest rib and the crease of the buttocks Low back pain is of musculoskeletal origin wherein the etiology is lumbar sprain or strain Diagnosis is based on positive supportive patient history, physical examination, medication use history and review of relevant records and diagnostic tests Low back pain is episodic chronic, defined as pain having occurred on at least 15 days of each of the preceding 3 months, with each individual episode having lasted at least 24 hours followed by a subsequent period of at least 24 hours without pain Self-reported Degree of Pain rating on the 0-100 Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scale of 40 or greater Subject is willing and able to refrain from consuming any over-the-counter or prescription medications, including herbal supplements for the relief of pain or inflammation, including muscle relaxants throughout study participation, except for the study pain relief medication Subject is willing and able to refrain from non-study procedure therapies for low back pain throughout study participation Primary language is English Exclusion Criteria: Low back pain is undiagnosed, or has been diagnosed as in whole or in part due to mechanical, inflammatory: neoplastic, metabolic or psychosomatic origins Non-organic pain, defined as positive findings for 3 or more of the 5 signs in the 'Waddell's Signs of Inorganic Behavior' list Known herniated disc injury Known osteoporosis with compression fractures Osteoporosis defined as a Total SCORE on the Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE) screening questionnaire of > 6, and a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) T-score ≤ -2.5 Congenital deformity of the spine Current, active chronic pain disease Cancer or treatment for cancer in the past 6 months, including spinal cord tumors Use of the analgesics paracetamol, compound analgesics or topical analgesics within 7 days prior to treatment Use of the muscle relaxants cyclobenzaprine (Lexeril, Fexmid), diazepam (Valium) or meprobamate (Miltown®, Equinil®, Equagesic®, Meprospan®) within 30 days prior to treatment Use of the muscle relaxants Carisoprodol (Soma®, Sodol®, Soprodol®, Soridol®) or Metaxalone (Skelaxin, Robaxin) within 7 days prior to treatment Use of the antidepressants duloxetine (Cymbalta®, Effexor), amitriptyline, imipramine (Tofranil), clomipramine (Anafranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), desipramine (Norpramin) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) e.g. Paxil, paroxetine, fluoxetine (Prozac) initiated within 30 days prior to treatment Consumption of systemic corticosteroid therapy or narcotics within 30 days prior to treatment Local or epidural injection of corticosteroids in the back within 3 months prior to treatment Botulinum toxin (Botox®) injection for chronic low back pain within 4 months prior to treatment Active infection, wound or other external trauma to the treatment areas Prior surgery to the back or spine Medical, physical or other contraindications for, or sensitivity to, light therapy Pregnant, breast feeding, or planning pregnancy prior to study end Serious known mental health illness such as dementia or schizophrenia; psychiatric hospitalization in past two years Mental illness/incompetence defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V) definition and criteria Current and/or prior history of alcohol and/or other substance abuse, defined according to the DSM-V definition and criteria Developmental disability or cognitive impairment that may compromise study participation Involvement in litigation or receiving disability benefits related to the study parameters Participation in a clinical study or other type of research in the past 30 days

Overall Study Officials:

First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree

Trevor Berry, DC

Official's Role

Principal Investigator

Facility Information:

Facility Name

South Mountain Chiropractic Center

City

Chandler

State/Province

Arizona

ZIP/Postal Code

85226

Country

United States

Facility Name

Quarneri Chiropractic Inc.

City

San Mateo

State/Province

California

ZIP/Postal Code

94402

Country

United States

Facility Name

Bloomfield Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center

City

Bloomfield

State/Province

Michigan

ZIP/Postal Code

48302

Country

United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD

Learn more about this trial

A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Low Level Laser Light on Low Back Pain

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