Active clinical trials for "Back Pain"

The purpose of this randomized clinical trial of low back pain exercise programs is to determine if trunk control can be changed by core stabilization exercises. The proposed mechanism of pain reduction and functional improvement of core stabilization exercises is that it enhances trunk movement and muscle control. This study will provide preliminary evidence of the link between patient outcomes and treatment mechanisms. The investigators hypothesize that: both treatment groups will demonstrate significant improvements in pain and function; only subjects in the core stabilization group will demonstrate significant improvements in trunk movement and muscle control.

A postural bio-feedback device worn by subjects for 4-10 hours a day for 6 days spread across 6 weeks for the sub acute low back pain group and for 8 days spread across 10 weeks for the chronic group. The device records movement and muscle activity data relating to the lower back. Bio-feedback is delivered to the subject as an audible tone, visual cue or vibration and aims to prompt the subject to alter their posture or position in line with recommendations given by the treating practitioner. Four small sensors are adhered to the lower back and send data wirelessly to a data logger carried in the pocket by the subject (the size of a small mobile phone).

Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (US) is a procedure used to evaluate skeletal muscle size and function to inform clinical practice. US has been shown to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring changes in trunk muscle (i.e. abdominal and back muscle) size and activity during sub-maximal contractions in younger populations. Younger adults with low back pain as compared with healthy adults without pain demonstrate smaller back muscle size, lower back muscle activity, and greater back muscle asymmetry (differences in right side compared with left side). No trials are published evaluating muscle adaptations using US in response to clinical treatments for low back pain in the older adult population. Increased muscle size and improved muscle symmetry have been reported in younger adults with low back pain who participate in low back stabilization exercises. These exercises use voluntary contractions of the back muscles with prolonged hold times and low loads. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is a treatment modality that increases muscle activity when voluntary activity is impaired and increases muscle size. Most studies assessing muscle size and activity in response to NMES have been conducted in the knee muscles (i.e. the quadriceps), while the impact of NMES on the back muscles remains relatively unexplored. Given the potential to evaluate back muscle size and activity with US, this assessment tool may be used to document muscle adaptations to a clinical intervention in older adults with low back pain. The purpose of this study is to conduct a 6-week clinical trial to determine if NMES plus lumbar stabilization exercises (i.e. NMES AND Stabilization Exercises) is superior to lumbar stabilization exercises (i.e. Moist Heat AND Stabilization Exercises) for improving back muscle size, activity, and side-to-side (i.e. right side versus left side) symmetry in older adults with chronic low back pain (i.e. low back pain of greater than 3 months). Muscle size, activity, and symmetry will be assessed using US before and after the treatments to determine if the treatments positively impact muscle. Secondary clinical measures of success will include improvements in physical, psychological, and social function pre- to post-treatment.

The Patient Response to Graded Sensory Stimulation-Pilot Study (PRoGReSS-PS) will measure back pain perceptions in participants who receive either chiropractic treatment or foot massage. The study will also measure back pain and function with research questionnaires and other measures.

The purpose of this study is to determine if a certain treatment for low back pain can change the way nerves in the leg send messages. Specifically, the investigators will examine whether a particular type of physical therapy treatment for individuals with low back pain (neurodynamic techniques) changes the speed that nerves send/receive signals to/from the leg, as compared to a different physical therapy treatment.

The purpose of this study is to examine the change of nervous system activity before and after spinal manipulation treatment program in people with low back pain.

This study evaluate the relationships between spinal manipulative therapy dosage (speed and peak force), the resulting modulation of thoracic spinal stiffness and changes in the clinical status in participants with chronic thoracic pain. Participants will attend four sessions of one hour over 2 weeks. During session 1 to 3, participants will receive one of three different spinal manipulative therapy dosages based on their group assignment and preceded and followed by the measurement of their thoracic spinal stiffness. Session 4 will include spinal stiffness measurement and clinical status evaluation through questionnaires.

Consenting patients with multiple myeloma (MM) will be randomly allocated to receive either standard medical treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, pain-killing medication) alone or standard medical treatment plus a brace. Patients will be regularly evaluated in research clinics; the results data will inform the design of a full trial. Information will be collected to inform a list of requirements a centre needs to have in place to run an RCT of these interventions.

Two groups of randomised rehabilitation patients will try a softwheels wheelchair and a regular one. One group will start with the softwheelsl and then change to the regular, and the other will start with the regular and then change to the softwheel.

In this placebo controlled, patient and assessor blinded clinical trial, the investigators will administer electroacupuncture vs sham electroacupuncture to patients suffering from chronic low back pain, and monitor their symptoms as well as collecting objective outcome measures. The investigators objective is to identify predictors of pain reduction and functional improvement with electroacupuncture vs placebo.