Active clinical trials for "Back Pain"

The purpose of the present study is to determine the association between factors known to be associated with the development of chronic low back pain (psychological and biological) and the evolution of functional disability in individuals with a history of low back pain. To do so, 100 individuals with a history of nonspecific low back pain will be followed over a period of 18 months. During this time frame, participants will be evaluated three times in the laboratory (initial, at 6 months and at 18 months) to determine pain and tolerance thresholds, pain inhibition processes as well as neuromuscular activation. Moreover, these participants will be assessed every three months (initial, 3, 6, 9 12, 15 and 18 months) for functional disability and pain intensity levels of their low back pain as well as for psychological symptoms usually associated with the development of chronic low back pain. It is hypothesized that high psychological symptoms measured initially will be associated with high functional disability throughout the study .

This research study will examine whether enhanced pain sensitivity increases the risk of persistent low back pain. The study will address the highly prevalent and costly condition of persistent low back pain and a major obstacle for the implementation of clinical strategies to improve patient outcomes. The knowledge gained from this study may lead to a better understanding of the biological mechanisms that contribute to persistent low back pain and will inform future work to develop predictive measures of persistent low back pain risk, evaluative measures to examine treatment efficacy, and possibly biomarker assay(s) to identify patients who are at increased risk of persistent low back pain.

Rationale: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflammatory back pain disorder affecting up to 24% of young chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. For general practitioners (GPs) it is difficult to distinguish axSpA patients in the large amount of CLBP patients. In previous studies a referral rule for axSpA applicable in CLBP patients was developed and validated. The next step is to investigate the impact of the referral rule in daily practice. This impact analysis will test if the referral rule will be beneficial or harmful. Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of a referral rule in young patients presenting at the general practitioners with chronic low back pain, who are at risk for axSpA, compared to usual care. Study design: A cluster randomized clinical trial. Study population: Primary care patients with chronic low back pain, aged 18-45 years. Intervention (if applicable): GPs are randomized in clusters either to use directly the referral rule or use the referral rule after 4 months. The referral rule consists out of four variables, a positive ASAS inflammatory back pain questionnaire, a positive family history for spondyloarthritis, a good reaction to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and back pain duration longer than 5 years. If at least two out of four variables are present a referral to the rheumatologist is advised. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome is a change in the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) compared to baseline in the CLBP patients with or without use of the referral model. Secondary parameters: Quality of life measurements, cost-effectiveness, pain and fatigue and referral to rheumatologist and diagnosis of axSpA. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The burden and risks associated with participation are minimal. No medical intervention is taken place. If the GP of the patients is randomized to the referral model, the patient is checked for the risk of axial spondyloarthritis, by the non-invasive referral model. If the referral model is positive a referral to the rheumatologist is advised. Is the GP is randomized to the 'usual care' there is no difference in the treatment of low back pain than nowadays. A GP is still allowed to treat the CLBP patients optimal and a referral to the rheumatologist is allowed but not actively advised. All participating CLBP patients are asked to fill several questionnaires at four different time points, at baseline, after 12 months and after 24 months. In total there are 8 questionnaires and four separate questions. The questionnaire are designed to fill out by the patient themselves. The total time to fill in the questionnaire is estimated to be 30 minutes. The benefits of the study are: For the CLBP patients, up to 24% of the back pain complaints are caused by axSpA, but the GPs are not (yet) aware of this disease. When a CLBP patient is participating in this study, the chance of having axSpA as cause for the back pain is investigated. This a benefit for a CLBP patients since there is effective treatment for axSpA. For the GP it is very difficult to distinguish an axSpA patients in the large amount of CLBP patients. If it appears that the validated referral rule has an impact on CLBP and GPs, the next step will be implementation of this referral model in daily practice and it will become a helpful tool for the GP. For the society, CLBP is a great socioeconomic burden for the society. When one of the causes for CLBP, namely axSpA is diagnosed and treated in an earlier stage this will lead to a decreased sick leave because of back pain and is therefore potentially cost-effective.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the most prevalent form of chronic pain, and the most common reason for disability in working-age population [2]. CLBP has also been reported associated with many abnormal brain anatomy and function which includes the reduction in cortical gray matter in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), thalamus, brain stem, primary somatosensory cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. [3-5] There are already many studies that demonstrated abnormal cortical function for people with CLBP [6-10]. Meanwhile, DLPFC was also reported to be influenced by many pain process which included pain modulation [11-13], placebo analgesia [14, 15], pain control [16, 17]or pain catastrophizing[18]. And recent report has showed that effective treatment of chronic back pain patients reverses abnormal DLPFC function[19]. Meanwhile, epidural steroid injection has been performed in clinical for routinely managed for low back pain patients. Patients refused or have no indication for surgery or have little response to rehabilitation may consider this management. There was good evidence for short- and long-term relief of chronic pain secondary to disc herniation with local anesthetic and steroids[20, 21]. However, the impact of this treatment on functionalMRI (fMRI) has never been investigated. The investigators research will try to solve this issue. This study will provide a good relationship for the pain fMRI image in brain after local lumbar spine management. And the investigators also want to perform the first data that showed local lumbar analgesia have the impact on brain image change.

This study compares the efficacy of medial branch block (MBB) vs. paravertebral deep intramuscular (PDI) injection for pain relief in chronic low back pain. Based on randomization in first intervention session, one side receives MBB and the other side takes PDI and in second session the pattern reverses.

A Multi-centre, Prospective, single-arm post market clinical follow up study (PMCF) of the FACET WEDGETM spinal system to assess outcomes in subjects with chronic low back pain due to Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), facet joint disease and/or pseudo arthrosis post anterior instrumentation. The objective of this study is to assess outcomes following implantation of the FACET WEDGE spinal system when used to provide fixation of lumbar motion segments. The primary objective of this study is to determine the rate of re-operations at the index level(s). The secondary objectives of this study are to confirm the safety and performance of the device and to collect patient reported outcome data.

The purpose of this project is to determine the effect of lower back injections on select biomechanical outcomes, walking patterns, lower back flexibility and balance.

The purpose of this study is to determine if trunk neuromuscular control strategies are changed by therapeutic exercises emphasizing core stabilization. Hypothesis: subjects with low back pain who demonstrate clinically meaningful improvements in function and pain will have significantly improved trunk motor control strategies. Hypothesis: measures of trunk control will demonstrate 'construct-validity'. This will be tested using a known group method demonstrating: no significant change in motor control measures within the untreated, healthy control group. significant changes within the low back subjects who demonstrate clinically meaningful improvements.

To evaluate the impact of painPRIMER in a prospective six-month clinical investigation looking at clinical outcomes, health care professional and patient satisfaction, healthcare resource use, productivity and direct and indirect costs. The hypothesis is that early identification of the presence of neuropathic pain and back pain related comorbidities, to direct appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment, painPRIMER would improve patient outcomes and reduce patient cycling, inappropriate use of imaging and surgery, thereby reducing costs and productivity loss associated with these inefficiencies.

The purpose of the study is: to measure sensitization of the nociceptive system at patients with low back pain in order to carry out a necessary surgical procedure to examine a possible association between low back pain and degenerative changes to analyse if low back pain is related to the clinical result 6 months after surgery to set up a model for pre-operative measurement of pain.