Active clinical trials for "Low Back Pain"

The study includes back pain of the cervical, thoracic, and the lumbar regions.

Background: Chronic pain is a common condition in the general population, causing great suffering in both physical and mental aspects. Previous research shows that mindfulness based interventions help chronic pain patients to cope better with their pain, and improve their quality of life. Although evidence support the efficacy of mindfulness based interventions for chronic pain, it is still unclear whether this efficacy involves a direct influence on sensory aspects of pain perception. Further more, the mechanisms of change responsible for the improved life quality and the possible moderating factors that may influence treatment efficacy, are still unknown. Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness based intervention on pain perception and quality of life in individuals suffering from chronic pain. The investigators will also evaluate potential mechanisms responsible for the change following mindfulness practice. Finally the investigators will examine the role of personal characteristics as potential moderating factors of mindfulness effect. Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that 1) compared to a waitlist control group, chronic pain patients participating in a full mindfulness based program will report greater improvements in a) pain severity, b) quality of life and psychological symptoms, and c) will demonstrate changes in physiological characteristics of pain. 2) Changes following the mindfulness based program will be mediated by change in pain catastrophizing, self regulation capacity and pain acceptance. 3) The investigators hypothesize that gender, baseline mindfulness, and anxiety sensitivity will moderate the efficacy of the mindfulness based program. Method: A randomized controlled design will be used to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness based intervention on pain perception and quality of life in individuals suffering from chronic recurrent low back pain and osteoarthritis. Participants will be randomized to a mindfulness based treatment group, or to a waitlist control group, and will be assessed for psychological variables and psychophysical pain assessment before treatment. Participants allocated to treatment group will then attend six group meetings in which they will learn and practice different mindfulness meditation techniques, and will be asked to practice these techniques on a daily basis. Post treatment assessments will take place at the end of the intervention for both treatment and control groups.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exercises performed under monitoring of the physiotherapist and self performed at home by reading the booklet of exercise orientation for patients with nonspecific low back pain. A prospective and randomized trial was performed in 44 patients. G1 patients received a physiotherapist orientation, and G2 patients received the booklet of exercise to self perform the exercises. Pain intensity by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and quality of life by SF-36 were measured before. Results: Pain intensity was lower in G1 than in G2 after 6 and 12 weeks. Quality of life was better in G1. The exercises under orientations of the physiotherapist promoted best effect than self performed exercises .

Background: - Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical treatment. Thin needles are used to stimulate specific points in the body. Previous studies have found that acupuncture can be useful in treating low back pain. This study will explore how acupuncture affects low back pain. Researchers will look at blood samples for changes in different chemicals related to inflammation and pain. Objectives: - To test the effect of acupuncture on blood chemicals associated with chronic low back pain. Eligibility: People at least 18 years of age who have chronic low back pain. Those who have had back surgery or had acupuncture for any medical condition may not participate. Design: This study requires eight visits over 2 to 3 weeks. Each visit will take 1.5 to 2 hours. At the first study visit, participants will give a medical history and complete two questionnaires about their low back pain. They will also spend 30 minutes lying down on a bed, relaxing quietly. The next visits will occur every 2 to 3 days for the next 2 weeks. Participants will receive 30 minutes of either sham or standard acupuncture. Sham acupuncture will mimic the standard procedure, but no needles will be used. The standard procedure will be performed in the same location. A licensed, experienced acupuncturist will insert small disposable needles into acupuncture sites on the back, arms, and legs. Those in the study will not know whether they are receiving the sham or the standard acupuncture procedure. At some visits, participants will provide blood samples for testing. At every visit, participants will complete the questionnaires about low back pain.

Recently a clinical prediction rule (CPR) has been developed and validated that accurately identifies patients with low back pain that are likely to benefit from a lumbo-pelvic manipulation. The studies that developed and validated the rule used the identical manipulation procedure. However, recent evidence suggests that different manual therapy techniques may result in the same outcome.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of three different manual therapy techniques in a subgroup of patient with low back pain that satisfy the CPR.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a form of electrical acupuncture, called percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), can reduce pain and disability in older adults with chronic low back pain (LBP). This study will also determine the effects of general conditioning and aerobic exercise (GCAE) on chronic LBP.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of MK0663 for the treatment of chronic low back pain and to investigate the overall safety and tolerability over four weeks of treatment.

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate whether the addition of two pain neurophysiology education sessions to motor control training may result in an improvement of the outcome measures of pain and disability, compared to motor control training alone.

Dr. Macedo and others involved in the proposed research recently conducted a study that investigated whether simple clinical characteristics could identify patients who benefit more from either motor control exercises or graded activity. Results were statistically significant and clinically relevant demonstrating that a simple questionnaire could help aid the selection of the most appropriate exercise therapy for each individual patient. Therefore, we aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial following a similar approach to the original study to validate in a different sample the results of the effect modification analysis.

Back pain is one of humanity most frequent complains. About nine of ten adults experience back pain at some points in their life and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year. When continued for long period it may constitute a disability which tries the patient of the most stoical individual as well as the doctor called to bring relief to the suffering victim. Kneading massage with topical analgesic is a common practice by physiotherapist especially in Nigeria in the management of low back pain, work has been done to know the efficacy of lofnac gel (topical analgesic) via phonophoresis in the management of low back pain(ojoawo,2015), but the comparison of the efficacy of kneading massage and phonophoresis in the management of low back pain has not been well documented. The purpose of this study therefore, is to compare the efficacy of kneading massage and phonophoresis using lofnac gel in the treatment of non-specific chronic low back pain.