Non-Specific Chronic Back Pain; Insight From Spatial Aspects of Lumbar Spinal Muscle Activation

NCT ID: NCT01214213

Last Updated: 2016-09-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 57 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2014-08-31

Brief Summary

There is evidence for altered muscle activity patterns in individuals with non-specific chronic back pain (NSCBP). It is unknown why these alterations in activation pattern occur and how they may be linked to pain experience and to the development of CNSBP. The main objective of this study is to investigate the spatial aspects of muscle activation in relation to fatigue/endurance and CNSBP. A novel approach, utilizing a new multi-channel surface-EMG (MCsEMG) technique will be applied in this project to get insight in fundamental mechanisms related to motor control and fatigue/endurance. In this project data from healthy persons and from patients with NSCBP will be collected and analyzed. NSCBP patients will be compared to healthy persons. To minimize heterogeneity between groups the subject's age range will be from 30 - 50 years. The investigators main hypothesis is that motor control mechanisms of the lumbar muscles are disturbed in NSCBP patients compared to normals, explaining the reduced tolerance for static postures. There has been little investigation of the lumbar musculature with MCsEMG recordings. The lumbar musculature has a complex organization; many, relatively small muscles, in a restricted area. Utilizing two HDsEMG grids with 252 Ag/AgCl contacts will be the superior non-invasive method to investigate motor control mechanisms in this region, and further the investigators understanding of neuromuscular adaptations related to NSCBP. The project may demonstrate changes that will lead us to new insight and new strategies for the treatment of back pain.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• patients
• diagnosed with chronic NSCBP >3 months duration
• healthy controls
• no back pain.

Exclusion Criteria

• anamnesis of medical or drug abuse
• surgery on the musculoskeletal system of the trunk
• known congenital malformation of the spine or scoliosis
• body mass index >27 kg/m2
• systemic-neurological-degenerative disease
• history of stroke
• psychiatric disorder
• pregnancy and abnormal blood pressure.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Oslo University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Inge Ringheim

MSc

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Aage Indahl, Phd

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Locations

Vestfold Hospital Trust, Kysthospitalet

Stavern, , Norway

Countries

Norway

Other Identifiers

MULTI2009

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id