Manual Therapy Plus Capacitive and Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT05680467

Last Updated: 2023-03-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-12-15

Study Completion Date

2023-03-15

Brief Summary

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Chronic low back pain is defined as back pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks. The aim of this clinical study is to investigate the efficacy of combining a program of manual techniques with the application of Capacitive and Resistive Electric Transfer (TECAR) therapy to treat chronic low back pain. Sixty adults with chronic low back pain will be randomly divided into three groups of 20 each. In the participants of the first group, a therapeutic protocol of manual soft tissue mobilization in the lumbar region will be applied. To the participants of the second group, the same protocol of manual techniques will be applied in combination with TECAR therapy, which will be applied through a conventional capacitive electrode as well as an antistatic electrode bracelet (making the hand of the physical therapist an antistatic electrode). The third group participants will receive no treatment. Both programs will include six treatments over two weeks. Pain in the last 24 hours with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional ability with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) in the lumbar region with an algometer, and lumbar flexion range of motion through fingertip-to-floor distance (FFD) test will be evaluated before and after the intervention with a follow-up one month later. For the statistical analysis of the results, a two-factor analysis of variance with repeated measurements will be applied, while the statistical significance index will be set at p \< .05.

Detailed Description

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Background: Chronic low back pain is defined as back pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks.

Aim: The purpose of this clinical study is to investigate the efficacy of combining a program of manual techniques with the application of Capacitive and Resistive Electric Transfer (TECAR) therapy in people with chronic low back pain.

Method: Sixty adults with chronic low back pain will be randomly divided into three groups of 20 people each. In the participants of the first group, a therapeutic protocol of manual soft tissue mobilization in the lumbar region will be applied. To the participants of the second group, the same protocol of manual techniques will be applied in combination with TECAR therapy, which will be applied through a conventional capacitive electrode as well as an antistatic electrode bracelet (making the hand of the physical therapist an antistatic electrode). The third group participants will receive no treatment. Both programs will include six treatments over two weeks. Pain in the last 24 hours with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional ability with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) in the lumbar region with an algometer, and lumbar flexion range of motion through fingertip-to-floor distance (FFD) test will be evaluated before and after the intervention with a follow-up one month later. For the statistical analysis of the results, a two-factor analysis of variance with repeated measurements will be applied, while the statistical significance index will be set at p \< .05.

Expected results: The protocol proposed in this clinical study combines the beneficial effects of TECAR treatment with the benefits of applying manual techniques. Modern TECAR devices make it possible, through special resistive bracelet electrodes, to turn the hand of the therapist into a mobile electrode providing a simultaneous effect of the two therapeutic means through manual techniques and high-frequency current. For this reason, we expect the specific combination to be more effective than the individual application of manual techniques in improving the clinical picture of adults with chronic low back pain. For the statistical analysis of the results, a two-way ANOVA with repeated measurements will be applied.

Conditions

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Chronic Low Back Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Sixty participants with chronic low back pain will be randomly assigned to three groups of 20 each. The allocation of the sample to the groups will be performed using a randomization program (https://www.randomizer.org/) by an independent researcher. In the first group, a manual protocol will be applied with the simultaneous application of a high-frequency current through TECAR, in the second group, the same manual protocol will be applied without the TECAR device, while the third group will not receive any treatment. Participants of the two intervention groups will follow a total of six treatments over a period of three weeks with a follow-up after one month.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
A masked assessor will conduct the measurements

Study Groups

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"Soft Tissue Mobilization"

Participants allocated to this group will receive six sessions of soft tissue mobilization technique accord to Kaltenborn (2018) .

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Manual Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

The protocol will last 30 minutes and will include the application of the following manual techniques:

* Lumbar soft tissue and joint cranial and lateral mobilization with the patient in the supine position
* Bilateral medial lumbar soft tissue mobilization
* Functional massage on the quadratus lumborum muscle with the patient in a lateral position on both sides
* Extension with coupled sidebending mobilization of the thoracic area with the patient in a lateral position on both sides
* Soft tissue lateral mobilization of the thoracic area with the patient in a lateral position on both sides

"Soft Tissue Mobilization" and "TECAR"

Participants allocated to this group will receive the same manual therapy protocol with Group 1 in combination with Capacitive and Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy (TECAR).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Manual Therapy plus TECAR

Intervention Type OTHER

The participants of this group will be given the same manual protocol as the first group in combination with the application of high frequency current. Soft tissue mobilization manipulations will be applied in combination with a capacitive conventional electrode and with a special electrode bracelet that makes the therapist's own hand as an antistatic electrode. The frequencies of the high frequency current will be 300khz, 500khz, and 1MHz, while as a reference electrode a flexible self-adhesive ground will be used placed on the abdomen

"Control"

Control Group

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Control

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in this group will only receive general instructions about managing their back pain and counseling about avoiding activities that may worsen their symptoms.

Interventions

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Manual Therapy

The protocol will last 30 minutes and will include the application of the following manual techniques:

* Lumbar soft tissue and joint cranial and lateral mobilization with the patient in the supine position
* Bilateral medial lumbar soft tissue mobilization
* Functional massage on the quadratus lumborum muscle with the patient in a lateral position on both sides
* Extension with coupled sidebending mobilization of the thoracic area with the patient in a lateral position on both sides
* Soft tissue lateral mobilization of the thoracic area with the patient in a lateral position on both sides

Intervention Type OTHER

Manual Therapy plus TECAR

The participants of this group will be given the same manual protocol as the first group in combination with the application of high frequency current. Soft tissue mobilization manipulations will be applied in combination with a capacitive conventional electrode and with a special electrode bracelet that makes the therapist's own hand as an antistatic electrode. The frequencies of the high frequency current will be 300khz, 500khz, and 1MHz, while as a reference electrode a flexible self-adhesive ground will be used placed on the abdomen

Intervention Type OTHER

Control

Participants in this group will only receive general instructions about managing their back pain and counseling about avoiding activities that may worsen their symptoms.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Duration of symptoms 12 weeks
* Women - Men
* Age range between 20 and 60 years
* Written consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Neuropathic pain extending along the lower limb due to nerve root compression
* Previous spine surgery
* History of spine trauma or fracture
* Implanted pacemakers
* Pregnancy
* Cancer
* Systemic musculoskeletal diseases, diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's), epilepsy, and history of psychiatric disorders
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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International Hellenic University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dimitrios Lytras

Dimitrios Lytras, Principal Investigator, Senior Lecturer of Physiotherapy

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences International Hellenic Universit

Thessaloniki, Sindos Thessaloníki, Greece

Site Status

Countries

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Greece

Other Identifiers

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EC-06/2022

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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