Biopsychosocial Factors and Muscle Morphology After a Resistance Exercise

NCT ID: NCT07203430

Last Updated: 2025-10-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 22 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-20
• Study Completion Date: 2026-10-20

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the longitudinal effects of a four-week dynamic resistance training program using the 45-degree Roman chair on pain sensitivity changes after exercise and lumbar muscle performance in individuals with chronic low back pain (LBP). This study will consist of three specific aims. Aim 1 examines changes in local exercise-induced hypoalgesia. Aim 2 will assess changes in lumbar multifidus and erector spinae thickness using ultrasound imaging before and after the intervention. Aim 3 will evaluate changes in lumbar extensor strength (handheld dynamometry (HHD)) and endurance (Biering-Sørensen test).

Conditions

Low Back Pain, Chronic

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Intervention Group

During visits 2-13, participants will attend 2-3 sessions per week, with a minimum of 48 hours between visits, and must complete all study visits 6 weeks after enrollment. Participants in the intervention group will perform 3 sets of low back extension exercise on the Roman chair until volitional exhaustion. The three sets will be performed to volitional exhaustion or 20 repetitions, whichever comes first. If more than 20 repetitions can be completed after a set the investigator will add resistance according to the NSCA's guidelines (2.5-10% increase).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

45-Degree Roman Chair Exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants in the intervention group will perform 3 sets of low back extension exercise on the Roman chair until volitional exhaustion. The three sets will be performed to volitional exhaustion or 20 repetitions, whichever comes first. If more than 20 repetitions can be completed after a set the investigator will add resistance according to the NSCA's guidelines (2.5-10% increase).

Control Group

Participants in the control group will not complete the low back extension exercise and will be told to continue activity as usual. All participants will complete a training log and detail the type of resistance exercise performed, the number of sets and repetitions completed, and the weight used.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

45-Degree Roman Chair Exercise

Participants in the intervention group will perform 3 sets of low back extension exercise on the Roman chair until volitional exhaustion. The three sets will be performed to volitional exhaustion or 20 repetitions, whichever comes first. If more than 20 repetitions can be completed after a set the investigator will add resistance according to the NSCA's guidelines (2.5-10% increase).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• chronic low back pain lasting ≥ 12 weeks
• current pain intensity ≥ 3/10 but no higher than an 8/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) within the past 48 hours
• resistance trained (defined as 2x/week for the past 8-12 weeks)
• able to read and speak English for informed consent and completion of questionnaires
• willing and physically able to complete all testing and intervention sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

• History of spinal surgery, fusion, or fracture within the past 6 months
• diagnosed degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, or spinal pathology that precludes safe exercise participation
• use of an assistive device for walking (cane, walker) within the past year
• pregnancy, due to contraindications for exercise testing and ultrasound -body weight ≥ 300 lbs., which exceeds the safe capacity of the Roman chair --
• current tobacco/nicotine use
• current enrollment in physical therapy or structured rehabilitation for LBP,
• cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, or systemic disease that increases risk during exercise
• nociplastic pain conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia) or neurological conditions that confound EIH responses
• inability to complete ≥ 8 Roman chair repetitions with proper form during screening
• non-English speaking

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Central Florida

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Abigail Wilson

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida, United States

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Abigail T. Anderson, PT, DPT, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Abigail.Wilson@ucf.edu

407-823-1026

Facility Contacts

Abigail Anderson, PT, DPT, PhD

Role: primary

Abigail.Wilson@ucf.edu

407-823-1026

Role: backup

Abigail.Wilson@ucf.edu

Other Identifiers

12

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id