The overall goal of this project is to develop sensitive and objective clinical research tools for the assessment of postural control of the trunk. In order to accomplish this goal, we aim to quantify balance performance in an unstable seated task. Specifically, the investigators will quantify balance performance in low back pain participants before and after osteopathic manipulative treatment. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a significant improvement in balance performance after a single session of osteopathic manipulative treatment as well as after 4 sessions of osteopathic manipulative treatment and this improvement will be greater than any learning effect. A secondary objective of this study is to quantify differences in patient-oriented outcome measures (e.g., self-reported pain, disability) in low back pain participants before and after osteopathic manipulative treatment. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a significant improvement in these self-reported outcomes following osteopathic manipulative treatment. The association between improvement in postural control parameters and patient-oriented measures will also be explored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
63
Up to 4 sessions of osteopathic manipulative treatment (once per week)
MSU Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
East Lansing, Michigan, United States
MSU Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Michigan State University Center for Orthopedic Research
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Change in postural control
Postural control will be assessed in an unstable seated task, in which subjects will be asked to balance on a specially designed seat. The average deviations from the neutral seat position will be measured in degrees.
Time frame: Change from baseline to shortly after first treatment (1-2 days), from baseline to an expected average of week 4, and from week 4 to an expected average of week 8.
Change in trunk muscle reflex latency
Subjects will be pulling with their trunk on a cable held by an electromagnet. The electromagnet will be suddenly released. Trunk muscle response to sudden load release will be measured on electromyographical recordings in milliseconds.
Time frame: Change from baseline to shortly after first treatment (1-2 days), from baseline to an expected average of week 4, and from week 4 to an expected average of week 8.
Change in Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Assesses weekly changes in physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep, satisfaction with social role, and pain with PROMIS-29 questionnaire.
Time frame: The expected average is weekly for this outcome measure until the end (expected average of 8 weeks).
Change in concomitant medication
Assesses weekly changes in the use of medication for treating low back pain, including the type of medication and the quantity of medication (i.e., number of pills) with a questionnaire.
Time frame: The expected average is weekly for this outcome measure until the end (expected average of 8 weeks).tcome measure until the end, an expected average of 8 weeks.
Change in Oswestry Disability Index
Assesses weekly changes in functional activities related to low back disability with the Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire.
Time frame: The expected average is weekly for this outcome measure until the end (expected average of 8 weeks).
Change in fear avoidance behavior
Assesses weekly changes in fear avoidance behavior using the Fear Avoidance Beliefs questionnaire.
Time frame: The expected average is weekly for this outcome measure until the end (expected average of 8 weeks).
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.