The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Patients With Low Back Pain

University of Bridgeport80 enrolled

Overview

This study will examine the effects of a portable of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) device (MD Cure, Aerotel, USA) compared with a sham device on patient-reported outcomes of pain and function in patients with either acute/subacute or chronic low back pain (LBP).

This study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pilot study comparing usual care + PEMF with usual care + sham. The investigators will recruit patients with LBP from the University of Bridgeport chiropractic clinic, and will enroll 80 total subjects: 40 with acute or subacute LBP, and 40 with chronic LBP. Within each of those populations the investigators will assign 20 subjects to receive usual care + PEMF, and 20 to receive usual care + sham. The investigators will track any other treatments initiated or discontinued during the trial. Patients who agree to participate with be randomly given a functional PEMF device or a sham unit. Patients and clinicians will be blinded to the assignment. All subjects will be given the same instructions for daily use of the devices, and will continue to receive usual follow-up at the UBCC clinic as indicated. The investigators will collect patient-reported measures of pain and function pain at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, and will collect data on adverse effects at each visit and at 6 and 12 weeks.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Interventions

MDCureDEVICE

Battery powered portable pulsed electromagnetic therapy device

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * UBCC patient * complaint of LBP intensity 4/10 or greater on the Numerical Rating Scale * diagnosis of a mechanical LBP condition * age 18-70 years * fluency in written and spoken English * for female subjects, be postmenopausal, surgically sterile, abstinent, or agree to practice an effective method of birth control for the duration of the study if sexually active * a willingness to participate in the study as evidenced by a signed informed consent form Exclusion Criteria: * current LBP complaint of 3/10 or less on the Numerical Rating Scale * diagnosis or suspicion of LBP caused by cancer, infection, referred visceral pain, inflammatory arthropathy, or other non-mechanical process * current or planned pregnancy * any electrically-based implanted devices such as pacemakers defibrillators, spinal cord stimulators, insulin pumps; metallic implants (e.g. surgical fusion constructs, disc replacements) in the low back * status post any lumbosacral spine surgery; significant mental health co-morbidities such as severe depression, schizoaffective disorders, suicidal ideation * inability to understand and/or complete all components of the informed consent process without the assistance of another person (e.g. without proxy) * inability to adhere to and comply with the treatment protocol.

Locations (1)

University of Bridgeport

Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in pain intensity

Numerical Rating Scale

Time frame: Baseline, weeks 6 and 12

Change in low back pain related disability

Oswestry Disability Index

Time frame: Baseline, weeks 6 and 12

Central Contacts

Anthony J Lisi

CONTACT

203-576-4437 alisi@bridgeport.edu

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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