A Follow-up Comparison of Sensory Discrimination in Patients With Low Back Pain

St. Ambrose University102 enrolled

Overview

To determine if there is any carry over difference with sensation training to the low back for patients with low back pain with the addition of a training at home. This will be looked at to see if there is a difference in pain or back / leg movement right after the training and in a few days after doing some exercises at home.

In a previous case series patients with chronic Low Back Pain (LBP) who received tactile acuity training to their lower back in the absence of movement, experienced immediate positive changes in pain ratings and spinal movements. These changes, however, where only measured immediate post-intervention. This study aims to use a similar design of sensory discrimination for LBP, but will include a sensory discrimination home exercise program and compare groups at a follow-up visit for any difference between groups (48-96 hours) of the immediate changes. Changes will be assessed for pain and back and leg movement.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

102

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Interventions

Home exercise program onlyOTHER

After 5 minutes of sensory discrimination (using a 9 point grid) in the clinic patients will perform a home exercise program only

Home exercise program and home program of sensory discriminationOTHER

After 5 minutes of sensory discrimination (using a 9 point grid) in the clinic patients will perform a home exercise program and two 5 minutes sessions of sensory training at home each day.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * adults over the age of 18 * patients presenting at PT with a primary complaint of LBP * LBP being present for 3 months or more * fluent in English * willing to participate in the study * They also will need someone who can assist with a sensory discrimination HEP. Exclusion Criteria: * under age 18 * not able to read/understand the English language * prisoners * no medical issues precluding physical therapy treatment (red flags) * if they had undergone spinal surgery * if they had any skin or medical condition preventing them from receiving tactile stimuli on the lower back or had specific movement-based precautions, i.e., no active spinal flexion. - Patients presenting with leg pain only * Patients with neurological deficit only in the lower extremity

Locations (1)

St. Ambrose university

Davenport, Iowa, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Low Back Pain Rating

Numeric Pain Rating Scale for Back pain (0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain)

Time frame: Change from baseline to following treatment immediately upon completion of initial session

Low Back Pain Rating

Numeric Pain Rating Scale for Back pain (0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain)

Time frame: Change from end of treatment initial session to 2-4 days

Lumbar Flexion

Active trunk forward flexion measured in cm (finger tips to floor)

Time frame: Change from baseline to treatment immediately upon completion of initial session

Lumbar Flexion

Active trunk forward flexion measured in cm (finger tips to floor)

Time frame: Change from end of treatment initial session to 2-4 days

Straight Leg Raise

Neurodynamic measurement of leg raise (lower limb tension test)

Time frame: Change from baseline to treatment immediately upon completion of initial session

Straight Leg Raise

Neurodynamic measurement of leg raise (lower limb tension test)

Time frame: Change from end of treatment initial session to 2-4 days

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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