Spinal Control During Functional Activities to Improve Low Back Pain Outcomes

Summary

Exercise is one of the primary interventions used with people with chronic, mechanical low back pain. It is unknown, however, which exercise is best for which person, which exercises a person will adhere to and for how long, and the effect of adhering to a specific type of exercise on how the person functions, particularly in the long run. The purpose of this study is to examine if the short- and long-term effects are different between 1) commonly prescribed strength and flexibility exercises for the trunk and limbs, and 2) individualized practice in daily functional activities that are difficult or painful to perform. Adherence to the different interventions, the relationship between adherence and outcomes,as well as the effect of a booster intervention also will be examined.

Conditions

• Mechanical Low Back Pain
• Chronic Low Back Pain

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Motor skill training

The participant will assist in selecting both simple and complex functional activities to practice. Difficulty will be graded to match the participant's motor capabilities. Three activities will be practiced per session. Within the practice of activities the training will emphasize 1) contraction of groups of specific trunk muscles, 2) earlier and greater movement of the hip, knee, and/or thoracic spine relative to the lumbar spine, 3) later and less movement of the lumbar spine relative to other regions. Within each activity the conditions of practice will vary based on 1) the participant's ability to perform the activity, and 2) the level of challenge the participant is faced with when performing the activity during his day. Equipment will be provided as needed.

BEHAVIORAL

Strength and flexibility exercise

Exercises based on best evidence for effectiveness in people with chronic low back pain will be prescribed. Strengthening exercises will target all trunk muscles. Flexibility exercises will target all trunk and hip motions. All exercises will be performed at the intensity appropriate for the person's musculoskeletal fitness level based on the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. Difficulty level, frequency, and number of repetitions will be modified based on guidelines described in the literature. Equipment will be provided as needed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  collaborator NIH

• Washington University School of Medicine

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Linda R Van Dillen, P.T., Ph.D. · Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University Medical School

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-01-15

Primary Completion

2017-11-30

Completion

2017-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations