Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation Therapy or Mindfulness-based Reduction Therapy on Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

Chronic Pain Management (CPM) has increasingly utilized long-term opioid analgesic therapy, a change associated with increased opioid abuse (a greater exposure in vulnerable individuals), non-pain health consequences (hormone changes, falls), and a dramatic rise in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Treatment strategies that minimize the need for chronic high-dose opioids are sorely needed. This project will aim to test what degree mindfulness therapy (MT) and spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) produce pre- to mid- to post-treatment changes in endogenous opioid (EO) function.

Conditions

• Chronic Low-back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Spinal Manipulation Therapy (SMT)

2 SMT techniques are administered each session, both of which are scripted interactions between the physical therapist (PT) providing the SMT and the subjects: 1) Participants will lie on the SMT table for 20 mins, while the PT sits approximately 6 ft away. As part of the script, the PT will review with subjects the inclusion/exclusion criteria ostensibly to ensure that nothing has changed. 2) The PT will perform the 2 SMT techniques during the next 20 mins. 3) Subjects will sit upright in a chair for the remaining 20 mins, while the PT sits approximately 6 feet away. The PT will review home exercises with participant.

DRUG

Naloxone

In randomized order (crossover) across 2 laboratory sessions each approximately 3 days apart, participants will receive either 1) 2 doses of saline placebo (20ml each) or 2) weight-adjusted doses of Naloxone beginning with a dose of 0.11mg/kg followed by a weight-adjusted dose of 0.055 mg/kg

DRUG

Placebo

In randomized order (crossover) across 2 laboratory sessions each approximately 3 days apart, participants will receive either 1) 2 doses of saline placebo (20ml each) or 2) weight-adjusted doses of Naloxone beginning with a dose of 0.11mg/kg followed by a weight-adjusted dose of 0.055 mg/kg

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Therapy (MT)

Each MT session consists of (a) body scan meditation accompanied by awareness of breathing and other bodily sensations while in a lying position, (b) sitting meditation, focusing on awareness of breathing, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions (c) gentle movement exercises intended to develop awareness (mindfulness) during movement. In-session activities include suggestions for application of mindfulness as a method for responding positively to stress; dealing with the challenges of pain; and exercises focusing on the challenges and achievements patients experience in integrating mindfulness into their lives and the stressful situations they encounter. Additional discussion will focus on stress reactivity and they will be taught problem-solving skills to develop solutions to meet MT goals. Finally, patients will develop a written maintenance plan that includes a list of short- and long-term goals for applying mindfulness methods and a plan for dealing with possible setbacks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Rush University Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• John Burns, PhD · Rush University Medical Center

• Stephen Bruehl, PhD · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-08-15

Primary Completion

2024-11-29

Completion

2026-06-01

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations