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Lumbar Extension Strengthening in Addition to Manual Therapy and Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain

NCT07719452 · Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2026-07-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of adding lumbar strengthening exercises to a program of manual therapy and motor control exercises (standard therapy) in adults with chronic low back pain (cLBP). Researchers will compare individuals with cLBP that receive lumbar extensor strengthening in addition to standard therapy compared to standard therapy alone to determine if there are differences in patient reported outcomes, lumbar multifidus thickness, low back endurance, and healthcare utilization between the groups.

All participants will engage in 8-weeks of physical therapy, receiving manual therapy and motor control exercises. Those in the intervention group will have additional low back strengthening exercises.

Conditions

  • Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)

Interventions

OTHER

Standard Physical Therapy

Participants randomized to the SPT group (control group) will receive pragmatic treatments of manual therapy and motor control exercises (MCE) based on their clinical presentation, which is consistent with standard patient care management of chronic lower back pain. They will attend a total of 10-14 visits over a course of 8 weeks, as is typical for routine care of individuals with cLBP. The treating physical therapist will use manual therapy and motor control exercise interventions that will be tailored to the patient's individual presentation.

OTHER

Lumbar Extensor Strengthening plus Standard Physical Therapy

Participants randomized to the SPT+LEX group (experimental group) will receive the same pragmatic treatments of manual therapy and MCE as the control group over the same number of visits (10-14). In addition to MCE and manual therapy, this group will perform specific lumbar extensor strengthening. These exercises target the lumbar extensor muscle group (to include the lumbar multifidus) and may be performed by lying prone on the edge of a bench or mat and lifting the legs to parallel while the torso is stabilized. Alternatively, they may be performed by stabilizing the hips and legs while lifting the torso to varying angles from horizontal with or without weights.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Brooke Army Medical Center

    lead FED

Principal Investigators

  • Benjamin Hando, PT, DSc, PhD · Army-Baylor Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-08-03
Primary Completion
2027-06-30
Completion
2028-06-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07719452 on ClinicalTrials.gov