CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

This large research program is testing several different experimental treatments for chronic pain conditions including knee arthritis, low back pain, and diabetic nerve pain. The study will enroll up to 10,000 participants to compare new pain interventions against placebo treatme…

This study aims to find out if spinal fusion surgery is better than a comprehensive rehabilitation program for adults who have had low back pain for over a year. About 200 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the surgery or the rehab program. Researchers will …

This study is testing if adding a supervised weight loss program to standard back pain therapy works better for pain relief. It will involve 252 overweight or obese adults with long-term low back pain across Belgium and Switzerland. Participants will be randomly assigned to recei…

This study is testing a new artificial disc implant designed to reduce chronic low back pain caused by worn-out spinal discs. The implant replaces the damaged cushion inside the spine while aiming to preserve normal back movement, unlike traditional fusion surgery that stiffens t…

This study is testing whether an active music-based therapy can help people with chronic low back pain. Researchers want to see if playing an instrument, singing, or songwriting during five sessions over two weeks can improve participants' thinking skills, reduce their sensitivit…

This study is testing whether adding a non-invasive treatment called extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to standard physical therapy helps adults with long-term low back pain. Researchers will measure changes in pain, stiffness, and daily function over time. The goal is to …

This study is testing whether two home-based, non-drug approaches can help older adults manage chronic low back pain and feelings of depression. Researchers are comparing a program combining mindfulness meditation with gentle electrical stimulation of the ear (which targets a ner…

This small pilot study is testing whether an 8-week mindfulness meditation program can help reduce pain and improve daily life for older adults with chronic low back pain. Researchers will also check if the meditation affects the connection between the gut and the brain. The stud…

This study is testing a new pattern of electrical pulses delivered by an approved spinal cord stimulator to see if it better manages chronic pain. It will enroll about 70 adults who have had back or leg pain for at least 6 months. The main goal is to see how many people can cut t…

This study is developing and testing a new breathing therapy program for adults with chronic low back pain. Participants will attend eight weekly, one-on-one guided breathing sessions to see if the practice is helpful and acceptable. The main goal is to see if this approach can r…

This early-stage study from Johns Hopkins University is testing whether a single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in 'magic mushrooms,' can help people who suffer from both chronic lower back pain and depression. Forty participants will receive either psilocybin or a stimu…

This study is testing two different physical treatments to see which helps people with long-term, hard-to-treat low back pain more. One treatment is a special hands-on massage technique for the back's connective tissue. The other is a guided injection of a mild sugar-water soluti…

This study is testing whether physical therapy delivered through video calls can help people with long-term low back pain who live in rural areas. Researchers want to see if this convenient approach can reduce pain, improve function, and lower the need for opioid painkillers. The…

This study is testing whether a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique can help reduce chronic low back pain. Researchers will recruit 80 adults who have had significant back pain for over six months. They will measure changes in pain levels and brain activity before an…

This study is testing a two-part treatment for veterans who have both chronic low back pain and depression. The goal is to see if giving ketamine infusions followed by a brief therapy program is safe, practical, and acceptable to participants. Researchers will measure if this app…

This study is testing whether a mobile app and a special headset can help people manage chronic low back pain. Participants use the app for 10 minutes, four times a week for three months, aiming to train their brain to reach a more relaxed state. Researchers will compare results …

This small pilot study is testing whether a program combining group art therapy with exercise is a practical and helpful way for older adults to manage chronic low back pain. Researchers will work with 30 participants to see if people can stick with the program and if it might he…

This study is testing a non-invasive, stick-on electrical patch designed to reduce chronic low back pain. Researchers will see if this patch, placed on the skin over the spine, can lower pain scores and improve how people move during simple tasks like standing up. The goal is to …

This study is testing whether an experimental injection called CELZ-201-DDT can safely reduce pain and improve movement in people with long-term lower back pain caused by worn spinal discs. Researchers will give 45 participants either the real injection or a placebo shot in their…

This study is testing whether adding osteopathic manual therapy to standard medical care helps people with long-term, non-specific low back pain feel better. It will compare pain levels in three groups: standard care alone, standard care with real osteopathic treatment, and stand…

This study is testing a different type of needle used in a common back pain procedure called radiofrequency ablation. Researchers want to see if this new needle provides better pain relief compared to standard pain management techniques like medications and physical therapy. The …

This study is collecting real-world results from a commercially available, minimally invasive procedure for chronic low back pain thought to originate from the spinal bones. It aims to see how well the treatment reduces pain-related disability in 1,500 patients who are already sc…

This study aims to understand how daily pain, mood, and activities are connected by having 800 participants use a smartphone app called SOMA for four months. The goal is to find patterns that might predict when short-term (acute) pain becomes long-term (chronic) pain. A smaller g…

This study aims to understand what motivates or stops people with chronic low back pain from staying physically active using a smartphone app. Researchers will interview 25 patients to learn about their experiences, expectations, and challenges. The goal is to gather information …

This research study aims to identify brain patterns that might predict whether spinal cord stimulation will help people with chronic low back pain. Researchers will perform brain scans on 42 patients before they receive this standard pain treatment, then follow up two weeks later…

This study is testing whether doctors find a new disposable activity monitor, called the VERABAND™, useful for managing patients with chronic low back pain. About 340 patients will wear the monitor while starting a new pain treatment, and their doctors will receive reports on the…

This Stanford University study aims to understand how brain activity relates to chronic low back pain. Researchers will use EEG brain scans on 130 participants with chronic back pain and healthy volunteers over several months. The goal is to identify brain patterns that might pre…

This study aims to understand how stimulating specific points on the ear with cold air might help relieve chronic low back pain. Researchers will use brain scans (MRI and fNIRS) on 60 adults with long-term back pain to see how their brain activity changes after receiving either r…

This study aims to understand why a spinal cord stimulator relieves chronic back pain for some people but not others. Researchers will use brain scans and other tests on 20 people who already use the device to see how their brain activity changes when it's on versus off. The goal…