Chronic low back pain

This study tests a new disc implant called PerQdisc for people with chronic low back pain from degenerative disc disease. The implant is placed in the spine after removing the damaged disc material. Researchers will track 72 participants to see if the implant improves pain and fu…

This study compares two treatments for chronic low back pain lasting over a year: lumbar fusion surgery and a structured rehab program. About 202 adults aged 20-65 will be randomly assigned to one of the two. The goal is to see if surgery reduces disability more than rehab over t…

This study is following 1,500 people with chronic low back pain caused by a condition called vertebrogenic pain syndrome. All participants will receive the Intracept procedure, which uses radiofrequency energy to ablate (disable) certain nerves in the spine thought to cause pain.…

This Phase 2 trial is testing four experimental drugs (taken orally or by IV) against placebo in 10,000 people with chronic pain from knee osteoarthritis, diabetic nerve damage, or low-back pain. The goal is to see if any of these drugs can safely reduce pain. The study uses a fl…

This study tests whether a computer algorithm can predict which treatment—such as physical therapy or exercise—will work best for a person with chronic low-back pain. Researchers collect information on symptoms, health history, and lifestyle to create a personalized treatment pla…

This study looks at how psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) affects mood and pain in people with both chronic low back pain and depression. About 40 adults will receive either a single high dose of psilocybin or a control drug. Researchers will track changes in …

This study is testing a new way to use an already-approved spinal cord stimulator to treat chronic, hard-to-manage back and leg pain. The device sends mild electrical pulses to the spine, and the new setting (called TVP-SCS) varies the timing of those pulses. Researchers will enr…

This study compares two ways to treat chronic low back pain: physical therapy done through video calls (telerehabilitation) versus in-person clinic visits. Researchers will enroll 1000 adults with ongoing back pain to see which approach better reduces disability and pain after 8 …

This study will follow 80 people with chronic pain (like back, hip, or nerve pain) who are getting a procedure called cryoneurolysis, which uses cold to temporarily block pain signals. Researchers want to see if it leads to meaningful pain relief and better daily function over 12…

This trial tests whether adding a behavioral weight reduction program to standard rehabilitation—which includes pain education and targeted exercise—can better ease chronic low back pain in overweight or obese adults. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the combi…

This study tests whether adding a behavioral weight reduction program (diet, exercise, and behavior changes) to standard pain education and exercise therapy can reduce chronic low back pain in overweight or obese adults. Researchers will compare the combined approach against pain…

This trial tests whether adding palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) to standard care can reduce pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain. Participants receive either PEA plus usual treatment or usual treatment alone, and their pain, function, and satisfaction are tracked …

This trial tests whether adding a special electrical stimulation treatment to a standard core exercise program can reduce pain and improve function in adults with chronic low back pain. Forty-five people will be split into three groups: one gets core exercises plus a lumbar stren…

This study looks at whether an ultrasound-guided nerve block can reduce pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain caused by superior cluneal nerve entrapment, a condition often mistaken for spine problems. Researchers will track pain scores, disability, and nerve-r…

This study tests whether a telehealth physical therapy program, tailored to each person's risk level, can reduce pain and disability from chronic low back pain better than standard education. About 434 adults in rural communities who have had back pain for at least 6 months will …

This study compares two treatments for chronic low back and leg pain caused by a herniated disc: high-intensity laser therapy and a steroid injection into the spine. About 24 adults aged 18 to 65 with pain lasting over three months will be randomly assigned to one of the two trea…

This study tests whether a wearable device that gently stimulates a nerve in the ear can help people with long-term, hard-to-treat low back pain. Adults aged 30 to 60 with moderate to severe pain for over six months will either receive standard care alone or standard care plus th…

This study explores whether a mindfulness-based stress reduction program can help people with chronic low back pain. Researchers will use artificial intelligence to analyze biological, psychological, and social markers to predict who responds best. The goal is to personalize trea…

This study tests whether a device that delivers high-frequency radiofrequency electrical currents (called TECAR) can reduce pain and improve movement in people with muscle injuries or low back pain. Researchers will measure pain, flexibility, and function before and after a singl…

This study is testing two different treatments for people with long-term low back pain that hasn't improved with standard care. One treatment involves a hands-on technique to loosen the connective tissue in the lower back, and the other is an injection of a simple sugar solution …

This trial tests whether a specialized physiotherapy method called STOPS (Specific Treatment of Problems of the Spine) works better than usual physiotherapy for people with chronic low back pain in Bangladesh. About 154 participants will receive either standard care or individual…

This study aims to find the most effective non-surgical treatments for chronic low back pain in Veterans. Over 2,500 participants will first try either continued care, an online pain self-management program, or enhanced physical therapy. Those who don't improve can then choose fr…

This study compares virtual reality-based rehabilitation to standard physiotherapy for people with chronic low back pain. Eighty participants aged 40-65 will be split into two groups: one doing VR exercises plus standard care, the other only standard care. The goal is to see if V…

This study looks at whether adding biofeedback to standard back exercises can reduce pain and improve balance, movement, and quality of life in people with chronic low back pain. About 110 adults aged 30 to 65 with ongoing pain will be split into two groups: one doing stabilizati…

This study tests whether combining mindfulness meditation with a mild nerve stimulation device (applied to the ear) can help older adults manage chronic low back pain and depressive symptoms. Participants will practice daily at home for 8 weeks. The goal is to see if this drug-fr…

This study tests whether a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tACS can reduce chronic low back pain. Researchers will enroll 80 adults aged 18-60 who have had low back pain for at least 6 months. Participants will receive either real tACS or a sham (fake) sti…

This study is testing whether a non-invasive device that sends electrical stimulation through the skin to the spinal cord can help relieve chronic low back pain. Researchers will enroll 50 adults with low back pain to see if the treatment reduces pain and improves how well they c…

This study looks at whether adding osteopathic treatment (a type of hands-on therapy) to standard medical care can reduce pain in people with chronic low back pain. About 199 adults with non-specific low back pain lasting over 3 months will take part. Researchers will compare pai…

This study tests whether adding extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to standard physical therapy can reduce pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain lasting more than three months. Forty-four adults will receive either ESWT plus conventional rehab or rehab al…

This study tests whether actively making music—like playing an instrument, singing, or songwriting—can help people with chronic low back pain. Researchers want to see if it improves thinking, reduces pain sensitivity, lessens pain-related worry, and boosts quality of life. Forty …

This pilot study is testing whether ketamine infusions, combined with a brief counseling session, can help veterans who have both chronic low back pain and depression. About 44 veterans will receive four ketamine infusions over two weeks, and some will also get a short behavioral…

This study tests whether a mobile app and headset that train the brain to relax can help people with chronic low back pain. 150 adults will use the app for 10 minutes, four times a week for three months. Researchers will check pain levels and physical function over nine months.

This study tests a special needle (multi-tined expandable electrode) used in a standard procedure called radiofrequency ablation to treat chronic low back pain. About 50 adults with long-term pain will either get this new needle treatment or continue with usual medical care. The …

This pilot study tests whether a two-week daily mindfulness meditation program can reduce pain and improve daily function in older adults with chronic low back pain. Researchers will also explore how meditation affects the gut-brain connection. The trial aims to recruit 66 partic…

This pilot study tests whether combining group art therapy with exercise can help older adults (60+) who have had low back pain for at least three months. The study will enroll 30 participants to see if the program is feasible and acceptable, and to gather early signs of whether …

This study looks at how leisure activities—like hobbies, social outings, or exercise—impact the quality of life of 148 adults with chronic low back pain. Researchers will use questionnaires to measure activity levels and well-being. The goal is to understand if staying active in …

This study looks at whether a protein called periostin, found inside spinal discs, matches the degree of disc degeneration seen on MRI scans. Researchers will collect disc tissue from 20 people undergoing spinal surgery for conditions like herniated discs or lumbar stenosis. They…

This study explores whether the level of a protein called BDNF in the blood can predict how well patients with chronic low back pain respond to a treatment called an erector spinae plane block, a nerve block that aims to relieve pain. Researchers will measure BDNF levels in 70 ad…

This study looks at whether physical therapists can correctly identify movement control problems in people with chronic low back pain. Fifty participants will perform six simple movement tests while being filmed. Therapists will watch the videos and decide if the movement is norm…

This study looks at how doctors feel about using a new disposable activity monitor called VERABAND™ for people with chronic low back pain. About 360 clinicians and patients will take part. The goal is to see if doctors find it easy to use and if they would recommend it in their p…

This study uses EEG (a non-invasive brain wave test) to find patterns in the brain that might predict how chronic low back pain changes over time. Researchers will track 130 adults with chronic low back pain and healthy volunteers for up to 5 months. The goal is to develop better…

This study uses ultrasound imaging and machine learning to better understand low back pain by looking at the thoracolumbar fascia, a layer of tissue in the back. Researchers will compare images from people with acute pain, chronic pain, and no pain. Some participants with chronic…

This study is testing whether a quick cold spray on specific ear points can change how the brain processes chronic low back pain. Sixty adults with back pain for at least 6 months will get either real or fake (sham) ear stimulation. Researchers will use brain scans (fNIRS and MRI…

This study looks at how spinal cord stimulators change brain activity in people with chronic low back pain. Researchers will use fMRI scans to compare brain connectivity when the device is on versus off. The goal is to find patterns that predict who will respond well to this trea…

This study looks at whether brain scans can help predict which people with chronic low back pain will get good pain relief from spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Researchers will scan the brains of 42 adults before they receive SCS as part of their normal care. They will then check …

This study looks at what motivates or prevents people with chronic low back pain from using a health app to stay physically active. Researchers will interview 25 patients to understand their needs and expectations. The goal is to learn how to design better digital tools that help…

This study uses a smartphone app called SOMA to track daily mood, pain, and activity in 800 people with acute or chronic pain over four months. The goal is to find patterns that predict whether acute pain becomes chronic, or if chronic pain flares up. A smaller group will also ha…