LOW BACK PAIN

This study looks at whether a short patient history and physical exam can help doctors identify when low back pain comes from the sacroiliac joint, rather than relying only on X-rays or scans. Researchers will check if certain exam findings match the final diagnosis made with a n…

This study looks at whether different exercise approaches can reduce low back pain and improve daily function in people with idiopathic lumbar scoliosis. Researchers will measure changes in back muscle tissue thickness, pain levels, and quality of life. The study involves 30 part…

This study looks at whether Pilates exercises can help reduce low back pain in women after childbirth. Researchers will measure pain levels and pressure sensitivity in 48 women aged 20-30 with ongoing back pain. The goal is to find a safe, drug-free way to ease discomfort during …

This study tests whether diathermy (a heat-based treatment) works better than dry needling (using thin needles) for short-term relief of chronic low back pain. Sixty adults aged 18-65 with pain lasting over 6 weeks will receive two sessions of one treatment. Researchers will meas…

This study tests a program called GLA:D Back, originally from Denmark, to help people with low back pain that lasts at least one month. The goal is to adapt the program for English-speaking Canadians and see how many clinicians and patients use it. Participants must not be in oth…

This study tests whether a program of exercise, posture education, and standing advice can reduce low back pain and improve well-being in office workers. 60 participants will be split into three groups to compare different combinations of these approaches over 12 weeks. The goal …

This study tests whether cognitive functional therapy (a mix of counseling and movement) is better than Pilates for reducing disability in older adults with chronic low back pain. Both treatments are delivered via video calls (telerehabilitation). The study will enroll 200 people…

This study looks at whether adding Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) — a hands-on technique using stretching and gentle pressure — to standard VA care can improve outcomes for veterans and service members with chronic low back pain. About 48 participants will be randomly ass…

This study compares a personalized mobile health program to standard exercise therapy for adults with chronic low back pain. About 146 participants will use either a supervised app or conventional physiotherapy. The goal is to see which approach improves disability and pain more,…

This study looks at whether watching a short video that explains how TENS (a device that uses mild electrical pulses) works can help people with sudden low back pain feel more relief. Forty adults with acute low back pain will either get standard physical therapy (TENS plus exerc…

This study tests if massage therapy can reduce low back pain in healthcare workers. Researchers will give massages to 60 workers aged 30-65 who have had pain for at least 3 months. The goal is to see if massage can relieve pain and improve daily function.

This early-stage study tests whether a medicine made from horse chestnut extract (sodium aescinate) can safely reduce pain in adults with long-term low back pain. About 40 people will take either the medicine or a placebo pill for a set time, and researchers will measure changes …

This study compares two exercise programs—moderate-load eccentric core exercises and Pilates—to see which better reduces pain, improves movement, and builds core endurance in people with long-term non-specific low back pain. About 44 adults aged 18 to 45 with pain lasting over 3 …

This study looks at whether adding a foam pad to a standard lumbar belt makes it more comfortable. Researchers will recruit 15 healthy adults aged 18 to 50 without back problems. Participants will wear the belt with and without the pad and rate their comfort on a scale from 0 to …

This study tests whether a special balance platform can help people with long-term low back pain feel better and move easier. About 44 adults with chronic low back pain will either use the balance machine or do simple home exercises. Researchers will check pain, balance, and qual…

This study tests whether a device that sends mild electrical pulses through the skin (TENS) can safely reduce pain and improve daily function in adults with chronic low back pain. Forty participants will receive TENS treatment five times a week for four weeks. Researchers will me…

This study looks at whether having a physical therapist in the emergency department (ED) can help people with low back pain get faster care. About 140 adults with recent low back pain will take part at two hospitals. The goal is to see if this approach is practical and can reduce…

This study looks at whether a team approach—where general practitioners, physiotherapists, and occupational health services work together—can help people with low back pain recover faster and avoid long-term disability. About 500 adults with subacute or recurrent acute low back p…

This study tests a new type of spinal cord stimulation (called TVP-SCS) to see if it can reduce chronic low back and leg pain by at least 50% in 70 adults. Participants must have had pain for 6 months or more and be able to complete English questionnaires. The main goal is to mea…

This study tests whether a full-body suit called EXOPULSE Mollii can reduce pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain. The suit delivers gentle electrical pulses to many muscles at once, which may work better than standard treatments that target only a few muscles.…

This study tests a non-drug approach for people with knee osteoarthritis and low back pain. For two weeks, participants will have a cuff on one thigh that briefly stops blood flow for 5 minutes at a time, repeated over 50 minutes every other day. The goal is to see if this improv…

This study tests a wearable smart belt that tracks muscle activity and gives real-time feedback through a phone app during core exercises. About 40 adults with long-term lower back pain will use the belt alongside standard care or receive standard care alone. The goal is to see i…

This study looks at whether adding diaphragm relaxation to standard back exercises can reduce pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain. Researchers will measure pain, quality of life, and muscle endurance in 42 adults aged 18–65. The goal is to see if targeting th…

This study tests whether dronabinol (a synthetic THC pill) can safely reduce chronic low back pain. About 75 adults with pain lasting at least 3 months will take either the drug or a placebo for 8 weeks. The main goal is to see if the drug is safe enough for larger future studies…

This study compares ibuprofen alone versus ibuprofen plus a short course of dexamethasone for people with acute low back pain that shoots down the leg. 132 adults visiting the emergency department will take either dexamethasone or a placebo for 2 days, plus ibuprofen for 7 days, …

This study tests a team-based rehab program for people with long-term back or spine problems. About 90 adults will take part in exercise and therapy sessions to see if their pain and daily function improve. The goal is to find a better way to manage chronic back pain without drug…

This study looks at how the mind-body practice QiGong changes brain activity to help people with long-term low back pain. Researchers will measure pain levels, body awareness, and mindfulness in 60 adults who practice QiGong. The goal is to understand the brain mechanisms behind …

This study tests whether Baduanjin, a gentle traditional Chinese exercise, can reduce chronic low back pain in office workers who sit for long hours. Thirty participants will either practice Baduanjin for eight weeks or receive no special treatment. Researchers will measure chang…

This study tests whether doing exercises guided by a smartphone or computer (telerehabilitation) works better than following a paper exercise plan for people with low back pain. Researchers will measure disability, pain, movement, and other factors in 30 adults. The goal is to se…

This study follows 200 people with chronic low back pain who are scheduled for a minimally invasive procedure called basivertebral nerve ablation. The goal is to see how much pain and function improve over time and to figure out which patients benefit the most. Participants will …

This study looks at whether combining core-strengthening exercises with a hands-on muscle therapy (myofascial induction) can help reduce low back pain, improve core endurance, and boost quality of life in women who gave birth within the last six months. Forty women with moderate …

This study compares two stretching techniques—post-isometric relaxation and active isolated stretch—to see which better reduces pain, improves hip movement, and lowers disability in people with piriformis syndrome. Forty adults aged 20 to 55 with buttock pain will receive six ses…

This study tests a new way to manage low back pain in primary care. Doctors, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists work together to provide better education and tailored care. About 500 patients will be followed for 12 months to see if this approach reduces disability and…

This study tests whether a nerve block called an erector spinae plane block (ESPB) can quickly reduce low back pain in adults visiting the emergency department. About 62 participants will receive either the ESPB or a placebo injection, and their pain levels will be tracked for up…

This study looks at whether having a short daily talk with a doctor, in addition to standard physical therapy, can help people with low back pain feel less pain and fear of moving. About 74 adults aged 18-65 with subacute or chronic back pain will take part. Researchers will meas…

This study tests three home-based programs for people with long-term muscle or joint pain (like back pain or arthritis) who also sleep poorly. Participants will be randomly assigned to exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or both, with online coaching for 12 month…

This study tests a treatment called catgut embedding for chronic low back pain caused by lumbar spondylosis. 66 adults will receive either catgut embedding (2 sessions) or electro-acupuncture (20 sessions) over 4 weeks. The goal is to see which method reduces pain and improves da…

This study compares music therapy using Music Care tablets to a gas mixture (EMONO) for reducing anxiety in 128 people with low back pain undergoing a CT-guided spinal injection. Participants will be randomly assigned to listen to music or inhale the gas during the procedure. The…

This study looks at whether wearing a lumbar brace for 4 weeks after an ER visit for low back pain can lower pain, improve spine function, and reduce the need for painkillers. About 152 adults aged 18-65 in Edmonton will be enrolled. The goal is to find a safer, non-drug option f…

This study looks at whether a special low-weight workout using blood flow restriction cuffs can help teenage rowers with mild or recurring low back pain. Researchers want to see if this method is as effective as heavy lifting for improving performance and preventing re-injury, bu…

This study looks at whether adding biofeedback to standard back exercises can reduce pain and improve balance and daily function in people with chronic low back pain. About 110 adults aged 30-65 with ongoing pain will be randomly assigned to receive either standard therapy or the…

This study compares two exercise approaches—reformer Pilates and conventional physiotherapy—for people with long-term low back pain. Researchers will measure changes in pain, daily function, and quality of life after treatment. The goal is to find which method works better for ma…

This study compares Pilates exercises to conventional therapy for young adults aged 18-25 with non-specific low back pain. Over six weeks, participants will do either Pilates or standard exercises three times a week. Researchers will measure changes in posture, core strength, and…

This study looks at whether a special taping technique on the lower back can reduce pain and improve daily function in people with long-term low back pain. Sixty adults aged 18 to 65 with nonspecific chronic low back pain will receive either a fascia-focused tape or a standard mu…

This study follows 211 pregnant women to understand why some develop lasting back or pelvic pain after childbirth. Researchers will measure body awareness, fear of movement, and inflammation levels. The goal is to find new ways to prevent and treat this common but often dismissed…

This study looks at whether checking in with a physiotherapist by phone after spine surgery works as well as meeting in person. Researchers will compare disability levels and quality of life in 200 patients who had lumbar spine surgery. The goal is to see if phone follow-ups can …

This study aims to find out which factors—like physical, psychological, or social—predict whether a person with chronic low back pain will benefit from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Researchers will follow 333 adults with pain lasting at least three months. The goal…

This study follows 192 women who have been pregnant before to understand why some develop pelvic or low back pain during pregnancy and after giving birth. Researchers will measure body awareness, stress, anxiety, and inflammation to see what factors are linked to pain. The goal i…

This study looks at how the thoughts and beliefs of people with chronic low back pain and their physical therapists influence how much they benefit from treatment. About 90 adults with low back pain will receive standard physical therapy including spinal adjustments, exercise, an…

This study aims to create an AI tool that can predict a person's risk of developing five common diseases: type 2 diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, low back pain, and osteoarthritis. Researchers will collect health data from 1,000 adults aged 30 to 60, including medical reco…

This study looks at whether getting a phone call or text message helps people with long-term back pain stick with a mobile health app that teaches pain management. About 258 participants will use the app and receive either extra calls/texts or just the app's usual reminders. The …

This study looks at how mindfulness meditation affects pain in people with chronic low back pain who take opioids. Researchers will use brain scans to see changes in pain-related brain activity. The goal is to understand the brain mechanisms behind meditation-based pain relief, n…

This study looks at how many medical students at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, have neck or low back pain. It also checks what students know about spine health and tests if a simple exercise program can help. About 1,000 students will take part.

This observational study will compare the health history and movement patterns of 10,500 people with and without low back or neck pain. Participants wear a motion monitor and answer questionnaires in one 40-70 minute session, with follow-ups over 5 years. The goal is to better un…

This study is creating and testing an Italian version of a questionnaire called the Waddell Disability Index, which measures how much chronic low back pain affects daily life. Researchers will ask 115 adults with back pain for at least 3 months to fill out this and other surveys.…

This study tests a program called STEPPT that trains doctors and provides educational materials and scheduling help to encourage Hispanic patients with back or neck pain to try physical therapy. About 17,587 adults from community health centers will take part. The goal is to see …

This study looks at how migraine, neck pain, and lower back pain may share common causes in the nervous system. Researchers will measure pain sensitivity, thinking patterns, and disability in 179 adults with migraine and related spine pain. The goal is to better understand these …

This study looks at how smoothly people with chronic low back pain can move their spine before and after a rehabilitation program. Researchers will use small body sensors to measure movement quality, not just pain or range of motion. The goal is to find a new way to track recover…

This study aims to improve how we understand and treat low back pain by using ultrasound imaging and machine learning (a type of artificial intelligence). Researchers will compare images from people with and without back pain to find better ways to diagnose the problem. They will…

This study looks at how a device that delivers a cold puff to the ear might help people with long-term low back pain. Researchers will use brain scans to see if this treatment changes how the brain processes pain. The study involves 60 adults who have had back pain for at least 6…

This study looks at different types of low back pain in 200 adults with ankylosing spondylitis. Researchers want to see how these pain types affect daily function and quality of life. Participants will fill out questionnaires during one visit. The goal is to better understand pai…