Efficacy of Augmented Feedback on Lumbar Postural and Movement Control During Physiotherapy and Home Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Low Back Pain
• Interventions: Device: Augmented Feedback; Other: Control Group

• Registration Number: NCT03841552
• Lead Sponsor: Zurich University of Applied Sciences

Brief Summary

Exercise therapy is effective in improving pain experience and disability in patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) and movement/postural control impairments. However, patients often find traditional exercises monotonous and discontinue their execution. Augmented feedback tools (AF) might improve patient adherence and therapy outcomes, but evidence is currently lacking on their effects on movement/postural control. In a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) on a population of patients with NSLBP and movement control impairment, treatment with physiotherapy and home exercise supported by AF is compared to traditional physiotherapy and home exercise treatment without AF (control group). The primary outcomes are defined as lumbar movement control and postural control, measured using an inertial measurement system.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2013-04-30
• Study Completion: 2013-04-30
• Status Verified: 2019-02
• Study First Submitted: 2019-02-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-02-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-02-13
• Study First Posted: 2019-02-15
• Last Update Posted: 2019-02-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• non specific low back pain for at least four weeks
• at least moderate disability (as indicated by an Oswestry disability index (ODI) > 8% (Mannion et al., 2006))
• low levels of biopsychosocial risk factors (STarT Back Screening tool > 4 points) (Hill et al., 2011)
• at least two positive movement control impairment tests (Luomajoki et al., 2008, Sahrmann, 2002)

Exclusion Criteria

• specific low back pain
• pain in other areas of the body (e.g. neck, head, thoracic spine or arms)
• vertigo or equilibrium disturbances
• systemic diseases (e.g. tumours and diabetes)
• injuries
• surgeries of the legs within the last six months
• medication affecting postural control
• pregnancy

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Augmented Feedback	Augmented Feedback	The exercises were conducted with the aim of improving postural- and movement control and awareness of the lumbar spine in both treatment groups. Both groups received nine 30-minute therapy sessions, during which they performed a series of exercises from an exercise catalogue. The exercises were selected based on their compatibility with the AF-system. Each patient performed impairment-specific exercises. The AF group received additional AF feedback during both the therapy sessions and the home exercise program, by combining the exercises with games designed to target movement control, body awareness, and stabilisation exercises.
Control Group	Control Group	The control group performed the impairment-specific exercises without AF. The control group was able to receive conventional visual feedback, such as use of mirrors, as deemed appropriate by the therapists but no AF.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from Baseline ratio of the range of motion (ROM) of the stabilized lumbar spine (ROMLS) over the moving body segment, the hip (ROMHip)	From Baseline to the completion of nine physiotherapy sessions, which are completed after a maximum of five weeks (Swiss standard prescription)	Movement control was quantified using the ratio of the range of motion (ROM) of the stabilized lumbar spine (ROMLS) over the moving body segment, the hip (ROMHip) during the movement control test (lumbar spine (LS) over the hip)
Changes from Baseline of the mean absolute deviation of lumbar agular displacement	From Baseline to the completion of nine physiotherapy sessions, which are completed after a maximum of five weeks (Swiss standard prescription)	Postural control was quantified using the mean absolute deviation of lumbar angular displacement (MAD)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Zurich University of Applied Sciences; 🇨🇭 Winterthur, Zurich, Switzerland