Aquatic and Land Exercises for Chronic Low Back Pain

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Chronic Low Back Pain (non-specific, Uncomplicated)

• Registration Number: NCT06874881
• Lead Sponsor: University of Edinburgh

Brief Summary

This study aims to learn about the effects of aquatic and land exercises on managing chronic low back pain in adults aged 18-65. The participants engage in a 12-week supervised land and water-based exercise program.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* How effective are aquatic exercises on low back pain, functional disability, Kinesiophobia, sleep quality, and overall quality of life?

* Is aquatic therapy more effective than land exercises for treating LBP or vice versa?

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Study Start: 2025-03-06
• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-07
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-13
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-13
• Primary Completion: 2025-11-30
• Study Completion: 2026-03-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• Age between 18 and 65
• Both Genders
• Literate in the English language to understand instructions/ to complete a self-report questionnaire.
• Having non-specific Chronic low back pain (≥12 weeks)
• Patient willingness to be a part of any randomly selected treatment groups.

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnant Females
• If they had low back pain as the result of diagnosis of severe osteoporosis, spinal bone disorders such as spondylosis and spondylolisthesis, fractures, lumbar spine stenosis, lower limb joint replacement surgery, hip orthosis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, infective or inflammatory disease, compression of the radial nerve, meningitis, arthrosis, lumbar region tumours, Leg length discrepancy, previous back surgery.
• Uncontrolled hypertension, Severe postural hypotension, any heart disease like Left heart failure or exercise-induced angina. Medical illnesses without a medical managing plan in place, e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy, diabetes mellitus. Neurologic deficit, open wounds, current or recurrent radiation treatment.
• Patients with severe depression and psychosis
• People who are already participating in an individually-prescribed exercise programme for LBP.

Aquatic exercises /Pool specific:

• Individuals with hydrophobia/ water-related anxiety, or inability to adapt to an aquatic environment.
• Allergy to chlorine, Severe limiting airway disease
• Faecal or urinary incontinence, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
• Weight more than the emergency evacuation manual handling risk assessment.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain Intensity	Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).	Pain intensity is measured by the Numerical Pain Rating Scale where the participants will report their pain as 0 (no pain) and 10(worst imaginable pain).
Functional Disability	Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).	Functional disability is assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, a 24-item self-reported measure evaluating the impact of low back pain on daily activities.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Health-Related Quality of Life	Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).	Quality of Life is assessed by the Short-Form Health Survey 36, a validated questionnaire measuring the eight physical and mental health domains.
Sleep Quality	Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).	The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index measures the sleep quality, its scores measured from 0-21, with higher scores indicating poor sleep quality.
Kinesiophobia (Fear of Movement-Related to Pain)	Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).	Kinesiophobia is measured with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, a 17-item questionnaire designed to measure the fear associated with the chronic pain and movement.
Dynamic Balace Performance	Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).	The Y balance test measures dynamic balance by measuring stability while reaching in three directions: anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral.
Hamstring Flexibility	Baseline before the intervention/pre-testing, at the 8th week of the intervention, within a week after the last training session, and three months after the end of the training (Follow-up period).	The active knee extension test is a clinical measure of the hamstring flexibility.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

St. Leonard building, The University of Edinburgh; 🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United Kingdom