The Effects of Thrust Joint Manipulation on the Resting and Contracting Thickness of Transversus Abdominis in Subjects With Low Back Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Low Back Pain
• Interventions: Other: Thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine; Other: Non-thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine

• Registration Number: NCT02558855
• Lead Sponsor: Nova Southeastern University

Brief Summary

The primary aim of this study is to examine how different physical therapy interventions affect the resting state and contraction state of a certain abdominal muscle in patients with low back pain.

Detailed Description

Patients with low back pain (LBP) will undergo ultrasound imaging of the transversus abdominis to measure the muscle thickness at rest and at the contracted state prior to intervention and again immediately after intervention. In this randomized controlled trial, patients will be randomized into one of two groups. One group will receive the intervention of thrust joint manipulation of the lumbar spine and the other group will receive the intervention of non-thrust joint manipulation of the lumbar spine.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-01
• Study First Submitted: 2015-09-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-09-23
• Study First Posted: 2015-09-24
• Primary Completion: 2015-11
• Study Completion: 2015-11
• Status Verified: 2016-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-04-10
• Last Update Posted: 2016-04-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 67

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults between 18-70 years of age with primary symptom of LBP, with or without referral into lower extremity.
• Subjects must be able to read and write in English.

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of serious pathology.
• Diagnosis of spinal stenosis or symptoms in both lower legs (changes in sensation, muscle weakness).
• Any history of low back surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteopenia, scoliosis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
• Pregnancy
• Pending legal action.
• Prior surgery to the lumbar spine or fractures of the lumbar spine.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Thrust Joint Manipulation	Thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine	Patients will receive thrust joint manipulation to their lumbar spine in side lying.
Non-thrust Joint Manipulation	Non-thrust Joint Manipulation of the Lumbar Spine	Patients will receive non-thrust joint manipulation, oscillations into slight rotation, without cavitation, to their lumbar spine in side lying.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Transversus Abdominis thickness change.	Baseline to immediately after the intervention (within 5 minutes).	Measurement of change in thickness from resting to contraction will be compared at baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately following the intervention (post-intervention). The study is looking at the immediate effects so there is no short-term or longer follow up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire	Baseline, immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes), and follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.	The score of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire will be compared from baseline, immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes), and follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale	Baseline, immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes), and follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.	The score of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale will be compared from baseline, immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes), and follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.
Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire	Baseline, immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes), and follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.	The score of the Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire will be compared from baseline, immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes), and follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.
Global Rating of Change	Immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes) and at follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.	The score of the Global Rating of Change will be compared from immediately post-intervention (within 5 minutes) and follow-up within 48 hours over the phone.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

DeRosa Physical Therapy; 🇺🇸 Flagstaff, Arizona, United States

University of Nevada, Las Vegas; 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States