Workplace Exercises Versus Home-based Exercises on Pain and Function Among Office Workers With Non-specific Low Back Pain

December 9, 2025 updated by: Heba Allah Ahmed Gaber Abd El Tawab, Cairo University
The study was done to investigate the differences between workplace exercises and home-based exercises on pain, function, quality of life, and posture (pelvic inclination angle and lumbar lordotic angle) among office workers with non-specific low back pain

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal disorder among office workers and a leading cause of disability, affecting psychological well-being and quality of life. Approximately 85% to 95% of cases are categorized as non-specific, with chronic low back pain presenting when symptoms last over 12 weeks. Office workers, who often engage in sedentary tasks, face increased risks of low back pain linked to factors such as physical attributes and psychological stressors like mental fatigue and anxiety. It is suggested that people with low back pain exercise, but there is still debate about whether exercise at work is better than exercise at home. This gap in understanding drives the need for a randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of both interventions on pain, function, quality of life, and posture in office workers with non-specific low back pain

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
57

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Cairo, Egypt
        • out-patient clinic, faculty of physical therapy, Cairo university

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Forty-eight patients with non-specific low back pain of both genders; their ages will range from 25 to 40 years old.
  2. Three years of experience at least
  3. Eight to ten hours of daily work, at least.
  4. Work for 5 days per week.
  5. Reported pain intensity from 3 to 7 on a visual analogue scale.
  6. Office Workers with body mass index (25 - 29.9 kg/m².
  7. Low physical activity levels according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Spine pathology.
  2. Back surgical operations.
  3. Congenital anomalies.
  4. Cardiopulmonary and neurological diseases
  5. Pregnancy.
  6. Postural deformities.
  7. Inflammatory diseases.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: workplace exercise
Consists of 20 office workers with non-specific low back pain who will receive workplace exercise intervention, 5 times per week for 4 weeks
Other: Workplace exercise intervention
The program's basic exercise equipment includes a stable chair (no wheels or armrests) that provides better lumbar spine support, adjustable for participant height to ensure flat feet on the floor with a 90° knee angle. Additional portable equipment consists of a rhythmic gymnastics ball (16.5 cm diameter, 320 g weight), silicone hand therapy balls (5.6 cm length, 4.2 cm width, medium resistance), and an exercise band (1.5 m long, available in medium/light and heavy resistance).
Active Comparator: home program exercises
Home program exercises will be provided three times a week for four weeks, comprising three sets of ten repetitions each. Exercises will target the back, shoulders, and arms using elastic tubing, including reverse flys, shoulder raises, shoulder squeezes, shoulder rotations, wrist extensions, wood choppers, pelvic tilt, quadruped leg/arm raises, side planks, and lean and turns.
Other: Home-based exercise intervention
An elastic exercise band will be used. an exercise band (1.5 m long, available in medium/light and heavy resistance).
Active Comparator: general education and counseling
Individuals will receive education and counseling on managing pain and function. They should avoid prolonged sitting, moving every 20-30 minutes, and practicing good posture while seated, standing, and walking. Key sitting posture includes keeping feet flat, knees at a 90-degree angle, and maintaining a straight back with proper lumbar support to prevent slouching.
Other: general education and counseling
Will receive general education and counseling regarding pain and function. They will be advised to avoid prolonged sitting. Get up and move around every 20-30 minutes. In addition, to practice good posture while sitting, standing, and walking. When sitting, keep your feet flat on the floor, knees bent at a 90-degree angle, and your back straight with good lumbar support. Furthermore, to avoid slouching or hunching over their desk

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
assessment of pain intensity
Time Frame: at baseline and after 4 weeks
The researcher will ask the patient to express how potent he/she feels current pain or the last 24 hours' pain by choosing a point on a 100 mm line drawn between two ends one end refers to the absence of pain and the other refers to the worst intense pain
at baseline and after 4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
assessment of activity of daily living
Time Frame: at baseline and after 4 weeks
The Arabic version of the Modified Oswestry Disability Index is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of ten sections, each with six items that evaluate the limitations in daily living activities. Scores range from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater disability. The final index score is calculated by summing the scores, adjusting for unanswered questions, and expressing it as a percentage. Completion takes approximately 3.5 to 5 minutes, with scoring taking about 1 minute. Scores categorize disability levels: 0%-20% (minimal), 20%-40% (moderate), 40%-60% (severe), 60%-80% (crippled), and 80%-100% (bedbound or exaggerating).
at baseline and after 4 weeks
assessment of functional health and well-being
Time Frame: at baseline and after 4 weeks
The Arabic Version of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey is a generic tool to measure Quality of Life (QoL) through 36 questions, yielding an 8-scale profile of functional health: Physical Functioning, role limitations due to Physical Problems, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and Mental Health. It includes a single-item scale on health transition. The first four subscales form the Physical Composite Scale, and the last four form the Mental Composite Scale, with scores ranging from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better health and functional status.
at baseline and after 4 weeks
assessment of pelvic tilting
Time Frame: at baseline and after 4 weeks
The Palpation Meter procedure involves subjects standing with feet shoulder-width apart and focusing on a fixed point to minimize posture sway. With arms crossed, an examiner palpates the anterior and posterior superior iliac spines. The caliper tips of the Palpation Meter device are then positioned on these landmarks to measure pelvic inclination, with the procedure repeated three times to calculate an average for statistical analysis.
at baseline and after 4 weeks
assessment of lumbar lordotic angle
Time Frame: at baseline and after 4 weeks
using Baseline Inclinometer. Participants will stand comfortably with arms at their sides while the T12 and S1 spinous processes are marked. The iliac crest serves as a baseline for L4-L5 identification. The investigator will palpate from L4-L5 to S1 and locate T12 using the 12th rib. A bubble inclinometer, zeroed against a bubble level, will be used to measure lumbar lordosis at T12-L1 and S1-S2, with angles recorded and summed.
at baseline and after 4 weeks
assessment of physical Activity
Time Frame: at baseline and after 4 weeks
The Arabic Version of The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short-Form) aims to assess physical activity by querying workers about their engagement in various activities over the past week. Respondents will provide details on the type, frequency (in days per week), and duration (in hours and minutes per day) of these activities. The questionnaire evaluates physical activities based on their intensity, classifying them as vigorous (like aerobic walking, running, and jogging), moderate (such as brisk walking, regular home workouts, and leisure swimming), and normal walking, which contributes to the comprehensive assessment of physical activity levels.
at baseline and after 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cairo University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 9, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 9, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 22, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 22, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 9, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Heba-Msc

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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