Treatment of Chronic Lower Back Pain With a Combination of Electrical Stimulation, LED, and Laser Therapy

February 12, 2026 updated by: Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management

Neurolumen for Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Pilot RCT Study

This study will evaluate the impact of the Neurolumen medical device on chronic low back pain.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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

Chronic low back pain is debilitating and difficult to treat. The commercially-available Neurolumen medical device uses a combination of electrical stimulation, low-level laser, and LED therapies to treat pain. Separately, each of these treatments has shown promise for treating chronic pain. In a recent survey by the manufacturer involving over 4700 Veterans who were prescribed a Neurolumen device through their local VA facility, 93% of patients reported a reduction in pain levels, and 52% report reduction in medication, including 6% who reported cessation of all medication. Additionally, average pain levels of 7.01/10 dropped to 3.38/10 after 6 weeks of use (unpublished data). Thus, there is theoretical support and preliminary evidence for the utility of Neurolumen for treating chronic pain; yet, it is unknown whether these findings generalize to other populations. Furthermore, while a reduction in retrospective pain and medication use are promising, prospectively-collected clinical outcomes of Neurolumen use have yet to be examined. This study will examine the feasibility and efficacy of the Neurolumen devices for treating chronic lower back pain using a double-blind pilot randomized controlled trial design with a placebo/waitlist control.

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 (Estimated)

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.
50

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Director, Research Administration DVCIPM
  • Phone Number: 301-400-4242
  • Email: dvcipm@usuhs.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Virginia
      • Portsmouth, Virginia, United States, 23708
        • Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Jeffrey Moore, MD
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with LBP with an average pain score of 4 or higher on DVPRS for > 3 months
  • Ability to sit or lay down for 30 minutes during treatments
  • Demonstrated ability to correctly use the device and maintain adequate sensor contact throughout (assisted or unassisted)
  • Female participants who could possibly become pregnant must agree to use a highly effective contraceptive method from the screening period through the 4 weeks of study intervention and any use during the wait-list control period. These methods include a physical barrier method (e.g., condom) plus an additional hormonal, IUD, tubal ligation, or second type of barrier (e.g., diaphragm). In addition, they must abstain from egg collection or donation during the same period.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals < 18 or >70 years of age at enrollment
  • Persons with Pacemakers, or interstitial pumps, or spinal cord stimulator in ON mode.
  • Persons who have received back surgery (open) within the last 3 months
  • Pregnant or sexually active female subjects who could possibly become pregnant and who are not willing to use an acceptable form of contraception (barrier method plus one of the following: second barrier, hormonal, IUD, or tubal ligation).

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: Quadruple

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: Active Neurolumen
The Active Neurolumen group will utilize an active device
Device: Active Neurolumen
Neurolumen has been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of pain (FDA: 142025) and utilizes a combination of low-level lasers, Light-Emitting Diodes, and electrical stimulation over a 30-minute treatment period to target inflammation and circulation to the affected area. Participants will use the device daily for 4 weeks.
Sham Comparator: Inactive Neurolumen
The Inactive Neurolumen group will utilize an inactive device
Device: Inactive Neurolumen
The sham Neurolumen device will look the same an the Active Neurolumen, and will appear to turn on, but will not provide any treatment

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
Pain Medication Use
Time Frame: Weeks 1-12
Opioid Use Diary
Weeks 1-12
Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Weeks 1-12
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale. On a scale of 0-10, with higher scores denoting more pain.
Weeks 1-12

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
Physical Function
Time Frame: Weeks 1-12

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) -29 Adult Profile 2.0 Instrument, Physical Function subscale.

Each item is scored on a scale 1-5, with 1=without any difficulty and 5=unable to do. Items will be summed and t-scored (0-100)
Weeks 1-12
Sleep Disturbance
Time Frame: Weeks 1-12
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) -29 Adult Profile 2.0 Instrument, Sleep Disturbance subscale. Each item is scored on a scale 1-5, with 1=not at all and 5=very much. Items will be summed and t-scored (0-100), with higher scores denoting more sleep disturbance.
Weeks 1-12

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Catastrophizing
Time Frame: Weeks 1-12
University of Washington Concerns About Pain Six Item Short Form (UW-CAP SF-6). Each item is scored on a scale of 1-5, with 1=never and 5=always. Items are summed and t-scored (0-100), with higher scores denoting more pain catastrophizing.
Weeks 1-12
Perceived Efficacy
Time Frame: Weeks 1-12
Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC). Each item is scored on a scale 1-5, with 1=very much improved and 7= Very much worse. Items will be summed and t-scored (0-100), with higher scores denoting more negative change.
Weeks 1-12

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.
Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Neurolumen LLC

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 (Estimated)

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.
May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
January 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
January 1, 2028

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 30, 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 30, 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.
January 2, 2026

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.
February 13, 2026

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.
February 12, 2026

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.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • USUHS.2025-167

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings