Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Trial Comparing Traditional Back School and Individual Therapist-Assisted Exercise

April 18, 2006 updated by: University Hospital, Gentofte, Copenhagen

Rheumatologists are discussing, whether rehabilitation of patients with low back pain (LBP) can be improved. At present patients with LBP start treatment as soon as possible, this also applies for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) - pain lasting over 12 weeks. At Glostrup University Hospital department of Physical Medicine/rheumatology we use a method (method A) where an interdisciplinary team gives the patients a treatment composed of various topics. This includes among other things education, physical team training, exercises in swimming pool, stretching exercises, and occupational therapy. A different method (method B) originates from the Rehabilitation centre in Karlslunde led by Teddy Oefeldt. Here they focus strictly on dynamic training of muscles in the back and the buttocks. A therapist, who in the beginning partly carries the patient through the exercises, assists this training.

In both methods, individually considerations are taken, but to a greater extend in method B. The treatment will extend over a three months period.

A few earlier investigations have compared these two methods, but they have not been systematized to such a degree, that they gave any final conclusions. Therefore, we initialized an investigation including a larger number of patients, where the two methods are compared from the results the patients achieve after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.

286 consecutive patients were included and randomized to one of the two methods. Those, who did not wish to participate in the investigation, were treated according to the department's normal procedure (Method A)

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Phase 3

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

  • Denmark
      • Glostrup, Denmark, 2600
        • Glostrup University Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Low Back Pain lasting more than 12 weeks with or with out pain radiating into the leg(s)
  2. Age 18 - 60 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Serious spinal pathology

    1. Malignancy
    2. Osteoporosis,
    3. Fresh vertebral fracture
    4. Newly operation on the back
    5. Stenosis of the lumbar spine
    6. Unstable spondylolistesis
    7. Infections in the back
  2. Neurological dysfunction of the thoracic or abdominal muscles
  3. Pregnancy/breastfeeding
  4. Mental illness
  5. Health conditions which prohibit intensive training.
  6. Languish problems/ dyslexia

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Pain VAS

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
SF-36
Global assessment
Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire
Low Back Pain Rating Scale
Medicine use
Work situation
Pension
Change in physical activity

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University Hospital, Gentofte, Copenhagen

Collaborators

Sygekassernes Helsefond
Apotekerfonden af 1991
Indenrigs- og sundhedsministeriet

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Charlotte Lundsgaard, MD
  • Study Director: Claus Hellesen, MD
  • Study Director: Alex Oefeldt, Therapist
  • Study Director: Gorm Thamsborg, Dr.Med.Sci.
  • Study Director: Arne Astrup, Dr.Med.Sci.
  • Study Chair: Steen Stender, Dr.Med.Sci.
  • Principal Investigator: Ninna Dufour, MD, Unfilliated

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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

January 1, 2001

Study Completion

November 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 16, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 16, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

November 21, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 19, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 18, 2006

Last Verified

September 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KA 01011

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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