The Neural Basis of Lumbosacral Proprioceptive Impairment in Recurrent Low Back Pain

April 11, 2014 updated by: Simon Brumagne, KU Leuven

Low back pain (LBP) is a well known health problem in Western society that is significantly responsible for socio-economic problems like absenteeism and disability. The lifetime prevalence of LBP is 60-80% and approximately 85% of this LBP has a "non-specific" character whereby the underlying causes and risk factors cannot be demonstrated. While many people recover within a month, most individuals will have recurrence within a year with more severe symptoms. This might be due to insufficient knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. Impaired proprioception, the ability to discern body/limb positions and movements, may cause and maintain LBP shown by an altered postural control strategy. Specifically, patients with LBP rely more on proprioceptive signals from the ankles due to less reliable proprioceptive input of proximal segments. Moreover, they show a decreased variability in postural control and less postural robustness, while variability is a prerequisite for optimal functioning of biological systems. However, further clarification of the neural correlates is necessary. Deficits in proprioception, as found in a subgroup of patient with LBP, are associated with a decreased ability of the brain to process proprioceptive inputs.

The aim of this project is to clarify the central changes in individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain and healthy controls. To evaluate these central changes MRI techniques (3DTFE, DTI and RS-fMRI) will be used. In addition, the association between central changes and postural control tasks will be evaluated.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

36

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

  • Belgium
      • Leuven, Belgium, 3000
        • Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

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

20 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Leuven and surrounding area

Description

Inclusion Criteria persons with low back pain:

  • Age: 20-50 year
  • At least 6 months of low back pain with/without referred pain in buttock/thigh
  • At least 3 episodes of disabling low back pain
  • At least a score of 14% on the Oswestry Disability Index
  • Willingness to sign the informed consent
  • Met the MRI related requirements

Inclusion Criteria healthy persons:

  • Age: 20-50 year
  • No history of low back pain
  • A score of 0% on the Oswestry Disability Index
  • Willingness to sign the informed consent
  • Met the MRI related requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of major trauma and/or major orthopedic surgery of the spine, the pelvis or the lower quadrant
  • One of the following conditions: Parkinson, MS, Stroke with sequels....
  • Radicular symptoms
  • Not Dutch-speaking
  • Strong opioids
  • Neck pain
  • Ankle problems
  • Smoking

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

  • Observational Models: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Persons with low back pain
Healthy persons

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Structural changes in white matter pathways (3DTFE and DTI) (in individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain compared to healthy controls)
Time Frame: One time point
One time point
Changes in resting state activity between individuals with recurrent non-specific low back pain and healthy controls)
Time Frame: One time point
One time point
Proprioceptive postural control (center of pressure displacement in response to muscle vibration)
Time Frame: One time point
One time point

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

KU Leuven

Collaborators

Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Simon Brumagne, Professor, KU Leuven

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

April 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 23, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

February 29, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 14, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 11, 2014

Last Verified

April 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2012_SBrumagne_MRIproprio

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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