A Prospective Pilot Study Investigating the Impact of ThermaCare on Flexibility, Muscle Relaxation & Low Back Pain

A Prospective Open Label Pilot Study Investigating the Impact of ThermaCare on Flexibility, Muscle Relaxation & Low Back Pain in Two Different Populations

The objective of this Investigator Initiated study is to evaluate the effectiveness of ThermaCare HeatWraps in improving flexibility and low back muscle relaxation, and in participants experiencing pain, reducing pain during movement. This study is an intervention trial on two discrete subject samples; (1) people with recent back pain, and (2) people who regularly play sport. ViMove wearable sensors provide precise objective measurements of low back muscle activity and movement in real time and can capture a patient's reporting of pain during movement. Outcomes will be assessed through standard ViMove protocols in conjunction with multiple validated measures of pain, perception of change, and function.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Low Back Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: ThermaCare Low Back Heat Wrap

Detailed Description

This investigator-initiated study will utilize a prospective open-label study design to evaluate the effectiveness of ThermaCare HeatWraps in improving flexibility and low back muscle relaxation, and in participants experiencing pain, reducing pain during movement. Two discrete subject samples will be enrolled; (1) people with recent back pain, and (2) people who regularly play sport. Both samples will be enrolled using respective criteria.

Following enrollment, both subject groups will have a "start interview" on their allocated baseline assessment day (Day 1). This will include fitting of the ViMove movement and EMG sensors, as well as a live "pain on movement" assessment. This session will take approximately 20-30 minutes. Whilst wearing the ViMove sensors, subjects will then leave the clinic and conduct normal daily activities for a pre-determined monitoring period. No ThermaCare HeatWraps are worn on Day 1. This allows a baseline assessment and allows any placebo effects from the sensors to be discounted. At the end of the monitoring session, subjects will return to the clinic to have an "end-of-day" interview. Clinicians will administer the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VAS Pain), and the Patient Global Impression of Change scale (PGIC). ViMove movement sensors will then be removed, and the subject will be reimbursed for that day.

The intervention day (Day 2) will have the same procedure as Day 1 (baseline), with the only difference being the additional application of ThermaCare HeatWraps during the "start interview". Subjects will continue to wear the HeatWrap and ViMove sensors during the 8-hour daily activity monitoring period, with the wrap and sensors being removed during the end-of-day interview. The subject will then be reimbursed for Day 2.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Australia
  • Victoria
    • Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia, 3068
      • Clifton Hill Physiotherapy
    • Hampton, Victoria, Australia, 3188
      • Peak MSK Physiotherapy
    • Hoppers Crossing, Victoria, Australia, 3168
      • Hoppers Physio

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 54 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion criteria for recent low back pain patients (Group 1):

1. Adults between the age of 21-54 inclusive, male and female.
2. Low back pain is the primary source of pain over the last 3 weeks.
3. Have experienced and received treatment for muscle related low back pain with an average score of at least 3/10 on a 10-point Numeric Rating scale over the past 3 weeks.
4. Must be able to communicate fluently in English.
5. Must provide written informed consent.
6. Must agree to confidentiality.

Inclusion criteria for people who are active in sports (Group 2):

1. Adults between the age of 21-54 inclusive, male and female.
2. Participate in 30 min of moderate to high intensity exercise 3 times per week. As defined by Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale.
3. Must be able to communicate fluently in English.
4. Must provide written informed consent.
5. Must agree to confidentiality.

Exclusion Criteria (applies to both Groups):

1. The subject is pregnant.
2. The subject has a severe hearing impairment.
3. The subject is cognitively impaired.
4. Known allergic skin reaction to tapes and plasters.
5. Co-morbidities of neoplasm, infection, fracture, inflammatory or metabolic disorder that has potential to affect the lumbo-pelvic region.
6. Person who is currently enrolled in another investigational drug or device study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Low Back Pain Group; Low Back Pain (LBP) group will be assessed on two consecutive days. The first day will have no ThermaCare intervention applied, and is for a Baseline assessment of flexibility, muscle relaxation and low back pain. The second day will have the ThermaCare Low Back Heat Wrap intervention applied, and will have the same assessments as the Baseline day.	Device: ThermaCare Low Back Heat Wrap; The ThermaCare Low Back Heat Wrap, is a continuous, low-level, direct heat therapy. It comes in the form of a heat-pack that is strapped to the low back. Heat is provided for approximately 8-hours.
EXPERIMENTAL: Active in Sport Group; Sport group will be assessed on two consecutive days. The first day will have no ThermaCare intervention applied, and is for a baseline assessment of flexibility, muscle relaxation and low back pain. The second day will have the ThermaCare Low Back Heat Wrap intervention applied, and will have the same assessments as the Baseline day.	Device: ThermaCare Low Back Heat Wrap; The ThermaCare Low Back Heat Wrap, is a continuous, low-level, direct heat therapy. It comes in the form of a heat-pack that is strapped to the low back. Heat is provided for approximately 8-hours.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Movement Data Over Time	Collection of movement data from all participants. The results listed here depict the average change in Trunk Range of Motion (ROM) between day 1 and day 2 PM sessions	Change from Baseline movement data after 1 consecutive day.
Change in Erector Spinae Muscle Activity Over Time	Collection of erector spinae muscle activity data from all participants. The results provided depict the mean muscle-activity difference between the day 1 and day 2 PM sessions. Surface Electromyography (sEMG) sensors are adhered utilizing a height-specific sensor placement template. Placement is parallel with the L3 vertebrae. Evaluated in the form of the flexion-relaxation response. When performing a forward flexion movement, muscle activation occurs at the commencement of the movement (when bending down;concentric), as well as during the return to the upright position (eccentric). At maximum flexion, minimal muscle activation is expected (i.e. muscle relaxation). However, in subjects with Low-back pain, muscle relaxation is often absent. As such, the following formula is used to evaluate the flexion-relaxation response. Sum of sEMG activity at maximum flexion divided by the summed sEMG activity of both concentric and eccentric muscle activation.	Change from Baseline Erector spinae muscle activity data after 1 consecutive day.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
A Change Over Time in Range of Motion in Any One Plane of Movement Compared to Pre-intervention Range of Motion.	Maximal range of low back movement in sagittal,axial and coronal planes. Results depict the change in Pelvis ROM in the sagittal plane.	Change from Baseline after 1 consecutive day.
In Group 1 (LBP Patients), a Change in Maximum Pain During Movement Score, for Any One Plane of Movement.	Pain Score out of 10 as rated on the ViMove scale during movement assessment. Score from 0-10 where 10 indicates maximum pain, and 0 indicates no pain. The results depicted indicate the change in pain scores between baseline and post-intervention	Change from Baseline after 1 consecutive day.
A Change in Muscle Activity From Baseline in Subjects Where Abnormal EMG Activity During Baseline is Detected.	Surface EMG measurement of erector spinae muscle activity at L3 vertebra level	Change from Baseline after 1 consecutive day.
Change in Pain From Baseline	Pain Score out of 10 as measured on a Numeric Rating scale (NRS) Score from 0-10 where 10 indicates maximum pain, and 0 indicates no pain. The results depicted indicate the change in NRS scores between baseline and post-intervention	Change from Baseline after 1 consecutive day.
Observation of Self-reported Changes in Functional Status Pre- and Post- ThermaCare Application as Measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) if Subjects Scored >3 on the NRS	Measurement of disability related to low back pain. Contains 10 sections, each of which can be from from 0-5 for a maximum score of 50. 50 indicates maximum possible disability (bed-bound - or are exaggerating their symptoms). The results depicted indicate the change in NRS scores between baseline and post-intervention	Change from Baseline after 1 consecutive day.
Impression of Change From Subjects Post Intervention and/or Assessment Period Using the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC).	Measurement of perceived change in Low back pain. Score from a scale of 1-7. 1 indicates no change (or condition has worsened), 7 indicates a considerable improvement. The results depicted indicate the change in PGIC scores between Day 1 and Day 2 (intervention)	Change from Baseline after 1 consecutive day.
Observation of Self-reported Changes in Functional Status Pre- and Post- ThermaCare Application as Measured by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) if Subjects Scored >3 on the NRS	Measurement of disability related to low back pain. A checklist of 24 items. A score of 24 indicates maximum disability.	Change from Baseline after 1 consecutive day.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: dorsaVi Ltd
• Collaborators: Monash University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andrew Ronchi, PhD, dorsaVi Ltd

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): July 3, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): December 21, 2017
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): December 21, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 9, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): May 12, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): May 10, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2019
• Last Verified: April 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Low Back Pain; Range of Movement; Wearable Sensors; Muscle Activity; Functional Outcome Measures; ViMove; ThermaCare
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2017THERMA

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

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.: Yes