Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation Therapy or Mindfulness-based Reduction Therapy on Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

July 8, 2025 updated by: Rush University Medical Center

Evaluating Specific and Non-Specific Mechanisms in Two Distinct Complementary/Integrative Interventions for Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain Management (CPM) has increasingly utilized long-term opioid analgesic therapy, a change associated with increased opioid abuse (a greater exposure in vulnerable individuals), non-pain health consequences (hormone changes, falls), and a dramatic rise in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Treatment strategies that minimize the need for chronic high-dose opioids are sorely needed. This project will aim to test what degree mindfulness therapy (MT) and spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) produce pre- to mid- to post-treatment changes in endogenous opioid (EO) function.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This project will determine whether enhancing endogenous opioids (via SMT or MT) permits achieving desired levels of analgesia with lower dosages of opioid analgesics, and fewer side effects and abuse-relevant drug effects. This X year project will test study hypotheses in a sample of 240 chronic low back pain patients. The study will have 2 key elements: 1) a randomized, controlled SMT or MT in chronic pain (CP) patients completing daily take home exercises and 2) laboratory evoked thermal pain protocols pre- and post- therapy, permitting the quantification of EO function and the examining of treatment-induced changes in EO function (placebo vs. naloxone).

The study will employ a mixed between/within-subjects design using double-blinded and placebo-controlled administration of the opioid antagonist (naloxone). The study will use a 8 week supervised MT or SMT manipulation with subjects randomly assigned to one of the groups. All participants will undergo 4 laboratory pain-induction sessions in total. 2 during the pre-treatment phase, and 2 post-treatment. The laboratory sessions are identical. Each laboratory session will be roughly 2-3 days apart and the first 2 laboratory sessions will occur prior to the randomization to the treatment condition.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

140

Phase

  • Early Phase 1

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

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
        • Rush University Medical Center
    • Tennessee
      • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37212
        • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. significant daily chronic pain intensity (≥4 on a 10-point scale) and interference in performing daily activities due to pain (≥3 on a 10-point scale) for at least 3 months
  2. age 18-75 years (inclusive)
  3. not using opioid analgesics on a daily basis or within 3 days of each laboratory session (confirmed via urine drug screen)
  4. Intact cognitive status and ability to provide informed consent
  5. ability to read and write in English sufficiently to understand and complete study questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. meet criteria for alcohol or substance abuse problems
  2. meet criteria for past or present psychotic or bipolar disorders
  3. inability to understand English well enough to complete questionnaires or participate in therapy
  4. pain due to malignant conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine or tension headache, complex regional pain syndrome, or fibromyalgia syndrome
  5. lumbar surgery within past 6 months
  6. pregnant
  7. signs of nerve root compression (ie, positive straight-leg raise <45○).
  8. liver diseases (e.g hepatitis or cirrhosis)
  9. suicide ideation with intent
  10. osteoporosis or bone demineralization
  11. opioid-dependency
  12. inability to hold breathe for 15 seconds
  13. acute trauma to spine
  14. long term use of corticosteroids
  15. spinal cord stimulator or IT pump inserted in back
  16. they have a BMI equal to or above 40

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: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: SMT plus placebo/naloxone
Participants are randomly assigned to an 8 week SMT treatment group conducted by certified physical therapists. Immediately before and after the treatment sessions along with midway through the treatment (after 4 sessions), participants will undergo the placebo/naloxone administration intervention to assess mechanisms of SMT or MT-related changes.
Other: Spinal Manipulation Therapy (SMT)
2 SMT techniques are administered each session, both of which are scripted interactions between the physical therapist (PT) providing the SMT and the subjects: 1) Participants will lie on the SMT table for 20 mins, while the PT sits approximately 6 ft away. As part of the script, the PT will review with subjects the inclusion/exclusion criteria ostensibly to ensure that nothing has changed. 2) The PT will perform the 2 SMT techniques during the next 20 mins. 3) Subjects will sit upright in a chair for the remaining 20 mins, while the PT sits approximately 6 feet away. The PT will review home exercises with participant.
Drug: Naloxone
In randomized order (crossover) across 2 laboratory sessions each approximately 3 days apart, participants will receive either 1) 2 doses of saline placebo (20ml each) or 2) weight-adjusted doses of Naloxone beginning with a dose of 0.11mg/kg followed by a weight-adjusted dose of 0.055 mg/kg
Other Names:
  • narcan
Drug: Placebo
In randomized order (crossover) across 2 laboratory sessions each approximately 3 days apart, participants will receive either 1) 2 doses of saline placebo (20ml each) or 2) weight-adjusted doses of Naloxone beginning with a dose of 0.11mg/kg followed by a weight-adjusted dose of 0.055 mg/kg
Other Names:
  • normal saline placebo
Experimental: MT plus placebo/naloxone
Participants are randomly assigned to an 8 week MT treatment group conducted by certified clinical therapists. Immediately before and after the treatment sessions along with midway through the treatment (after 4 sessions), participants will undergo the placebo/naloxone administration intervention to assess mechanisms of SMT or MT-related changes.
Drug: Naloxone
In randomized order (crossover) across 2 laboratory sessions each approximately 3 days apart, participants will receive either 1) 2 doses of saline placebo (20ml each) or 2) weight-adjusted doses of Naloxone beginning with a dose of 0.11mg/kg followed by a weight-adjusted dose of 0.055 mg/kg
Other Names:
  • narcan
Drug: Placebo
In randomized order (crossover) across 2 laboratory sessions each approximately 3 days apart, participants will receive either 1) 2 doses of saline placebo (20ml each) or 2) weight-adjusted doses of Naloxone beginning with a dose of 0.11mg/kg followed by a weight-adjusted dose of 0.055 mg/kg
Other Names:
  • normal saline placebo
Behavioral: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Therapy (MT)
Each MT session consists of (a) body scan meditation accompanied by awareness of breathing and other bodily sensations while in a lying position, (b) sitting meditation, focusing on awareness of breathing, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions (c) gentle movement exercises intended to develop awareness (mindfulness) during movement. In-session activities include suggestions for application of mindfulness as a method for responding positively to stress; dealing with the challenges of pain; and exercises focusing on the challenges and achievements patients experience in integrating mindfulness into their lives and the stressful situations they encounter. Additional discussion will focus on stress reactivity and they will be taught problem-solving skills to develop solutions to meet MT goals. Finally, patients will develop a written maintenance plan that includes a list of short- and long-term goals for applying mindfulness methods and a plan for dealing with possible setbacks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference
Time Frame: Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Interference in daily activities attributed to chronic pain as reported by subjects. The PROMIS Pain Interference scale consists of 8 questions with a 5-point response scale ranging from Not at all - Very much. Participants are asked how much in the past 7 days everyday activities were affected by their pain. Higher scores indicate more pain interference in daily activities.
Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Intensity (Short Form)
Time Frame: Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Intensity of chronic pain reported by subject. The PROMIS Pain Intensity scale consists of 3 questions with a 5-point response scale ranging from Had no pain - Very severe. Participants are asked how intense their pain has been in the past 7 days. Higher scores indicate more intense pain.
Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression
Time Frame: Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Degree of depressive symptoms reported by subject. The PROMIS Depression scale consists of 8 questions with a 5-point response scale ranging from Never - Always. Participants are asked how often they felt depressive emotions in the past 7 days. Higher scores indicate more depressive emotions.
Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (Short Form)
Time Frame: Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Amount of physical activity reported by subject. The PROMIS Physical Function scale consists of 27 questions with a 5-point response scale ranging from Without any difficulty - Unable to do. Participants are asked how much their pain affects their physical functioning. Higher scores indicate more inability to perform specific physical activities due to pain.
Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep disturbance
Time Frame: Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)
Degree of sleep disturbance reported by subject. The PROMIS Sleep Disturbance scale consists of 8 questions with a 5-point response scale ranging from Not at all - Very much. Participants are asked how much in the past 7 days their pain interfered with their sleep. Higher scores indicate more sleep disruptions.
Baseline, after each weekly treatment session, 3- and 6-month follow-up (roughly 16 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Rush University Medical Center

Collaborators

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: John Burns, PhD, Rush University Medical Center
  • Principal Investigator: Stephen Bruehl, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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 (Actual)

August 15, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 29, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 19, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 4, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

February 9, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 10, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 8, 2025

Last Verified

July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 17100503

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

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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