Effects of Physical Therapy on Improving Disc Height, Postural Stability, Pain and Function in Persons With Discogenic Low Back Pain

Effects of Physical Therapy on Improving Disc Height Index, Postural Stability, Pain and Function in Persons With Discogenic Low Back Pain

Lumbar degenerative disc disease and discogenic low back pain is comparatively common and disabling musculoskeletal condition, however there is no conclusive evidence regarding the positive effects of conservative physical therapy management in terms of radiological changes and improvement in disc height. For this reason, the current study will not only look into the positive effects of conservative physical therapy on postural stability, pain and function, but also in terms of disc height in persons with discogenic low back pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Low Back Pain; Disk Prolapse
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Mckenzie Extension Protocol; Procedure: Lumbar SNAGs; Device: Inferential therapy; Procedure: Heat Therapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Islamabad, Pakistan, 66000
    • Foundation University Islamabad

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 year to 50 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Both male and female participants
• Aged 18-50 years old
• low back pain intensity less than 80/100mm on visual analogue scale
• positive centralization phenomenon
• low signal intensity of IV disc on T2 - weighted MRI
• high intensity zone towards the posterior aspect of the disc on MRI

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with and any musculoskeletal, metabolic, or neurological disorders that may impair gait, postural stability or sensory integrity will be excluded from the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Physical Therapy

Procedure: Mckenzie Extension Protocol; Mckenzie Extension Exercise Protocol will be performed by participants in prone position; Procedure: Lumbar SNAGs; Lumbar SNAGs will be performed in lumbar flexion and extension in standing Position; Device: Inferential therapy; 4 pole inferential therapy in combination with superficial heating for 20 minutes; Procedure: Heat Therapy; superficial heating for 20 minutes

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Back Pain	Pain will be measured via Visual Analogue Scale. A higher score signifies poor outcome.	2 weeks
Postural Stability	Postural Stability will be measured via Biodex Balance System. A higher score signifies poor outcome.	2 weeks
Lumbar Disability	Disability will be measured via Oswestry Disability Index.	2 weeks
Lumbar Range of Motion	Lumbar Range of Motion will be measured via inclinometer. A higher score signifies good outcome.	2 weeks
Step length	Step length during gait will be analyzed using observational gait analysis. A greater step length signifies better outcome	2 weeks
Stride length	Stride length during gait will be analyzed using observational gait analysis. A greater stride length signifies better outcome	2 weeks
Gait velocity	Velocity during gait will be analyzed using observational gait analysis. A greater gait velocity signifies better outcome	2 weeks
Disc Height	Disc will be analyzed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging	2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Foundation University Islamabad
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Muhammad Osama, PhD*, FUI; Principal Investigator: Aamer Naeem, PhD*, FUI

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 29, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 13, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): February 28, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2024
• Last Verified: February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Hernia; Back Pain; Low Back Pain; Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Prolapse
• Other Study ID Numbers: FUI/CTR/2022/5

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No