Comparison of the Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques Low Back Pain

February 14, 2023 updated by: Eastern Mediterranean University

Comparison of the Effects of Two Different Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques in Individuals With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

The aim of this study is to determine whether the effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique is different from passive prone lying when performed with a functional exercise in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Individuals participating in the study will first be divided into two groups by randomization. While IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques) will be applied to one group in the prone position, IASTM will be applied to the other group with functional exercise. The pain, mobility, flexibility, disability and endurance parameters of the individuals assigned to the groups after randomization will be determined just before the application, immediately after the 1st application and immediately after the 6th application. The study will last for a total of 6 sessions, with two sessions per week for 3 weeks.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

74

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

      • Famagusta, Cyprus, 99628
        • Süleyman Güzelşemme

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 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being diagnosed with non-specific low back pain by a specialist physician
  • 18-45 years old
  • Having 3 or more pains on VAS for the last 3 months.
  • Those who do not use analgesic drugs
  • Not taking physiotherapy for the last 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Those with orthopedic, neurological, psychiatric and systemic diseases (such as fracture, osteoporosis, scoliosis, kyphosis, stenosis, cauda equina, myositis ossificans, severe nerve compressions, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer)
  • Those with a history of spinal surgery
  • Pregnant and lactating
  • Open wound, infection, serious kidney disease
  • Those who have limited hip joint movements

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Group While Lying Prone

The application will take a total of 6 sessions, with two sessions per week for 3 weeks.

While individuals are lying in the prone position, the IASTM protocol will be applied bilaterally on the erector spinae and then on the hamstrings. The application will take approximately 17 minutes.

  1. Sliding movements in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles will be made in the form of mobilizations of 45 seconds with instruments.
  2. Mobilizations of 45 seconds will be made with instruments along the quarter circle line in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles.
  3. Starting with an angle of 60 degrees on the area to be treated, the movement of shifting towards an angle of 30 degrees will be made in all directions for 30 seconds.
  4. The tissue will be mobilized for 30 consecutive seconds, starting from just caudal to your waist and drawing the letter J towards the cranial.
  5. Sliding movements in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles will be made with instruments in the form of mobilizations for 45 seconds.
  6. Mobilizations of 45 seconds will be made with instruments along the quarter circle line in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles.
  7. 30 - 60 degree swipe movement shorter brushing style small movements will be done for 30 seconds.
Experimental: Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Group Combined with Functional Movement

While standing in the "extended child pose (utthita balasana)" stance, the "IASTM" protocol will be applied bilaterally on the lumbar erector spines, with the hands on them and moving back to the old position. Then, the "IASTM" protocol will be applied bilaterally on the hamstrings by making consecutive knee flexion-extension up to 90 degrees while the individuals are lying prone.

The application will take approximately 17 minutes.

  1. Sliding movements in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles will be made in the form of mobilizations of 45 seconds with instruments.
  2. Mobilizations of 45 seconds will be made with instruments along the quarter circle line in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles.
  3. Starting with an angle of 60 degrees on the area to be treated, the movement of shifting towards an angle of 30 degrees will be made in all directions for 30 seconds.
  4. The tissue will be mobilized for 30 consecutive seconds, starting from just caudal to your waist and drawing the letter J towards the cranial.
  5. Sliding movements in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles will be made with instruments in the form of mobilizations for 45 seconds.
  6. Mobilizations of 45 seconds will be made with instruments along the quarter circle line in all directions at 30 - 60 degree angles.
  7. 30 - 60 degree swipe movement shorter brushing style small movements will be done for 30 seconds.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: 3 Weeks
Individuals' pain levels will be measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) both at rest and during activity. It will be requested to mark any point on a horizontal line of 10 cm length such that 0 no pain, 10 unbearably severe pain.
3 Weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mobility (Modified Schober Test)
Time Frame: 3 Weeks
Individuals' spinal mobility will be assessed using the Modified Schober Test. While the patient is standing, the midpoint between the spina iliaca posterior superior is marked. This point is considered the L4-L5 level. Two more points are marked 10 cm above and 5 cm below this point. This distance will be measured both while standing and by asking them to bend forward without bending the knees, with the hands touching the feet.
3 Weeks
Flexibility (Sit and Reach Test)
Time Frame: 3 Weeks
A measuring bench with a length of 55 cm in the upper part, 35 cm in the lower part, 32 cm in height and 45 cm in width will be used. The soles of both lower extremities will be fully touching the bench with bare feet and the patient will be asked to lie on the bench with knees extended straight and hands on top of each other. The level of the feet will be the 0 point on the table at the top. It will be recorded in such a way that it extends forward +, lagging behind -. The test will be calculated by taking the best value of the measurements after 3 consecutive repetitions.
3 Weeks
Flexibility (Maximal Hip Flexion Active Knee Extension (MHFAKE))
Time Frame: 3 Weeks
Hamstring flexibility will be measured using the Active Knee Extension Test with Maximal Hip Flexion (MHFAKE). It has been reported to be the best measure of hamstring flexibility compared to traditional straight leg raises or other tests. While the individual is lying in the supine position, he will be asked to take the hip of the tested extremity to its maximal flexion and lock it with his hands, then actively bring the knee to the extension position until it reaches the maximal tension it can reach. The contralateral limb will be extended straight on the bed. To prevent variations, the contralateral extremity will be fixed to the bed from the distal thigh with a belt. Knee angle will be measured with a goniometer.
3 Weeks
Disability (Oswestry Disability İndex)
Time Frame: 3 Weeks
The Turkish version of the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire consisting of 10 questions will be used in order to measure the loss of function caused by low back pain. These questions are; It consists of questions compatible with daily life activities such as pain intensity, personal care, lifting/carrying, walking, sitting, standing, sleep, travel, social life, and degree of pain change. Higher scores mean more disability.
3 Weeks
Trunk Extensors Muscle Endurance (Biering-Sorenson Test)
Time Frame: 3 Weeks
The trunk extensors muscle endurance of individuals will be evaluated with the Biering Sorenson test. Individuals will be asked to lie face down on the bed and extend their torso out of the bed from the anterior superior iliac spine (SIAS). A rolled towel will be placed in front of the ankle and their legs will be supported by the physiotherapist. Individuals will be asked to stand with their hands crossed in the pectoral region and keep their torso parallel to the ground against gravity. The time will be recorded in seconds.
3 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

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)

November 20, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 20, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

February 2, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 14, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 14, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

November 21, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 15, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 14, 2023

Last Verified

February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ETK00-2022-0173

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

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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