Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Elastic Resistance Versus Free Weight Training Of Gluteus Medius In Improving Pain, Strength, And Overall Gait Speed In Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

September 1, 2025 updated by: Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Elastic Resistance Versus Free Weight Training Of Gluteus Medius In Improving Pain, Strength, And Overall Gait Speed In Patients With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of elastic resistance training and free weight training in strengthening the gluteus medius muscle among patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Weakness in the gluteus medius can contribute to pelvic instability and altered gait patterns, which may exacerbate low back pain. While both elastic resistance and free weight exercises are commonly used in rehabilitation, there is limited evidence comparing their relative benefits in this population. This study evaluates improvements in pain, muscle strength, and overall gait speed following each intervention. The findings will help guide clinicians in choosing the most effective and accessible strengthening method for patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The gluteus medius plays a vital role in pelvic stabilization and maintaining proper gait mechanics. Dysfunction or weakness in this muscle is frequently associated with chronic non-specific low back pain, a condition affecting a significant proportion of the population. Rehabilitation strategies that target the gluteus medius are crucial for restoring lumbar-pelvic stability, optimizing functional movement, and reducing pain.

Free weight training, using equipment like dumbbells and barbells, is a traditional method to enhance muscle strength and improve neuromuscular coordination. However, it often requires proper supervision to avoid injury due to the need for controlled movements and joint stability. On the other hand, elastic resistance training, which employs tools like resistance bands or tubes, offers a safer, cost-effective, and portable alternative. It allows progressive resistance throughout the range of motion, matching the user's strength curve and facilitating home-based exercise programs.

This randomized controlled trial is designed to compare these two training modalities, which are elastic resistance versus free weights in terms of their effectiveness at improving gluteus medius strength, reducing low back pain, and enhancing gait speed in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. The trial includes baseline and post-intervention assessments using validated clinical tools for measuring pain, strength, and gait speed.

The goal is to determine which intervention yields greater clinical benefit and offers a more practical approach for implementation in therapeutic settings, especially for populations with limited access to conventional gym equipment. The findings could contribute valuable evidence to inform clinical decision-making in physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

36

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

  • Pakistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
      • Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 25000
        • Rehman Medical Institute

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age 30-60 years
  2. Both males and females of any race and ethnicity
  3. Musculoskeletal condition that affects the gluteus Medius of hip
  4. MMT for gluteus medius is 3 or less than 3
  5. chronic stage of nonspecific low back pain
  6. Cognitively intact (mini mental scale) and able to walk 10 meters with or without support.
  7. Volunteer participations.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Post-surgical conditions like TKR, THR.
  2. Any contraindication to exercise.
  3. Female individuals who have muscular weakness due to pregnancy
  4. Any neurological conditions (myopathies, neuropathies) causing muscular weakness
  5. Chronic low back pain in which Gluteus Medius weakness is not measurable.

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: Elastic Resistance Training with Conventional Training
The participants in this group will receive elastic resistance training with conventional training. The intervention would be given 5 times per week on alternate days for 4 weeks. Each exercise session will be given in 2sets of 8 repetitions each set.
Procedure: Elastic Resistance Training
The type of resistance exercises in which the participants use the Thera Band of yellow and red colours (weight about 2-2.5 kg with full elongation) for resistance training
Other Names:
  • Resistance Band Training, Theraband Exercise
Procedure: Conventional Training
The conventional training includes side-lying hip abductions, standing weighted abductions, and lateral step-ups exercises.
Active Comparator: Free Weight Training along with Conventional Training
The participants in this group will receive free weight training along with conventional training. The intervention frequency will be the same as group A (5 times/week for 4 weeks). Each exercise session will be given in 2 sets of 8 repetitions each set.
Procedure: Conventional Training
The conventional training includes side-lying hip abductions, standing weighted abductions, and lateral step-ups exercises.
Procedure: Free Weight Exercises
The type of resistance exercises in which the participants use weight cuffs (weight 2-2.5 kg) tied to their lower leg for resistance training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention
Pain will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), a self-reported 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).
Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention
Change in Gluteus Medius Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention
Muscle strength will be measured using a manual muscle testing to assess isometric strength of the gluteus medius. A system of manually testing weakness of muscles by assuming different positions and performing movements against gravity or gravity eliminated depending on the strength of the and 5 indicates the muscle can hold anti-gravity position against maximum resistance.
Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention
Change in Overall Gait Speed
Time Frame: Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention
Gait speed will be measured using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), recorded in meters per second (m/s).
Baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gulab Noor, MSPT, Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Khyber Medical University Peshawar
  • Principal Investigator: Dr Hazrat Bilal, PhD*, Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Khyber Medical University Peshawar

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)

April 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 29, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

August 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 8, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 8, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

May 16, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

September 3, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 1, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KMU/DIR/CTU/2025/001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data obtained through this study may be provided to qualified researchers with academic interested in the stated study area after its proper monitoring. Data or samples shared will be coded, with no PHI included. Prior permission of the investigators, participants and concerned departments will be obtained.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data requests can be submitted starting 12 months after article publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Access can be requested by qualified researchers through proper approval of the investigators.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • CSR

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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