Web-Based Exercise Program for Non-Specific Low Back Pain (WEBEX-LBP)

May 16, 2026 updated by: Yağmur Mustafaoğlu, Medipol University

Effectiveness of Web-Based Exercise Programs in the Management of Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a web application-based exercise program (delivered via Physitrack) for managing non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) compared to traditional home exercise programs. The trial focuses on whether web-based delivery can improve pain, function, quality of life, and adherence, providing evidence for digital rehabilitation as a practical alternative to conventional physiotherapy.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is a prevalent condition associated with pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. Access to in-person physiotherapy can be limited by geographic, financial, or time-related constraints. Web-based exercise programs offer an accessible alternative by delivering personalized exercises, educational content, reminders, and self-monitoring tools via digital platforms.

This study aims to investigate whether a structured web application-based exercise program can improve outcomes for adults with NSLBP compared to traditional home exercises. The trial addresses gaps in current evidence regarding the effectiveness of telerehabilitation, patient engagement, and delivery modes, and seeks to determine if digital interventions can serve as a viable complement or alternative to conventional physiotherapy.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Beykoz
      • Istanbul, Beykoz, Turkey (Türkiye), 34810
        • Istanbul Medipol University

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:

  • Adults aged 18-45 years diagnosed with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) for 6 weeks to <12 months.
  • Self-reported pain intensity ≥3 on a 0-10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).
  • Evidence of functional limitation (Oswestry Disability Index or Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire).
  • Access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet connectivity.
  • Ability and willingness to participate in telerehabilitation programs.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Specific causes of low back pain (herniated disc with radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, fractures, infections, malignancy).
  • Neurological deficits (e.g., severe motor weakness, progressive neurological symptoms).
  • Severe psychiatric or cognitive disorders interfering with participation.
  • History of spinal surgery within the last year.
  • Severe comorbidities contraindicating exercise (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular disease).
  • Pregnant or planning pregnancy during the study period.
  • Active substance or alcohol abuse.
  • Participation in other structured rehabilitation or physical therapy programs within the last 3 months.

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Web-Based Exercise Program
Participants complete an 8-week web-based exercise program via Physitrack. Sessions last 30-45 minutes, twice per week, focusing on core strengthening, spinal mobility, posture correction, and pain reduction. Exercises progress weekly from basic core engagement to advanced trunk control and integration.
Behavioral: Web-Based Therapeutic Exercise Program
Participants complete an 8-week web-based therapeutic exercise program via Physitrack, with 30-45 minute sessions twice weekly. The program targets core strengthening, spinal mobility, posture correction, and pain reduction. Exercises progress weekly from basic core engagement and breathing techniques to advanced trunk control, dynamic movements, and integration. The platform provides instructional videos, reminders, educational content, and self-monitoring tools to enhance adherence, engagement, and self-management.
Active Comparator: Traditional Home Exercise Program
Participants complete a 6-week traditional home exercise program. Sessions last 30-40 minutes, focusing on flexibility, basic trunk and core strengthening, balance, and ergonomic practice. Exercises progress weekly, emphasizing pain relief, trunk mobility, and functional strength.
Behavioral: Traditional Home Exercise Program
Participants follow a 6-week traditional home exercise program with 30-40 minute sessions, twice weekly. The program focuses on flexibility, basic trunk and core strengthening, balance, and ergonomic practice. Exercises progress weekly, including cat-cow stretches, pelvic tilts, glute bridges, partial curl-ups, bird-dog, lunges, and posture training. Participants perform exercises independently at home using printed instructions, aiming to reduce pain, improve spinal mobility, and enhance functional outcomes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Reduction (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention
Change in self-reported low back pain intensity from baseline to 6 weeks, measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain. Participants report their average pain over the past 24 hours.
Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Functional Disability (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention
Change in disability due to low back pain from baseline to 6 weeks, measured using the ODI, which evaluates daily activities such as pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, and sleeping. Higher scores indicate greater disability.
Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention
Quality of Life (Short Form Health Survey, SF-36)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention
Change in health-related quality of life from baseline to 6 weeks across physical and mental health domains
Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention
Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ)
Time Frame: 6 weeks end of intervention
Participants' satisfaction with the intervention, including ease of use, communication, and perceived effectiveness.
6 weeks end of intervention
Proprioception (Joint Position Sense Test, JPS)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention
Change in lumbar spine proprioception from baseline to 6 weeks.
Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Medipol University

Investigators

  • Study Director: Merve Yılmaz Menek, Assoc. Prof, Assoc. prof. Merve Yılmaz Menek

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

Helpful Links

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 (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 27, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 27, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

October 6, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 16, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • E-10840098-202.3.02-3388

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) from this study, including demographic information, pain scores (NPRS), functional disability scores (ODI), quality of life (SF-36), patient satisfaction (PSQ), and proprioception measurements (JPS), may be shared upon reasonable request. Data will be anonymized to protect participant privacy, and access will be provided for academic or research purposes only.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will be available from publication until 5 years post-publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Requests must include a research proposal and approval by the principal investigator or institutional review board.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

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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