Mobile App-Supported Exercise Program For Mechanical Low Back Pain

March 26, 2026 updated by: Ece ACAR, Karabuk University

Effect of a Mobile Application-Supported Home Exercise Program on Posture, Balance, Pain and Functionality in Individuals With Mechanical Low Back Pain

Mechanical low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting daily activities and quality of life. Home exercise programs are frequently recommended in the management of low back pain; however, adherence to these programs is often limited. Mobile health applications may enhance adherence by providing exercise demonstrations, reminders, and monitoring tools.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a mobile application-supported home exercise program on posture, balance, pain, and functional status in individuals with mechanical low back pain. Participants with chronic mechanical low back pain will be randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups will receive the same home exercise program. The control group will receive the exercises in printed format, while the experimental group will follow the program through the E-Exercise mobile application that includes exercise videos, reminders, and progress tracking.

Participants will be evaluated before the intervention and after six weeks of exercise training. Outcome measures will include flexibility, posture, balance, pain intensity, and functional disability. The results of this study may contribute to improving adherence to home exercise programs and promoting the use of digital health technologies in physiotherapy practice.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Mechanical low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that may negatively affect posture, balance, pain perception, physical function, and quality of life. Home exercise programs are widely used in physiotherapy for the management of mechanical low back pain because they are practical, accessible, and cost-effective. However, poor adherence to home exercise programs and difficulties in performing exercises correctly may reduce treatment effectiveness.

This study is designed to investigate whether a mobile application-supported home exercise program provides additional benefits compared with a conventional printed home exercise program in individuals with chronic mechanical low back pain. The mobile application developed for this study, called E-Exercise, includes video-based exercise instructions, reminder notifications, and an exercise tracking component that allows participants to mark completed exercises. These features are intended to improve exercise adherence and support correct exercise performance at home.

A total of 50 participants with chronic mechanical low back pain will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. Both groups will receive the same exercise content prepared by a physiotherapist and will perform the exercises 3 days per week for 6 weeks. The control group will receive the exercise program in printed form, whereas the experimental group will use the mobile application.

Participants will be evaluated before the intervention and at the end of the 6-week program. Outcome measures will include flexibility assessed by the Sit and Reach Test, Straight Leg Raise Test, and Modified Schober Test; posture assessed by PostureScreenLite; postural balance assessed by the Bertec Balance Legacy System; pain assessed by the Visual Analog Scale and Pain Catastrophizing Scale; functional disability assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index; and health-related quality of life assessed by the SF-12. This study is expected to provide evidence on whether mobile health support can improve adherence and clinical outcomes in home-based physiotherapy programs for individuals with mechanical low back pain.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

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 Contact Backup

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals aged between 18 and 65 years
  • Diagnosis of chronic mechanical low back pain lasting longer than 3 months
  • Ability to use a smartphone or mobile device
  • Willingness to participate in the study and provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cauda equina syndrome
  • Long-term corticosteroid use
  • Presence of focal neurological deficits associated with disability
  • Previous spinal surgery
  • Severe neurological or systemic disorders affecting mobility

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
Active Comparator: Printed Home Exercise Program
Participants in this group will receive the same home exercise program in printed format. Exercises will be explained by a physiotherapist and participants will be asked to perform them at home three times per week for six weeks.
Behavioral: Printed Home Exercise Program
Participants will receive a printed version of the same home exercise program explained by a physiotherapist. Participants will perform the exercises at home three times per week for six weeks without mobile application support.
Experimental: Mobile Application-Supported Home Exercise
Participants in this group will receive a home exercise program supported by the E-Exercise mobile application. The application provides video demonstrations of exercises, reminder notifications, and exercise tracking. Participants will perform the exercises three times per week for six weeks.
Behavioral: Mobile Application-Supported Home Exercise Program
Participants will follow a home exercise program through the E-Exercise mobile application. The application provides video demonstrations of exercises, reminder notifications, and an exercise tracking feature. Participants will perform the exercises three times per week for six weeks. The exercises are designed by a physiotherapist and aim to improve flexibility, posture, balance, pain, and functional status.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain.
Baseline and 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Flexibility Measured by Sit and Reach Test (cm)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Flexibility will be assessed using the Sit and Reach Test to evaluate hamstring and lower back flexibility. Results will be recorded in centimeters.
Baseline and 6 weeks
Postural Alignment Measured by PostureScreenLite Mobile Application
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Postural alignment will be evaluated using the PostureScreenLite mobile application. Standardized photographs from anterior, posterior, and lateral views will be analyzed to determine postural deviation angles.
Baseline and 6 weeks
Postural Balance Measured by Bertec Balance System (Center of Pressure Parameters)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Postural balance will be assessed using the Bertec Balance Legacy System by measuring center of pressure displacement and stability parameters during quiet standing.
Baseline and 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Karabuk University

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)

April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 26, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • MechanicalLumbarApp

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared due to institutional data protection policies and ethical considerations. Only aggregated study results will be reported in scientific publications.

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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