Study to Demonstrate That Muscle Pattern Recognition (MPR) is an Effective Evaluation Tool for Musculoskeletal Neck or Back Pain

Status unconfirmed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Neck Pain, Low Back Pain

In brief

The investigators hypothesize that non able-bodied participants with reported acute, sub-acute, or chronic symptoms of neck or back pain of a musculoskeletal origin will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray and blood parameters that do not demonstrate a statistical difference between "normal" (able-bodied) volunteers. Muscle pattern recognition (MPR) testing will show statistically different results between these groups. This statistically significant finding in MPR results will enhance a clinician's determination of clinical normality or abnormality. If this hypothesis is demonstrated, the MPR modality will be the first quantitative tool developed for assisting in the diagnosis of the presence or absence of a musculoskeletal dysfunction in a patient population. The availability of such an evaluation tool to a healthcare provider for patients with soft tissue, non-surgical neck or back complaints will substantially improve the accuracy of diagnosis and case management decisions.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT00134225
Run by: iTech Medical, Inc.
People needed: 480
Starts: 2005-04-01
Expected to finish: 2006-12-01
Last updated by the study team: 2005-10-26

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 62. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

Individuals may participate in this study if they meet the following criteria:
18-62 years of age; male or female.
4 foot 10 inches to 6 foot 5 inches in height
No prior back or neck surgery, or structural deformity of the spine
No orthopedic injury/illness/surgery limiting range of motion of the shoulders
No ongoing treatments for back or neck pain/injury from a health professional in the last two years.
No prior loss of work time due to a neck or back injury/illness
Laboratory studies: complete blood count (CBC); sedimentation rate; creatinine phosphokinase (CPK); calcium; phosphorus; pregnancy test if female; and drug screen. Laboratory studies will be examined by a physician investigator to determine if the findings will exclude the participant from participating successfully in study activities. A positive pregnancy test or drug screen will automatically exclude the participant from the study.
Clinical examination of the neck and back by two physicians in agreement that the participant may participate in the study.
Absence of congenital or acquired neuromuscular disease or dysfunction

You may not qualify if…

Individuals may not participate in this study if they meet the following criteria:
Claustrophobia or anxiety associated with being enclosed in narrow spaces
Muscle weakness or sensory feedback abnormalities that affect(s) gait
Pregnancy
Concurrent serious medical illness such as cancer; recent heart attack or stroke; heart rhythm disturbance requiring a pacemaker; diabetes that causes pain; numbness; or decreased circulation in the legs.
Alcohol or illicit drug abuse.
History of (or concurrent) psychiatric illness necessitating ongoing "talk" therapy and/or psychotropic medications
History of back or neck pain lasting more than 3 days or requiring time off of work AND healthcare provider treatments within the last 2 years
Involved in a lawsuit or receiving worker's compensation or disability payments
Individuals with pacemakers or pacemaker wires; aneurysm clips; or metallic foreign bodies or metal shavings in the body.

Where it is running

Midwest Consultants for Clinical Trials LLC — Portage, Michigan, United States (enrolling)
Department of Neurology - UC Irvine — Irvine, California, United States
Advance Clinical Research — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Institute de Rescherche in Physiatrie du Quebec — Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.