How Does Manual Therapy Improve Low Back Pain for Soldiers?

Status unconfirmed · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Low Back Pain

In brief

Musculoskeletal injuries including low back pain (LBP) are a major problem in military personnel. These injuries can result from training exercises, job duties, or recreational activities. However incurred, many of these injuries can result in limited duty in work or training, and can decrease military readiness. The National Osteopathic Research Center (ORC) will examine the effectiveness of a specific set of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment interventions referred to as Manual/Manipulative Therapy (M/MT) to reduce pain and improve functioning in young active duty military personnel. The broad overall goal of this proposed research project is to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger clinical trial of Manual/Manipulative Therapy (M/MT) in restoring full performance in military personnel in the operational environment. A second goal is to estimate the treatment effect size of M/MT in this population. The following two hypotheses will guide the data study: * Hypothesis 1: Subjects receiving manual/manipulative therapy for low back pain will report less pain at two and four weeks than subjects in the control group. * Hypothesis 2: Subjects receiving manual/manipulative therapy for low back pain will achieve greater functioning at two and four weeks than subjects in the control group.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00394264

Run by

University of North Texas Health Science Center

People needed

100

Starts

2006-10-01

Expected to finish

2007-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2006-10-31

Who can join

Age: 17 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Active duty military personnel
• Male and Female
• Age range 17-35
• Present with a new episode of low back pain (may be acute or new episode of chronic)

You may not qualify if…

• Pregnancy
• Any serious neurological, rheumatological, or orthopedic conditions such as spondylolysis, spondylolithesis,fracture, nerve impingement, tumors, or infections.
• Prior manipulative treatment for this episode LBP.
• Leg pain worse than back pain indicating possible radiculopathy.
• Clinical evidence of a leg length discrepancy greater than 13mm.
• Inability to give informed consent.
• Inability to follow course of care for four weeks.

Where it is running

• Madigan Army Medical Center — Fort Lewis, Washington, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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