Manual Unloading of the Lumbar Spine: Can it Predict Responders to Mechanical Traction?

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Low Back Pain

In brief

This study will seek to determine if 1) the manual unloading test is reliable, and 2)if the immediate response to traction can be determined by using a simple unloading test in standing. The study wil be completed in two parts: 1) a small pilot sample (n=10) to asses both intra and inter tester reliability, and 2) a consecutive sample of 30 patients with low back pain which does not travel below the knee. All subjects will rate their pain on a 100 mm line both at rest and in their most painful direction of movement. A therapist will then unload the patients spine to determine if they feel any relief. All subjects will then undergo a 15 minute bout of intermittent lumbar traction, 30 sec on, 10 sec off at up to 50% body weight. Following traction, all subjects will again rate their pain on a 100 mm line. Subjects will be grouped by response to the initial manual unloading test and assessed for within and between group differences. The study hypothesis is that the manual unloading test is reliable, and that responders to mechanical traction can be accurately identified using a manual unloading test.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT02026076
Run by
UConn Health
People needed
30
Starts
2012-05-01
Expected to finish
2012-08-01
Last updated by the study team
2014-01-01

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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