Physical Activity for Older Adults Chronic Low Back Pain

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Low Back Pain

In brief

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is one of the most common and disabling conditions among US military Veterans. Although physical activity can improve cLBP outcomes, the majority of Veterans with cLBP are inactive. Therefore the VA is in need of effective programs that can help older Veterans with cLBP to increase their physical activity and improve associated outcomes. This is particularly relevant for older Veterans with cLBP who are at greater risk for functional limitations. The proposed project will be a pilot study of a telephone-based physical activity program or physical activity combined with cognitive behavioral pain management for older adult Veterans with cLBP. Older Veterans are of particular interest because prior studies of physical activity for cLBP have not addressed this vulnerable patient group. This study will also inform the VA about whether certain patients with cLBP, who have greater pain sensitivity, may benefit from other treatment to supplement a physical activity program.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02327325

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

60

Starts

2015-05-21

Expected to finish

2017-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-09-06

Who can join

Age: 65 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Self-report having had lower back pain on most days for greater than three months.
• Can complete a 10 second semi-tandem stand and walk 8' in 6.0 seconds.
• Report they are not satisfied with their current state of functional ability, based on reporting "dissatisfied" with at least one aspect of physical function on the Satisfaction with Physical Function Scale.
• Can safely participate in the intervention based upon the physical therapist baseline examination and clinical expertise.

You may not qualify if…

• unilateral or bilateral sciatica that physical therapist determines could make the study intervention unsafe or inappropriate; isolated coccyx pain (based on self-report at screener);
• dementia or other significant cognitive impairment;
• movement or motor neuron disorders (e.g., Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis);
• rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other systemic rheumatic disease;
• hospitalization for a stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, or coronary artery revascularization in the past 3 months;
• significant hearing impairment (must be able to talk on the telephone);
• psychosis or current, uncontrolled substance abuse disorder;
• any other health conditions determined by the study team to be contraindications to performing mild to moderate home exercises.

Where it is running

• Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC — Durham, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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