Alleviating Trunk Low Back Pain, With an Active Medical Device Study (ATLAS)

This study aims at assessing pain release by wearing a new medical device (ATLAS) in patients affected by chronic low back pain.

Population: patients with chronic low back pain admitted for a 4 weeks rehabilitation program.

Intervention: active rehabilitation and wearing the ATLAS device 60 min per day. The ATLAS study is carried out during the 5 first days of the rehabilitation program.

Primary outcome: Pain intensity evaluation with a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during 5 standardized activities (the most intensive pain during the 5 activities is recorded), with and without wearing the ATLAS device.

Secondary outcome measures: percentage of patients reporting pain decrease of at least 20 mm on the 100 mm VAS during the 5 standardized activities with the ATLAs device compared without wearing the device. Percentage of relieved patients (percentage of patient reporting pain intensity less than 30 mm on the 100 mm VAS with wearing the device). Pain intensity evaluated with the 100 mm VAS before and after 60 min of wearing the ATLAS device.

Randomization: two groups (i.e. group A and B). Primary outcome is evaluated at day 4 and 5, with a crossover design (Group A: pain is evaluated during activities with the device at day 4 and without the device at day 5. Group B: pain is evaluated during activities without the device at day 4 and with the device at day 5).

Inclusion criteria

• Chronic low back pain for more than 3 month
• Analogical visual scale superior or egal to 3/10
• BMI < 30
• 18 < Age < 75 years
• Patients who signed the informed consent
• Hospital Anxiety and depression score less than 11

Exclusion criteria

• - Neurological or radicular deficit
• Skin pathology of the trunk region
• Antecedent of surgery of spinal fusion
• Implanted neurostimulation treatment
• Scoliosis with Cobb angle > 30°
• History of vertebral fracture
• BMI > 30
• Respiratory failure
• Recent rib fracture (less than 3 month)
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Osteoporosis
• Refusal to participate to the study