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NCT Number: NCT07165379

Analysis of Neuromodulation as a Complementary Treatment to Evidence-based Clinical Intervention in Subjects With Musculoskeletal Pathology of the Lower Limb: a Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial

This project aims to analyze the use of neuromodulation within a treatment protocol for musculoskeletal conditions of the lower limb, as well as to determine the difference between two and three sessions per week. Study participants will be divided into four intervention groups: the first will receive two sessions per week for a period of six months, while the second will receive three sessions per week for the same period. The treatment protocol will consist of therapeutic physical exercise focused on the muscles and joints of the lower limb, stretching of the involved muscles, and neuromodulation of the nerve root of the lumbosacral plexus, which innervates the affected structures. The third and fourth intervention groups will receive the same treatment as mentioned above, but without neuromodulation. The third group will receive three sessions per week, while the second group will receive two sessions per week. Two different types of measurement variables will be used: objective variables will be used to measure range of motion and muscle strength. Subjective variables will also be used through validated questionnaires, covering physical activity, health-related quality of life, lower limb function, and a visual analog scale for pain perception.

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Key information

Conditions

Neuromodulation Lower Limb Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal Disorders

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants in the study will be men and women of working age, diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders of the lower limb, and who have not yet received physical therapy.

Exclusion criteria

  • Have undergone surgery.
  • Those who refuse to participate in this study.
  • Patients who present muscular atrophy in the lower limb due to a pathology of the latter.
  • Medical conditions that are contraindications for neuromodulation therapy

Treatment and study plan

Neuromodulation

Other

The application of neuromodulation therapy will be carried out with the support of ultrasound visualization on the anatomical area of the target nerve, seeking a motor and/or sensory response with its stimulation.

Physical exercise

Other

The therapeutic physical exercise will consist of 3 periods of isometric contraction of 30 seconds, with a rest period of 1 minute, varying the number of repetitions from 3 to 5 depending on the patient's symptoms.

Stretching

Other

To stretch the muscles involved, perform three periods of maximum tolerable stretching without pain, lasting 20 seconds and resting for 30 seconds.

Primary outcomes

  1. EUROQOL-5D (EQ-5D)

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    It consists of a generic instrument for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which consists of two parts: a descriptive system for assessing health status (ranging from 1, meaning "I have no problems" to 3, "many problems") and a visual analogue scale (ranging from 0, which is the worst imaginable health status, to 100, which is the best imaginable health status).

  2. SHORT FORM 12 HEALTH SURVEY (SF-12)

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    The SF-12 questionnaire is composed of a subset of 12 items derived from the SF-36, with the physical and mental components being scored as the only items. Depending on the item, response options range from 3 to 6, with each question receiving a value that is subsequently transformed into a scale of 0 to 100. All scores have a mean of 50, with values above or below 50 indicating better or worse health status, respectively, compared to the reference population.

  3. LOWER EXTREMITY FUNCTIONAL SCALE (LEFS)

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    This questionnaire assesses perceived functionality in patients with a musculoskeletal problem in the lower limb. It consists of 20 questions, each of which is scored by the patient, ranging from 0 (extreme difficulty or inability to perform the activity) to 4 (no difficulty). The maximum score is 80 (no functional limitations), and the minimum score of 0 indicates extreme limitation. The Spanish adaptation has demonstrated similar values to the English version in the areas of internal consistency, reliability, structure, and error.

  4. LOWER LIMB FUNCTIONAL INDEX (LLFI)

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    This is a 25-item questionnaire that measures lower extremity function. Patients are asked to answer YES if they can perform the action (1 point) and NO if they cannot (0 points). There is also a HALF option (partially able to perform it), which is worth 0.5 points. The score is then obtained by summing the responses and is finally converted into a 100-point percentage scale.

  5. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    An instrument designed to measure physical activity levels in an adult population and serve as a reference for making recommendations regarding physical activity. It comes in two versions: the long version with 31 items (IPAQ-LF) and the short version with 9 items (IPAQ-SF). The short version, which will be used in this study as recommended by the authors, measures activity at four intensity levels, ranging from 1 (vigorous activity) to 4 (sedentary).

  6. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    It consists of an 11-point numerical scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain intensity), which serves as a quantification for measuring pain intensity. It has moderate to good reliability.

  7. RANGE OF MOTION

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    When referring to range of motion, it is understood as the number of degrees through which a joint is capable of moving. To measure the hip, the "Straight Leg Raise Test" (which indirectly measures hamstring extensibility) will be used; hip flexion with the knee flexed (for the gluteus maximus); hip extension using the "Modified Thomas Test" (for the iliopsoas); and hip abduction with the knee extended (for the abductors). At the knee, flexion will be tested with the "Modified Thomas Test," while at the ankle, dorsiflexion will be measured, first with the knee extended using the "Modified Stride Test," and second with the knee flexed using the "Stride Test."

  8. MUSCULAR STRENGTH

    Time frame: Baseline and up to one year

    Isometric muscle strength will be assessed using a dynamometer.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Malaga

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 10, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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