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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03328689

Back2LiveWell: Community Based Prevention of Back Pain Flare-ups

The primary objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an individualized group based exercise and education program supported in the community to a control group of usual care in preventing back pain flare-ups and to mitigate the negative consequences of subsequent episodes if they occur.

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Key information

Conditions

Low Back Pain, Recurrent Back Pain Behavior Low Back Pain Motor Activity Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

YMCA Hamilton

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

About this study

Secondary objectives are to:

  • To compare the effectiveness of the two interventions in preventing an activity-limiting LBP flare up at 12 and 24 months.

Secondary objectives are to:

  • To compare the effectiveness of the interventions in mitigating the negative consequences of LBP.
  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the interventions in preventing activity-limiting LBP flare-up.
  • To identify subgroups of individuals that may best respond to each one of the two interventions.

Exploratory objectives include:

  • evaluate the fluctuating nature of back pain using a smart phone application to collect pain measures once a week for 1 year (trajectories will also be evaluated to compare between group effects)
  • assess adherence to physical activity using activity monitors.
  • evaluate the relationship between activity levels and flare-ups as a method for understanding pain triggers and impact of activity pacing.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Participants will be included if they meet the following criteria

  • Have been discharged <3 months from physiotherapy, chiropractic or osteopathic care following a course of treatment for LBP (pain in the area between the 12th rib and buttock crease)
  • Have non-specific LBP which is pain not attributed to a specific diagnosis such as sciatica, ankylosing spondylitis, vertebral fracture, etc.
  • Non-specific LBP sometimes called mechanical LBP accounts for ~85% of LBP diagnosis.
  • Between 18 and 80 years of age

Exclusion criteria

Participants will be excluded if they meet the following criteria:

  • Ongoing high pain intensity, defined as pain intensity of 6 or more on a 0-10 point scale. The cut off of 6/10 is used in the literature to dichotomise low/moderate to high pain intensity.
  • Co-morbidity preventing participation in physical activity evaluated using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) from the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines
  • Inadequate English to complete outcome measures
  • Currently participating in an exercise program similar to the one we will evaluate.
  • History of spine surgery

Treatment and study plan

Physical activity program

Other

This arm will begin with PT assessment. Following this, participants will meet with a specialist who will design an individualized physical activity program. Classes will include warm up, 40 minutes of individualized exercises and a cool down that will include back pain specific exercises including core strengthening. The first 4 weeks of exercise will include a 30-minute education program. Education comprise information on back pain, efficient use of the back during daily activities, self-management, self-efficacy and pain neurophysiology. Classes will run for a 12-week period. Participants will be encouraged to attend the exercise facility at least 3 times a week. An activity monitor will be provided to all participants. We will use group classes to facilitate the development of social support.

Control group standard care

Other

Participants from the control group will receive usual care which will often include recommendation to keep activity, home exercise programs and advice to engage in physical activity.

Participants in the control group will also receive and activity monitor for collection of physical activity data. This activity monitor may also be used for positive feedback and activity reinforcement

Primary outcomes

  1. Activity limiting flare-up

    Time frame: 12 months

    • flare-up is an increase in pain levels of greater than or equal to 3 on a 0-10 numeric pain scale. The LBP international consensus on minimal important change in pain is 2 on a 0-10 scale and thus a change of 3 is likely be clinically important.15
    • activity-limiting LBP will be measured using an adaptation of the item PI9 of the PROMIS item bank. (How much did LBP interfere with your day to day activities?) A score of 3 or greater (representing somewhat impact) on a 1-5 scale will be considered as activity limitation.

    Participants will fit the criteria for activity-limiting flare-up if pain increases at least 3 points AND pain is identified to be limiting on the PI9 as described above.

    Flare-up will be collected once a week for 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Activity limiting flare-up

    Time frame: 3 and 6 months

    • flare-up is an increase in pain levels of greater than or equal to 3 on a 0-10 numeric pain scale. The LBP international consensus on minimal important change in pain is 2 on a 0-10 scale and thus a change of 3 is likely be clinically important.15
    • activity-limiting LBP will be measured using an adaptation of the item PI9 of the PROMIS item bank. (How much did LBP interfere with your day to day activities?) A score of 3 or greater (representing somewhat impact) on a 1-5 scale will be considered as activity limitation.

    Participants will fit the criteria for activity-limiting flare-up if pain increases at least 3 points AND pain is identified to be limiting on the PI9 as described above.

    Flare-up will be collected once a week for 1 year

  2. Personal Impact of low back pain

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12 months

    the outcome combines 9 items from the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short form and covers the domains of pain intensity, pain interference with normal activities and functional status widely recommended in consensus documents on outcome measures for back pain

  3. Pain intensity _NRS pain

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12 months

    Pain intensity over the last week will be measured using a numeric rating scale 0-10 where 0 is not pain and 10 is worse pain

  4. Disability

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12 months

    Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire is a scale from 0-24 assessing pain related disability where 0 is no disability and 24 is significant disability

  5. Function

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12 months

    Patient Specific Functional Scale is a self reported scale assessing function on a scale from 0-10 where 0 is not able to perform the activity and 10 is able without pain

  6. Health related Quality of Life: EQ-5D-5L

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12 months (0-100)

    EQ-5D-5L

  7. Physical activity questionnaire

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12 months

    IPAQ_short form

  8. Physical activity level

    Time frame: 3, 6, 12 months

    Activity level measured using Garmin physical activity monitor

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

McMaster University

Other

Collaborators

  • Macquarie University, Australia
  • Universidade Federal do Ceara
  • University of Alberta

Registry information

Official study title

Community Based Secondary Prevention of Back Pain Flare-ups (Back2LiveWell): a Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: Back2LiveWel

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Nov 1, 2017
Registry last updated
Feb 21, 2020

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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