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NCT Number: NCT05428280

Comparing the Effects of Muscle Energy Technique Versus Myofascial Mobilization in Managing Sub-acute Low Back Pain

Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) defines sub-acute low back pain as low back pain lasting between 4 and 12 weeks. There is insufficient evidence regarding the comparative effect of muscle energy technique and myofascial mobilization in the management of sub-acute non-specific low back pain with the tightness of quadratus lumborum and erector spinae muscles

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Key information

Conditions

Lordosis Back Pain Bone Diseases Low Back Pain Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Spinal Curvatures Spinal Diseases

Age range

30 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Karachi, Sindh, 74200, Pakistan

About this study

A randomized experimental controlled trial will be carried out to compare the effectiveness of muscle energy technique and myofascial mobilization in the management of sub-acute non-specific low back pain. A total of 60 male and female volunteers having subjects with sub-acute nonspecific low back pain will be recruited in this study. Subjects will be assessed at baseline for pain and disability using Visual Analogue Scale and Ronald Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ 0-24) respectively. After baseline assessment, all subjects will be allocated to two groups through computer-generated random sampling. Group 1 will perform Muscle energy technique combined with conventional exercise; Group 2 will receive Myofascial Mobilization combined with conventional exercise. This study will be conducted at the Physiotherapy Department of Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SIPM&R). Data will be analyzed using SPSS 21 and ANCOVA technique will be used in this study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Sub-acute low back pain with the range of 7 to 12 weeks of unresolved symptoms.
  • Positive test of tight Erector spinae muscle and Tight Quadratus Lumboram muscle

Exclusion criteria

  • Spinal malignancy
  • Spinal fracture
  • Spine foraminal stenosis
  • Nerve root compression
  • Radicular symptoms
  • Sciatica
  • Cord compression
  • Paralysis
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Myelopathy
  • Seizure disorder
  • Severe trauma
  • Unexplained weight loss

Treatment and study plan

Physiotherapy

Other

Conventional treatment consisted of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Progressive Back Strengthening Exercise

Muscle Energy Technique

Other

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a technique that was developed in 1948 by Fred Mitchell, Sr, D.O[1]. It is a form of manual therapy, widely used in Osteopathy, that uses a muscle's own energy in the form of gentle isometric contractions to relax the muscles via autogenic or reciprocal inhibition and lengthen the muscle.

Myofacial mobilization

Other

It is a type of gentle, constant massage that releases tightness and pain throughout your myofascial tissues

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analogue Scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline pain intensity at 4 weeks

    The visual analogue scale is used for measurement of pain intensity. It is a continuous scale. It comprises a horizontal or vertical 10 centimeters or 100 millimeters line. The participant is asked to indicate a point of pain intensity by placing a line perpendicular to the Visual analogue scale line. The scale is most commonly referred by "no pain" with score of 0 and "worst imaginable pain" with score of 100 on the scale. The higher scores shows higher pain intensity and lower scores shows lower pain intensity.

  2. Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire

    Time frame: Change from baseline functional disability at 4 weeks

    It is a standard questionnaire with questions regarding pain and the disabling effect on daily activities. Its score ranges from 0 to 24 (no disability to maximum disability)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Dow University of Health Sciences

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique Versus Myofascial Mobilization in Improving Functional Outcome in Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jun 23, 2022
Registry last updated
Mar 27, 2024

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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