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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07030816

Lumbar Support Belt for Low-Back Pain in Office Workers

Background:

Low-back pain (LBP) is common among office workers and can reduce productivity and quality of life. Lumbar support belts are commonly used to manage LBP, but their effectiveness specifically for office workers remains uncertain.

Aim:

This study investigates whether wearing a commercially available lumbar support belt (Guardner Belt) can reduce low-back pain, decrease physical fatigue during computer work, and improve perceived work performance among office workers with chronic low-back pain.

Methods:

Thirty office workers with chronic nonspecific low-back pain were randomly assigned to either wear the lumbar support belt during work hours for four weeks or continue usual activities without the belt. Participants' pain, fatigue, and work performance were assessed before and after the intervention period.

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Key information

Conditions

Low Back Pain (LBP) Back Pain Chronic Low Back Pain Fatigue Low Back Pain Neurologic Manifestations Non-specific Low Back Pain Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

20 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ryusei Hospital

Naha, Okinawa, 902-0066, Japan

About this study

Study Design:

A single-centre, open-label, parallel-group randomised controlled trial conducted at a logistics company in Okinawa, Japan.

Participants:

Inclusion criteria

full-time office workers aged 20 to 65 years, chronic nonspecific low-back pain intensity ≥ 30 mm (100-mm visual analogue scale; VAS).

Exclusion criteria

prior lumbar surgery, ongoing pharmacologic treatment for low-back pain, anticipated changes in job duties during the trial period.

Interventions:

  • Belt Group: Participants wore a commercially available elastic lumbar support belt (Guardner Belt) sized according to waist circumference. Participants were instructed to wear the belt for at least 8 hours daily during their working hours over a 4-week period.
  • Control Group: Participants continued normal daily routines without any lumbar support belt.

Primary Outcome Measures:

Assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention:

  • Low-back pain intensity: Measured using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
  • Physical fatigue during computer work: Measured using a 100-mm VAS.
  • Work performance: Measured using the Single-Item Presenteeism Question (SPQ), scored from 0% (no productivity) to 100% (full productivity).

Ethics:

Ethical approval was retrospectively granted by the Ryusei Hospital Institutional Review Board (Approval Number 202502). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • • Full-time desk workers
  • Chronic nonspecific low-back pain (≥30 mm on a 100-mm visual analogue scale at baseline)
  • Age between 20 and 65 years

Exclusion criteria

  • • Previous lumbar surgery
  • Currently receiving pharmacologic treatment for low-back pain
  • Planned job-duty changes during the study period

Treatment and study plan

Guardner Belt

Device

The Guardner Belt is a commercially available elastic lumbar support belt designed to reduce low-back pain and improve posture. Participants wore the belt sized according to waist circumference for at least 8 hours per day during working hours for 4 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Low Back Pain Intensity (VAS)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    Low back pain intensity assessed using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (0 mm = no pain, 100 mm = worst imaginable pain).

  2. Physical Fatigue During Computer Work (VAS)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    Physical fatigue during computer work assessed using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (0 mm = no fatigue, 100 mm = extreme fatigue).

  3. Self-rated Work Performance (SPQ)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 4

    Self-rated work performance assessed using the Single-Item Presenteeism Question (0% = no productivity, 100% = full productivity).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

General Incorporated Foundation Ryukyuseimeisaiseikai, Ryusei Hospital.

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Wearing a Lumbar Support Belt on Low-Back Pain, Physical Fatigue During Computer Use, and Work Performance: A Pilot Parallel-Group Randomised Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jun 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 22, 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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