Physical CAM Therapies for Chronic Low Back Pain

This is a pilot randomized trial intended to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture, chiropractic and massage for chronic back pain in older and younger adults.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain

Age range

20 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Low back pain duration of at least 3 months;
Low back pain occurring in the past week;
No numbness or tingling in the lower extremities;
No pain that radiates to below the knee;
No use of massage, chiropractic or acupuncture for any reason in the past year;
Able to attend scheduled appointments;
Able to hear, read, and understand English;
No low back pain surgery in the past 3 years;
No unexplained weight loss;
No previous vertebral or spinal fractures;
No previous non-traumatic bone fractures;
No other spinal pathology, including scoliosis, spinal stenosis, osteoporosis, or ankylosing spondylitis;
No cancer (except simple skin cancers) in the past 5 years;
No pacemakers;
No bleeding problems or anticoagulant use;
No major organ transplants;
No oral corticosteroid use for more than 4 consecutive weeks during the past year;
Cannot be pregnant;
Must be able to get down to and up from the floor by yourself;
Able to walk 2 flat city blocks unassisted;
Willing to participate in periodic telephone interviews.

Treatment and study plan

Massage therapy

Procedure

Chiropractic

Procedure

Acupuncture

Procedure

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Nih

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2002
Study completion: 2002
First posted: Aug 5, 2003
Registry last updated: Aug 18, 2006

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed