Emergency department physical therapy for low back pain
A Multi-Site Feasibility Trial of Embedded Emergency Department Physical Therapy for Back Pain
Seeing if having a physical therapist work inside the emergency room helps people with sudden low back pain recover faster and use fewer opioids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170393 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you come to a participating emergency department with acute low back pain, a dedicated physical therapist on the ED team would examine you and provide early movement-based care, education, and a plan to manage pain. The project runs across several hospitals to test whether this embedded PT approach can be delivered reliably in different ED settings. Researchers will follow your pain, function, and opioid use for weeks to months after the visit and compare those outcomes with usual ED care. The team will also track how well the approach fits into routine emergency care and whether it reduces later opioid prescriptions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who present to a participating emergency department with acute low back pain are the most likely candidates for this project.
Not a fit: People with chronic long-standing back pain without a recent ED visit, back pain from major trauma or known serious disease, or those not seen at participating EDs are unlikely to benefit from this specific trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to faster recovery, better function, and fewer opioid prescriptions after emergency visits for low back pain.
How similar studies have performed: Early outpatient physical therapy has shown benefit in randomized trials, and this ED-embedded approach was pilot-tested previously but has not yet been proven in a multi-site trial.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Howard S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Howard S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.