Testing physical therapy in emergency departments for back pain relief
Official title: A Multi-Site Feasibility Trial of Embedded Emergency Department Physical Therapy for Back Pain
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10868852 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether having physical therapists in emergency rooms can help people with low back pain feel better faster and rely less on pain medications like opioids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $578,491 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AT012367-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10868852 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing acute low back pain who visit emergency departments for treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic back pain or those who do not seek emergency care for their condition may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of having physical therapists embedded in emergency departments to treat patients with low back pain. By providing immediate physical therapy, the goal is to alleviate pain and reduce reliance on opioid medications, which are commonly prescribed for this condition. The study will assess whether this approach can lead to better outcomes for patients compared to traditional emergency care methods. Patients will be evaluated and treated by physical therapists as part of their emergency care team.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management and reduced opioid use for patients suffering from low back pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that early referral to physical therapy can be effective for low back pain, but this specific approach in emergency departments is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Howard S — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kim, Howard S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving back-pain care in rural areas with tele-physical therapy
This project tests a tele-rehabilitation program to help adults with chronic low back pain in rural communities access physical therapy and reduce opioid use.
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Embedded ED Physical Therapy for Back Pain in the Emergency Department
A dedicated physical therapist works with ED teams to help adults with back pain feel better sooner and reduce opioid use.
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Psilocybin for Chronic Back Pain: Brain Signals and Real-World Therapy Outcomes
A patient-facing study will test whether a carefully controlled psilocybin treatment can improve body awareness and enhance physical therapy outcomes for people with chronic low back pain.
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Remote physical therapy to ease chronic low back pain and cut opioid use in rural communities
This project offers remote physical therapy to people with long-term low back pain in rural areas to help them move better and depend less on opioid pain medicines.
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Emergency department physical therapy for low 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.
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Improving access to physical therapy for chronic low back pain in rural areas using telehealth.
This study is looking to make physical therapy easier for people with chronic low back pain living in rural areas by using online sessions, so you can get the help you need without worrying about travel or finding a therapist nearby.
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.