Using physical therapy in emergency departments to treat acute low back pain
Official title: A Cluster-Randomized Trial of the Northwestern Embedded Emergency Department Physical Therapy (NEED-PT) Protocol for Acute Low Back Pain
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10876918 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how adding physical therapy right in the emergency room can help people with sudden low back pain feel better and move easier, while also reducing the need for pain medications and unnecessary scans.
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 | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $265,590 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HS027426-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10876918 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 the emergency department.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic low back pain or those who do not visit the emergency department for their pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a new protocol that integrates physical therapy into emergency department care for patients with acute low back pain. By providing immediate access to physical therapists, the study aims to improve patient outcomes through education, guidance, and early mobilization exercises. The approach seeks to reduce reliance on opioid medications and unnecessary imaging, which are common in current treatment practices. Patients will be compared to those receiving standard care to assess improvements in function and pain management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management of acute low back pain, reducing opioid use and improving recovery times for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that integrating physical therapy in emergency care has shown promising results, indicating potential for success in this approach.
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.
-
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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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.
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Ketamine-assisted care plan to help Veterans with chronic back pain and depression
A program for Veterans with chronic low back pain and depression that uses ketamine infusions followed by a brief narrative therapy to sustain relief from pain and mood improvement.
-
Savoring Meditation for Chronic Low Back Pain patients
A study tests a brief mindfulness-based practice called Savoring Meditation to help people with chronic low back pain feel better emotionally and manage pain in daily life.
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.