Close physician follow-up added to standard physical therapy for adults with mechanical low back pain
The Effect of Close Follow-up by a Physician in Addition to a Conventional Physical Therapy Program in Patients With Low Back Pain
This will test whether daily doctor check-ins during a standard physical therapy program help adults 18–65 with subacute or chronic mechanical low back pain have less pain and better function.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 74 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Istanbul Training and Research Hospital Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul, Fatih) |
| Trial ID | NCT07150702 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults aged 18–65 with subacute or chronic mechanical low back pain who present to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic are randomized to a control group receiving a conventional physical therapy program (hot packs, TENS, ultrasound, and core stabilization exercises) or to a study group receiving the same program plus daily close physician–patient follow-up during sessions. Baseline demographics and clinical factors including age, gender, BMI, pain duration, smoking status, and education will be recorded, and psychosocial risk will be measured with the STarT Back Screening Tool. Clinical outcomes are measured over the treatment course using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and other standard measures of pain and function. The trial tests whether adding structured daily physician contact improves pain and related outcomes compared with physical therapy alone.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–65 with subacute or chronic mechanical low back pain who are appropriate for outpatient physical therapy and meet inclusion criteria.
Not a fit: Patients with inflammatory back pain, spondyloarthropathies, prior spinal surgery, sensory disturbances, psychiatric diagnoses, fibromyalgia, malignancy, active infection, or prior radiotherapy are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding brief daily physician follow-up could reduce pain and speed recovery by improving adherence, addressing concerns early, and targeting psychosocial risk factors.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work on enhanced clinician contact and targeted follow-up in musculoskeletal care has shown mixed but sometimes positive effects on adherence and pain, so the approach has some supporting evidence but is not yet definitive.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18-65 with subacute or chronic mechanical back pain and considered appropriate for a physical therapy program. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients describing inflammatory back pain * Spondyloarthropathies and other rheumatological diseases * History of spinal surgery * Patients with sensory disturbances and psychiatric diagnoses * Fibromyalgia * Patients with malignancies * Patients with active infectious findings * Patients with a history of radiotherapy
Where this trial is running
Istanbul, Fatih
- Istanbul Training and Research Hospital — Istanbul, Fatih, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.