Comparing chiropractic care with and without shockwave therapy for acute low back pain

Manual Therapy With Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) Compared to Manual Therapy Alone for the Treatment of Acute Mechanical Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This study is testing if adding shockwave therapy to chiropractic care can help adults with acute low back pain recover faster.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 40 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Northeast College of Health Sciences (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Seneca Falls, New York)
• Trial ID: NCT06852898 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to determine whether adding radial pulse therapy to chiropractic care can help adult patients recover more quickly from acute low back pain. Participants will receive either chiropractic care alone or chiropractic care combined with radial pulse therapy over five weekly visits. The study will assess pain intensity and physical function improvements to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined treatment. By comparing the two approaches, researchers hope to identify the benefits of incorporating radial pulse therapy into standard chiropractic care.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 40 with a diagnosis of acute mechanical low back pain lasting less than three months and a pain intensity greater than 3 on a scale of 0 to 10.

Not a fit: Patients currently using NSAIDs or those who have received corticosteroid treatments in the past six weeks may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to faster recovery times and improved outcomes for patients suffering from acute low back pain.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific combination of chiropractic care and radial pulse therapy is novel, similar studies have shown promise in using shockwave therapy for musculoskeletal pain.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Biological sex of male or female
2. Age Range: 18 to 40 years old
3. Diagnosis of acute mechanical low back pain (\< 3 months duration)
4. Pain intensity \> 3 on the 11 point NPRS with 0 "being no pain at all" to 10 "being worse pain possible" within the context of either "right now" or "at its worst during the past 7 days"

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects who are currently using over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), or prescription NSAIDs to manage any medical condition.
2. Subjects who used oral corticosteroids that are only available by prescription to manage any medical condition within the past 6 weeks.
3. Subject who received a corticosteroid injection for any medical condition within the past 6 weeks.
4. Subjects who are not willing to be randomly assigned to either of the treatment interventions.
5. Subjects with open wounds to the lower and mid back that will prevent the application of radial ESWT.
6. Subjects with hypermobility and/or instability of the lower and mid back, which are contraindications for manual therapy.
7. Subjects who have a case history of low back pain episodes, e.g., chronic or persistent occurrence of low back pain.
8. Subjects who do not meet the differential diagnosis of acute mechanical low back pain, i.e., origin of their back pain is unknown or non-specific to a low back structure.

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Where this trial is running

Seneca Falls, New York

• Seneca Falls Health Center at Northeast College of Health Sciences — Seneca Falls, New York, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Rebecca Bauer, DC

Conditions: Acute Lower Back Pain, chiropractic care, acute low back pain, mechanical