Evaluating the Functional Movement Screen for Discharging Chronic Lower Back Pain Patients

Assessing the Functional Movement Screen as a Reliable Physical Therapy Discharge Criteria for Chronic Lower Back Pain Patients

Texas Back Institute · NCT06474429

This study is trying to see if a specific score on a movement test can help doctors decide when it's safe to discharge younger patients with chronic lower back pain after physical therapy.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 49 Years
SexAll
SponsorTexas Back Institute (other)
Locations1 site (Plano, Texas)
Trial IDNCT06474429 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to assess the reliability of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) as a criterion for discharging patients with chronic lower back pain (LBP) after physical therapy. It will evaluate whether a specific FMS score can indicate a patient's readiness for discharge, correlating with lower recurrence risk and improved functional performance. The study will involve non-surgical patients aged 18 to 49 who have experienced lower back pain for more than three months. The goal is to establish a benchmark FMS score that can guide clinicians in making discharge decisions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are non-surgical patients aged 18 to 49 with chronic lower back pain lasting more than three months and a BMI under 30.

Not a fit: Patients who have had recent surgeries or other confounding factors that prevent them from performing the FMS assessment may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a reliable method for determining when chronic lower back pain patients are ready to be discharged from physical therapy, potentially reducing recurrence rates.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored the use of the Functional Movement Screen in various settings, but its application as a discharge criterion for chronic lower back pain patients is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* Non-surgical patients who have had lower back pain for \>3 months
* Patients who include and are between the ages of 18 and 49
* Patients with a BMI of \<30
* Not pregnant with no plans of becoming pregnant during the duration of the study
* Be able and willing to understand and sign consent for study participation
* Be physically able to comply with study protocol requirements
* Not have had recent surgeries or have confounding factors that would keep them from being able to perform any portion of the FMS assessment

Where this trial is running

Plano, Texas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Chronic Lower Back Pain, Physical Therapy, Discharge

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.