Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

Group hydrotherapy for athletes with chronic low back pain

Official title: Group Hydrotherapy Treatment for Athletes With Lower Back Pain

Run by University of Haifa · NCT06894355 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This program will test whether a six-week group hydrotherapy course helps athletes with chronic low back pain reduce pain and improve function.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment50 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Haifa
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Netanya)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJune 1, 2025
Main results expectedJanuary 1, 2026
Study endsJanuary 1, 2026
Registry record updatedJune 25, 2025
Trial IDNCT06894355 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are athletes with low back pain lasting more than three months who train at least five times per week and report a VAS pain score above 3, without neurological deficits.

Probably not a fit

Patients with acute back pain, neurological signs (for example decreased strength or reflexes), or leg-radiating pain are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study enrolls athletes with chronic low back pain who train more than five times per week and report pain above 3 on the visual analogue scale. Participants will complete a six-week, physiotherapist-led group hydrotherapy program using waist-to-neck depth exercises, resistance at varying depths, and buoyancy/resistance devices, while a control group will not receive the hydrotherapy intervention. Outcomes measured before and after the program include the Oswestry Disability Index, visual analogue pain score, hip range of motion, forward flexion distance, back alignment, and a global rating of change. The study aims to see if group-based aquatic exercise improves pain and functional measures in athletes compared with controls.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this low-impact group hydrotherapy approach could reduce pain and improve spinal function so athletes can train and compete more comfortably.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies of aquatic therapy for chronic low back pain have shown modest improvements in pain and function, though group hydrotherapy specifically tailored to high-training athletes is less well studied.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Athletes who complain of low back pain for over 3 months,
* VAS\>3
* train more than 5 times a week.

Exclusion Criteria:

* acute back pain
* neurological signs (decreased muscle strength, decreased reflexes, radiating to the leg).

Where it's running

  • Wingate institue
    Netanya, Israel
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.