Improving health for patients with chronic low back pain in rural areas using telerehabilitation

Is this trial a fit for you?

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

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to enhance access to physical therapy for patients suffering from chronic low back pain (LBP) in rural communities through the use of telerehabilitation. By addressing barriers such as transportation and provider availability, the study will evaluate the effectiveness of digital treatment approaches combined with standardized education. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard care or telerehabilitation services, allowing researchers to assess improvements in pain and disability levels. The trial is designed to provide insights into how digital health solutions can be integrated into existing healthcare models to better serve underserved populations.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Primary care visit in the past 90 days with an LBP-related International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnosis.
* Age 18 years or older.
* At least moderate levels of pain and disability requiring Oswestry score ≥24% and average pain rating ≥ 4/10 points.
* Meets NIH Task Force definition of chronic LBP based on two questions: 1) How long has LBP has been an ongoing problem? and 2) How often has LBP been an ongoing problem over the past 6 months? A response of greater than 3 months to question 1, and "at least half the days in the past 6 months" to question 2 is required to satisfy the NIH definition of chronic LBP.
* Can speak and understand English.
* Access to video-enabled device and Internet.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Recent history (last 6 months) of lumbar spine surgery.
* Possible non-musculoskeletal cause for low back pain symptoms (e.g., pregnancy).
* Evidence of serious pathology as a cause of LBP including neoplasm, inflammatory disease (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis), vertebral osteomyelitis, etc.
* Neurological disorder resulting in severe movement disorder, or schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder.
* Knowingly pregnant.

Where it's running

• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting
• Tidalhealth
  Salisbury, Maryland, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Richard L Skolasky, Sc.D. — Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• Study coordinator: Richard L Skolasky, Sc.D.
• Email: rskolas1@jhmi.edu
• Phone: 410-502-7975

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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.