Improving health for patients with chronic low back pain in rural areas using telerehabilitation
ARBOR Telehealth: Improving Health for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain in Rural Communities Through Improved Access to Telerehabilitation
This study is testing if telerehabilitation can help people with chronic low back pain in rural areas get better access to physical therapy and improve their pain and disability.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 434 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Johns Hopkins University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06471920 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with chronic low back pain who have had a primary care visit in the past 90 days and meet specific pain and disability criteria.
Not a fit: Patients who have had recent lumbar spine surgery or whose low back pain is due to serious underlying conditions may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve access to effective pain management and rehabilitation for patients with chronic low back pain in rural areas.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with telerehabilitation approaches for chronic pain management, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 this trial is running
Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations
- 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
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.