Sound wave therapy plus standard physiotherapy for mechanical low back pain
Effects Of Sound Sine Wave And Standard Physiotherapy On Pain, Mobility, Function And Pelvic Alignment In Mechanical Low Back Pain
This trial will test whether adding sound wave therapy to standard physiotherapy helps adults aged 18–45 with chronic mechanical low back pain feel less pain and move better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Riphah International University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lahore, Punjab Province) |
| Trial ID | NCT07026058 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized clinical trial enrolling adults with chronic mechanical low back pain at a rehabilitation clinic in Lahore. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either sound wave treatment combined with standard physiotherapy or standard physiotherapy alone; both groups receive TENS and a hot pack for 10 minutes. Convenience sampling will be used and clinical tests (SLR, FABER, Schober, lumbar quadrant and extension tests) will confirm eligibility and rule out radiculopathy or major joint pathology. Outcomes will focus on pain, lumbar mobility, and functional measures over the treatment course.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–45 with at least three months of localized mechanical low back pain, no radicular symptoms below the knee, and who meet the specified clinical test criteria are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with significant spinal pathology (severe stenosis, spondylolisthesis), prior spinal trauma or fractures, systemic musculoskeletal disease, or clear radicular pain into the legs are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding sound wave therapy could reduce pain and improve lumbar mobility faster or to a greater degree than physiotherapy alone.
How similar studies have performed: Related modalities such as therapeutic ultrasound or shock-wave therapy have shown mixed, often modest short-term benefits in prior trials, with inconsistent long-term improvements.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Both gender Aged 18-45 years * Minimum 03 months chronicity of lower back pain * Clinically diagnosed with the help of tests * SLR test to rule out nerve root compression or disc herniation * FABER test to rule out SI joint dysfunction * Scobber Test to assess lumbar flexibility and mobility * Lumber quadrant test to identify pain from facet joints * Lumber extension test * Pain localized to the lumbar region, potentially radiating to the buttocks or thighs but not below the knee Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic systemic soft tissue and bony diseases * History of spinal trauma or fractures * Severe spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis * Pain radiating to one or both legs, consistent with lumbar radiculopathy * Participants with a known history of cervical myelopathy, characterized by symptoms of spinal cord compression in the cervical spine (e.g., neck pain with neurological deficits such as weakness, numbness, or abnormal reflexes)
Where this trial is running
Lahore, Punjab Province
- Riphah Rehabilitation Clinic — Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Syed Shakil ur Rehman, PhD — Riphah International University
- Study coordinator: Syed Shakil ur Rehman, PhD
- Email: shakil.urrehman@riphah.edu.pk
- Phone: +92 320 786661
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.