Telerehabilitation for chronic low back pain

Telerehabilitation for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain (TeleBACK Clinical Trial)

Not applicable Interventional Johns Hopkins University · NCT06821607

This study tests whether video-based physical therapy can help people with chronic low back pain just as well as traditional in-person therapy.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment1000 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 64 Years
SexAll
SponsorJohns Hopkins University Academic / other
Locations3 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06821607 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of telerehabilitation, which involves physical therapy delivered via video visits, compared to traditional in-clinic physical therapy for patients suffering from chronic low back pain. The study will enroll 1000 patients and utilize a mixed methods approach, including electronic surveys and semi-structured interviews, to assess patient engagement and the impact of both treatment options on healthcare utilization. The trial aims to provide insights into the quality of care and barriers faced by patients in managing their condition.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults experiencing chronic low back pain with moderate to severe levels of pain and disability.

Not a fit: Patients with recent lumbar spine surgery or serious underlying pathologies causing their low back pain may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide patients with effective and accessible treatment options for managing chronic low back pain.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with telerehabilitation approaches, indicating potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Primary care visit in the past 90 days with an LBP-related ICD-10 diagnosis.
* At least moderate levels of pain and disability requiring Oswestry score ≥24% and average pain rating ≥ 4/10 points.
* Meets NIH Task Force2 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 or Spanish (Utah sites only).

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 2 other locations

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.
Conditions Chronic Low Back Painchronic low back painphysical therapytelehealthtelerehabilitation
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.