Telerehabilitation for chronic low back pain
Official title: Telerehabilitation for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain (TeleBACK Clinical Trial)
Run by Johns Hopkins University · NCT06821607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 64 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Johns Hopkins University Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2029 |
| Study ends | May 1, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | August 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06821607 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults experiencing chronic low back pain with moderate to severe levels of pain and disability.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with recent lumbar spine surgery or serious underlying pathologies causing their low back pain may not benefit from this study.
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 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.
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 gone: Other studies have shown promising results with telerehabilitation approaches, indicating potential for success in this trial.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
Intermountain Healthcare
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Recruiting -
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Richard L. Skolasky, Sc.D. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Richard L Skolasky, Sc.D.
- Email: rskolas1@jhmi.edu
- Phone: 410-502-7975
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Ultrasound-Guided Thoracolumbar Fascia Injection for Chronic Low Back Pain in Type 2 Diabetes
This trial tests whether an ultrasound-guided injection into the thoracolumbar fascia, added to standard care, helps reduce chronic low back pain in adults with type 2 diabetes.
-
Subcutaneous Fat, Back Muscles, and Spine Shape in Back Pain Patients
This study tests whether body fat under the skin and features of back muscles and spine joints are linked to lumbar facet joint degeneration in adults with chronic low back pain.
-
See if serum BDNF levels relate to outcomes in chronic low back pain
This study tests whether blood BDNF levels can help predict how patients with chronic low back pain will do over time.
-
Correlating periostin levels with spinal degeneration in back pain
This study tests whether periostin levels in the intervertebral disc relate to the severity of disc degeneration in people with chronic low back pain and spinal stenosis.
-
Palmitoylethanolamide for Central Sensitisation and Neuroinflammation in Chronic Low Back Pain
A treatment with palmitoylethanolamide is being tried to see if it helps people with chronic low back pain who have nerve-related pain and disc problems.
-
Multichannel neuromuscular stimulation plus core exercise for chronic low back pain
This study tests two multichannel neuromuscular electrical stimulation programs added to a core exercise plan to see if they help adults with chronic non-specific low back pain.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.