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Low Back PainNEMOLOCNCT03929952

Descriptive Pilot Study of the Effects of a Standardized Neuromodulation Program on Cortical Brain Function in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients

A study testing Neurofeedback treatment and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans in people with Low Back Pain and Chronic Low Back Pain, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes at 1 site in France.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to evaluate neurofeedback-induced changes in brain function and the correlations between these changes and clinical scores by functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography in patients with low back pain. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Low Back Pain, Chronic Low Back Pain
What is being tested?
Neurofeedback treatment and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
15 participants
Where
1 siteFrance
Study dates
19 Jan 2022to 25 Oct 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patient with a wifi connexion at home
  • Patient with the ability to modulate the height of the candle by thinking in the alpha synchrony test.
  • Patient with chronic low back pain for more than six months with a visual analogue pain scale greater than 5 impacting activities of daily living, hobbies and work
  • Patient having given free and informed consent and signed consent.
  • Affected patient or beneficiary of a health insurance plan.
  • Patient who is at least 18 years old (≥) and younger than 75 years old (<).

Who cannot join

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding patient
  • Patient with a contraindication to performing a fMRI scan: ferromagnetic implant in the body, piercing, claustrophobia, unable to remain in the scanner stationary for 40 minutes
  • Patient already included in another study
  • Patient in a exclusion period determined by a previous study
  • The subject is under the protection of justice, guardianship or curatorship.
  • The subject refuses to sign the consent.
  • It is not possible to give the subject informed information.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

France1 site
  • Nimes University Hospital

    Nîmes, 30029

Other trials in France

About this study

This study aims to evaluate neurofeedback-induced changes in brain function and the correlations between these changes and clinical scores by functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography in patients with low back pain.

Being tested
Neurofeedback treatment, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans
Medical subject headings
Low Back Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Neurofeedback treatmentOther

    20 sessions of neurofeedback of 5 minutes each consisting of :

    • The patient is equipped with an electroencephalography headset. The feedback visual has the form of a candle flame and is modulated by alpha synchrony.
    • The height of the flame is proportional to the intensity of the patient's pain. The patient has to concentrate on the height of this flame by thought to modulate it and, at the same time, to decrease the intensity of his own pain.
  • functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scansOther

    The patient in alpha synchrony related state and in rating state will undergo an fMRI

Study groups in NCT03929952
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Chronic low back painExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Neurofeedback treatment; Other: functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Description of the cortical zone activated by neurofeedback

    Measure taken by electroencephalography

    Measured: Day 20

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ)

    Auto-Questionnaire with 14 items describing the patient beliefs about chronic low back pain. The higher the score, the more the beliefs are negative

    Measured: Day 20

  2. Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ)

    Auto-Questionnaire with 16 items describing apprehension and avoidance in relation to professional activities and physical activities.

    Measured: Day 20

  3. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

    Scale used to assess the functional disability of low back pain patients.

    Measured: Day 20

  4. Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ)

    Auto-Questionnaire with 21 items evaluating coping strategies specific to pain and especially in low back pain

    Measured: Day 20

  5. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    Auto-Questionnaire with 14 items used in the detection of anxio-depressive disorders. The higher the score, the more the depression is severe.

    Measured: Day 20

  6. Scale of lumbar pain in Quebec

    Autoquestionnaire with 20 items used to measure the functional repercussions of low back pain on simple actions of everyday life. The higher the score, the more low back pains have a significant functional impact.

    Measured: Day 20

  7. Tampa scale

    Autoquestionnaire with 17 items used to estimate the level of kinesiophobia (fear and fear) related to pain that leads to avoidance of activities considered to cause or increase pain or to cause or aggravate an injury. The higher the score, the higher the level of kinesiophobia.

    Measured: Day 20

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Apr 2019
  2. Study start19 Jan 2022
  3. Primary completion25 Oct 2024
  4. Study completion25 Oct 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
15 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03929952
Sponsor's protocol ID
NIMAO/2018-01/AD-01
Other IDs
2021-A00437-34
Acronym
NEMOLOC
Status last verified
Jan 2025
First submitted
24 Apr 2019
Last updated
7 Jan 2025
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Neurofeedback treatment and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans in people with Low Back Pain and Chronic Low Back Pain, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes at 1 site in France.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Description of the cortical zone activated by neurofeedback (time frame: Day 20). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Jan 2025.

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