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Chronic PainNCT05149690

Monopolar Dielectric Diathermy by Radiofrequency and Therapeutic Exercise in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain.

A study testing Experimental: monopolar dielectric diathermy and supervised therapeutic exercise and Active Comparator: Supervised therapeutic exercise in people with Chronic Pain, run by Universidad de Almeria at 1 site in Spain.

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

A total of 60 people diagnosed with non-specific chronic low back pain of more than 3 months of evolution and who are not currently undergoing any type of treatment will be recruited, with ages between 30 and 65 years. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 30 to 67 years
Conditions the study is for
Chronic Pain
What is being tested?
Experimental: monopolar dielectric diathermy and supervised therapeutic exercise and Active Comparator: Supervised therapeutic exercise
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteSpain
Study dates
12 Dec 2021to 13 May 2022
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 30 to 67 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Low back pain ≥ 3 months.
  • Age between 30 and 67 years old.
  • Score ≥ 4 points on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire.
  • Not being receiving physical therapy.

Who cannot join

  • patients with sensory and/or coagulation disorders; (2) a history of spinal surgery; (3) heart complications; (4) concurrent severe central or peripheral nervous system disease; (5) epilepsy; (6) needle phobia; (7) serious pathologies that can be the main cause of chronic LBP (for example, presence of lumbar stenosis, spondylolisthesis, tumours, etc.); (8) or patients contraindicated for radiofrequency (diathermy).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Spain1 site
  • Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez

    Almería, 04120

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Effectiveness of Monopolar Dielectric Diathermy by Radiofrequency and Supervised Therapeutic Exercise in Pain, Functionality, Mobility of the Spine and Quality of Life of Patients With Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain.

A total of 60 people diagnosed with non-specific chronic low back pain of more than 3 months of evolution and who are not currently undergoing any type of treatment will be recruited, with ages between 30 and 65 years. A random distribution will be made into two treatment groups (diathermy combined with supervised therapeutic exercise versus supervised therapeutic exercise). Participants will receive treatment once a week for a period of four weeks, in the physiotherapy laboratories of the University of Almería, with a follow-up evaluation at three weeks and two months after the start of treatment. At their first visit, participants will be screened for study eligibility according to the study inclusion and exclusion criteria, and will be evaluated by a therapist blinded to the intervention. After this face-to-face evaluation, patients will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and will receive treatment for low back pain according to their random assignment group by two therapists belonging to the research group and trained in the techniques used.

Read the detailed description

After randomization, participants will be assigned to the experimental group (8 sessions of monopolar dielectric diathermy by emission of radiofrequency combined with 8 sessions of supervised therapeutic exercise) or to the control group (8 sessions of supervised exercise). The number of participants will be identical between the groups. The randomization sequence will be performed by the principal investigator.

The number of participants for each group will be 30. The results of the random assignment will be sealed in opaque envelopes before being delivered to the participants.

The outcome assessor and study statistician will be blinded throughout the entire process.

A baseline assessment of the primary and secondary outcome measures will be performed before randomization of the participants to the different groups, an immediate post-treatment assessment (1 day after the last intervention) and an assessment two months after the end of the procedure. intervention (follow-up).

Conditions
Chronic Pain
Being tested
Experimental: monopolar dielectric diathermy and supervised therapeutic exercise, Active Comparator: Supervised therapeutic exercise
Keywords
non-specific chronic low back pain, Supervised therapeutic exercise, monopolar dielectric diathermy, randomised single-blind clinical trial
Medical subject headings
Chronic Pain

What participants receive

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

  • Experimental: monopolar dielectric diathermy and supervised therapeutic exerciseOther

    The Experimental Group formed by 30 subjects will undergo an application of monopolar electrical diathermy by radiofrequency emission (MDR) using the Physicalm® device developed by the electro-medicine company Biotronic Advance Develops SL, on the lumbar musculature by means of rotary movements and translation, adapting to the muscle fibers of the lumbar area. A pulsed emission of 840 KHz and 30v will be made dynamically during a treatment time of 20 minutes. Once the application of (MDR) is finished, an exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist will be carried out. The exercise program will consist mainly of three types: stability and lumbo-pelvic motor control, strengthening and stretching of the lumbar muscles (Annex XIV), with a duration of 20 minutes. 2 weekly sessions will be held for 4 weeks, distributed as follows: Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, a total of 8 treatment sessions.

  • Active Comparator: Supervised therapeutic exerciseOther

    The Control Group formed by 30 subjects will be administered a training program consisting of three types of exercises, taking into account: stability and lumbopelvic motor control, strengthening and stretching of the lumbar muscles, exactly the same as the Experimental Group. With a duration of 20 minutes. 2 weekly sessions will be held for 4 weeks, distributed as follows: Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday with a total of 8 treatment sessions.

Study groups in NCT05149690
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
monopolar dielectric diathermy and supervised therapeutic exerciseExperimentalThe Experimental Group formed by 30 subjects will undergo an application of monopolar electrical diathermy by radiofrequency emission (MDR) using the Physicalm® device developed by the electro-medicine company Biotronic Advance Develops SL, on the lumbar musculature by means of rotary movements and translation, adapting to the muscle fibers of the lumbar area. A pulsed emission of 840 KHz and 30v will be made dynamically during a treatment time of 20 minutes. Once the application of (MDR) is finished, an exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist will be carried out. The exercise program will consist mainly of three types: stability and lumbo-pelvic motor control, strengthening and stretching of the lumbar muscles (Annex XIV), with a duration of 20 minutes. 2 weekly sessions will be held for 4 weeks, distributed as follows: Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, a total of 8 treatment sessions.
Receives: Other: Experimental: monopolar dielectric diathermy and supervised therapeutic exercise
Supervised therapeutic exerciseActive comparatorThe Control Group formed by 30 subjects will be administered a training program consisting of three types of exercises, taking into account: stability and lumbopelvic motor control, strengthening and stretching of the lumbar muscles, exactly the same as the Experimental Group. With a duration of 20 minutes. 2 weekly sessions will be held for 4 weeks, distributed as follows: Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday with a total of 8 treatment sessions.
Receives: Other: Active Comparator: Supervised therapeutic exercise

What is being measured

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

  1. Change from baseline in Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ).

    This is a self-reported questionnaire consisting in 24 items reflecting limitations in different activities of daily living attributed to low back pain including walking, vending over, sitting, lying down, dressing, sleeping, self-care and daily activities.

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Change from baseline in disability. Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Idex.

    It has 10 items associated to activities of daily living, each ítem has a puntuation fron 0 to 5 points.

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  2. Change from baseline in pain intensity. Visual analogue scale.

    A 10-point Numerical Pain Scale (0: no pain, 10: maximum pain) assesses the intensity of pain

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  3. Change from baseline in Fear of Movement. Tampa Scale of kinesiophobia.

    Is a 17-item questionnaire that measures the fear of movement and (re)injury. Ratings are summed to yield a total score (ranging from 17-68 points) where higher values reflect greater fear of (re)injury.

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  4. Change from baseline on Quality of Life. SF-36 Health questionnaire.

    SF-36 Health questionnaire scores range from 0 to 100% and indicate the self-perceived health-related quality of life.

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  5. Change from Mcquade Test.

    It measures the isometric endurance of trunk flexion muscles.

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  6. Change from baseline in lumbar mobility flexion.

    For the quantification of lumbar flexion an angular inclinometer is used (Fleximeter UM 8320-3 RJ Code Research Institute, Brazil).

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  7. Change from baseline in range of motion and lumbar segmental mobility

    This variable is quantified using the SpinalMouse ® device (Phisiotech, Spain). It is an electronic computer-aided measuring device that measures sagittal spinal amplitude of movement (ROM) and intersegmental angles in a non-invasive way.

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  8. Change from baseline of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

    Is a 10-item questionnaire with a total of 19 questions related to sleep habits in the previous month. The questions are divided into 7 areas, each with a score of between 0 and 3 points.

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

  9. Change from baseline in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    assessed the emotional distrees. It consists of two subscales (HADA: anxiety and HADD: depression) with seven items each that score from 0 (normal) to 3 (abnormal)

    Measured: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted8 Dec 2021
  2. Study start12 Dec 2021
  3. Primary completion25 Mar 2022
  4. Study completion13 May 2022

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05149690
Sponsor's protocol ID
UALBIO2021/006
Status last verified
Jul 2022
First submitted
17 Sep 2021
Last updated
21 Jul 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Maher C, Underwood M, Buchbinder R. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2017 Feb 18;389(10070):736-747. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30970-9. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

    PubMed 27745712
  • Balague F, Mannion AF, Pellise F, Cedraschi C. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2012 Feb 4;379(9814):482-91. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60610-7. Epub 2011 Oct 6.

    PubMed 21982256
  • Adamson J, Hunt K, Nazareth I. The influence of socio-demographic characteristics on consultation for back pain--a review of the literature. Fam Pract. 2011 Apr;28(2):163-71. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmq085. Epub 2010 Oct 25.

    PubMed 20974654
  • Airaksinen O, Brox JI, Cedraschi C, Hildebrandt J, Klaber-Moffett J, Kovacs F, Mannion AF, Reis S, Staal JB, Ursin H, Zanoli G; COST B13 Working Group on Guidelines for Chronic Low Back Pain. Chapter 4. European guidelines for the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2006 Mar;15 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S192-300. doi: 10.1007/s00586-006-1072-1. No abstract available.

    PubMed 16550448
  • GBD 2016 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet. 2017 Sep 16;390(10100):1211-1259. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32154-2.

    PubMed 28919117
  • Woolf CJ. Central sensitization: implications for the diagnosis and treatment of pain. Pain. 2011 Mar;152(3 Suppl):S2-S15. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.09.030. Epub 2010 Oct 18.

    PubMed 20961685
  • Haldeman S, Dagenais S. A supermarket approach to the evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain. Spine J. 2008 Jan-Feb;8(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2007.10.009. No abstract available.

    PubMed 18164448
  • Lambeek LC, van Tulder MW, Swinkels IC, Koppes LL, Anema JR, van Mechelen W. The trend in total cost of back pain in The Netherlands in the period 2002 to 2007. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Jun;36(13):1050-8. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181e70488.

    PubMed 21150697
  • Wieser S, Horisberger B, Schmidhauser S, Eisenring C, Brugger U, Ruckstuhl A, Dietrich J, Mannion AF, Elfering A, Tamcan O, Muller U. Cost of low back pain in Switzerland in 2005. Eur J Health Econ. 2011 Oct;12(5):455-67. doi: 10.1007/s10198-010-0258-y. Epub 2010 Jun 5.

    PubMed 20526649
  • Dagenais S, Caro J, Haldeman S. A systematic review of low back pain cost of illness studies in the United States and internationally. Spine J. 2008 Jan-Feb;8(1):8-20. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2007.10.005.

    PubMed 18164449
  • van Tulder M, Malmivaara A, Hayden J, Koes B. Statistical significance versus clinical importance: trials on exercise therapy for chronic low back pain as example. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2007 Jul 15;32(16):1785-90. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3180b9ef49.

    PubMed 17632400
  • Kumaran B, Watson T. Thermal build-up, decay and retention responses to local therapeutic application of 448 kHz capacitive resistive monopolar radiofrequency: A prospective randomised crossover study in healthy adults. Int J Hyperthermia. 2015;31(8):883-95. doi: 10.3109/02656736.2015.1092172. Epub 2015 Nov 2.

    PubMed 26524223
  • Úbeda A, Hernández-Bule ML, Trillo MA, Cid MA, Leal J. Cellular response tonon-thermal doses of radiofrequency currents used in electro-thermaltherapy. J Jpn Soc Laser Surg Med. 2006;27(3):187.31.

  • Tashiro Y, Hasegawa S, Yokota Y, Nishiguchi S, Fukutani N, Shirooka H, Tasaka S, Matsushita T, Matsubara K, Nakayama Y, Sonoda T, Tsuboyama T, Aoyama T. Effect of Capacitive and Resistive electric transfer on haemoglobin saturation and tissue temperature. Int J Hyperthermia. 2017 Sep;33(6):696-702. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2017.1289252. Epub 2017 Feb 19.

    PubMed 28139939
  • Kumaran B, Watson T. Radiofrequency-based treatment in therapy- related clinical practice - a narrative review. Part II: chronic conditions. Phys Ther Rev. 2016;20:325-343.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Experimental: monopolar dielectric diathermy and supervised therapeutic exercise and Active Comparator: Supervised therapeutic exercise in people with Chronic Pain, run by Universidad de Almeria at 1 site in Spain.

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 4 inclusion and 1 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 21 Jul 2022. 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 Spain. 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?

Change from baseline in Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). (time frame: At baseline, at 4 weeks and at 2 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05149690, which also lists 17 linked publications.

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 21 Jul 2022.

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