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TelerehabilitationNCT06443229

Effect of Telerehabilitation Use in the Treatment of Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain in the Brazilian Afrodescendants

A study testing Graded Activity based in exercises and educational approach and Educational Approach in people with Telerehabilitation and Low Back Pain, run by University of Sao Paulo General Hospital at 1 site in Brazil.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this study is to measure the effect of telerehabilitation on the treatment of nonspecific chronic LBP in the adults Brazilian Black population. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Telerehabilitation, Low Back Pain
What is being tested?
Graded Activity based in exercises and educational approach and Educational Approach
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
102 participants
Where
1 siteBrazil
Study dates
1 Oct 2023to 30 Apr 2025
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 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Self-identify as Black (Black or Brown), according to Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) classification;
  • Age range from 18 to 65 years old;
  • Both biological sexes (female and male);
  • Sedentary or physically active participants;
  • Present chronic low back pain with a score ≥ 3 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale for more than 3 months and due to nonspecific causes;
  • Able to read, write, and speak Brazilian Portuguese;
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Live in Brazil in urban or rural areas;
  • Have access to the internet;
  • Possess a device with internet access with a screen, camera, microphone, and speaker (smartphone, tablet, or computer); and
  • Have a reasonable self-assessment ability to use the internet (through a 4-item scale from poor, fair, good to excellent).

Who cannot join

  • History of traumatic injury.
  • Previous surgery related to the lumbar spine.
  • Undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Presenting with any inflammatory rheumatological condition.
  • Decompensated cardiovascular disorders.
  • Presence of comorbidity or condition that may hinder active participation in the prescribed exercises to be performed at home.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Severe psychological disorders.
  • Pregnant individuals.
  • Awaiting surgical procedure.
  • Having undergone intervention including exercise or physiotherapeutic treatment in the last 3 months.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Brazil1 site
  • Dept. Physical Therapy, Audiology and Speech Therapy at Medical School, University of Sao Paulo

    São Paulo, 05360-000

Other trials in Brazil

About this study

Official title: Effect of Telerehabilitation Use in the Treatment of Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain in the Brazilian Afrodescendants Population: a Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol

The goal of this study is to measure the effect of telerehabilitation on the treatment of nonspecific chronic LBP in the adults Brazilian Black population. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Will the graded activity exercises guided by educational approach or only the educational approach alone improve low back pain intensity, functional capacity, quality of life, anxiety, fear-avoidance beliefs due to nonspecific chronic low back pain before, immediately after the 4-week intervention, and after 3 and 6 months of follow-up?
  2. How will participants' behaviors in terms of frequency and adherence, exercise feedback diary, and educational approach for nonspecific chronic low back pain be? What are the participants' opinions and any difficulties or barriers encountered throughout the study?
  3. What are the perceptions of discrimination based on race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and education when accessing healthcare services for the treatment of low back pain in the past?
Read more

Researchers will compare Group Experimental Graded Activity with Educational Program with Telerehabilitation to a placebo (only Educational Approach ) to see improve the pain intensity and functional capacity because of low back pain.

Participants will:

  • Take Group Experimental (GAEP) or a placebo (OEA) 3 times per week, for 1 month.
  • Keep a feedback diary of their symptoms and the barriers they have.
  • Visit the researcher by online teleassessment after one month, 3 months and 6 months follow-up.
Read the detailed description

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent, ranging from 30 to 70% in developed and industrialized countries, leading to health costs and work absenteeism. However, when it comes to the Black population, studies addressing the treatment of nonspecific chronic LBP while considering the specificities of this population are scarce. The use of telerehabilitation opens up opportunities for the physiotherapy community to address musculoskeletal conditions.

The goal of this study is to measure the effect of telerehabilitation on the treatment of nonspecific chronic LBP in the adult Brazilian Black population.

Methods: A randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial, with a 1:1 allocation of 102 Afro-Brazilian participants divided into two groups, with 51 participants in each, experiencing nonspecific chronic LBP for at least 3 months, of both sexes, aged 18-65 years, residing in Brazil, and divided into the Gradual Activity Group (GAG) and Control Group (CG), with a duration of 12 sessions, three times per week. The intervention will involve the adaptation of an exercise program protocol based on gradual activity with progressive exercise intensity, through the web applications Physitrack® (researcher) and Physiapp® (participant). Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics will be evaluated. The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and secondary outcomes will include functional capacity, quality of life, beliefs, and fears. Also the perceptions of discrimination based on race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and education will be assessed regarding prior access to healthcare services for the treatment of LBP. The groups will be assessed at baseline (T0), immediately post-treatment (T1), at 3-months (T2) and 6-months (T3) follow-ups. Data will be collected and managed using the REDCap® electronic data capture tools.

Discussion: Evidence suggests that telerehabilitation can be utilized as a potential tool to promote the treatment of non-severe conditions of nonspecific chronic LBP, but few studies have investigated the Black population while considering the specificities of populations that historically suffer from social inequalities in accessing healthcare treatments.

Being tested
Graded Activity based in exercises and educational approach, Educational Approach
Keywords
Telerehabilitation, Low Back Pain, Black People, Pain, Disability, Rehabilitation, Health of Ethnic Minorities
Medical subject headings
Low Back Pain, Pain

What participants receive

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

  • Graded Activity based in exercises and educational approachBehavioural

    Exercises for warming up, strengthening, and relaxation, along with informational sessions incorporating an educational approach for low back pain using Telerehabilitation platform. Participants will be randomized into two groups: the Experimental Group (EG), which will receive graded activity along with the educational approach, three times a week, over 12 sessions, totaling 4 weeks.

    The intervention will involve adapting a protocol from an exercise program based on gradual activity with progressively increasing exercise intensity using web applications from Physitrack® Ltd., LDN, United Kingdom (used by the physiotherapist/researcher) and Physiapp® (used by the participant). Participants will be provided with (i) a welcome letter outlining the intervention/group components they are allocated to; (ii) instructions on how to use the Physiapp® web application (web browser, Android or iOS app) at home.

  • Educational ApproachOther

    Educational approach for low back pain using Telerehabilitation platform. Participants will receive educational materials with an isolated educational approach, with the delivery of the materials occurring three times a week.

Study groups in NCT06443229
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Graded Activity based in exercises and educational approachExperimentalExercises for warming up, strengthening, and relaxation, along with informational sessions incorporating an educational approach for low back pain using Telerehabilitation platform.
Receives: Behavioral: Graded Activity based in exercises and educational approach
Educational ApproachSham comparatorEducational approach for low back pain using Telerehabilitation platform.
Receives: Other: Educational Approach

What is being measured

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

  1. Pain intensity

    Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). It is an 11-point scale ranging from 0 to 10, with zero indicating no pain and 10 indicating the most unbearable pain experienced by the participant. The subject will be asked about the presence of pain specifically localized to the lumbar region. Additionally, the frequency (every day, more than 15 days per month, between 8 and 15 days per month, between 1 and 7 days per month, or between 4 and 11 crises per year) and duration of symptoms (less than 2 years, 2 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years, more than 10 years) will be queried. The following definition of LBP will be utilized: "pain in the area between the 12th rib and the gluteal fold with or without leg pain.

    Measured: The participants' pain intensity will be evaluated at baseline (T0), after 12 sessions (T1), at 3 months (T2), and at 6 months (T3).

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Functional disability

    The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) will be used. This questionnaire assesses the impact of low back pain on work and daily life activities due to symptoms, and it is better recommended for a population with low functional disability. The instrument has been validated for Brazilian Portuguese, is quick and easy to administer, with an average response time of five minutes. Scores are obtained by summing the items, which range from zero (no disability) to 24 (severe disability). Scores higher than 14 indicate physical disability. The minimum clinically important difference is 5 points.

    Measured: The participants' functional disability will be evaluated at baseline (T0), after 12 sessions (T1), at 3 months (T2), and at 6 months (T3).

  2. Quality of life Impact

    To assess quality of life, the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) will be used as a quicker alternative to the 36-Item Health Survey. Comprising twelve items derived from the SF-36, the SF-12 assesses eight different dimensions influencing quality of life, considering the individual's perception of their health over the past four weeks. Each item has a set of responses distributed on a Likert-type scale, evaluating the following dimensions: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health. Through the instrument's own algorithm, two scores can be measured: the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS). In both, scores range from 0 to 100 points, with higher scores associated with better quality of life. Psychometric properties of the instrument have also been evaluated.

    Measured: The participants' quality of life will be evaluated at baseline (T0), after 12 sessions (T1), at 3 months (T2), and at 6 months (T3).

  3. State-Trait Anxiety

    For anxiety assessment, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) will be used, which has been translated and adapted for use in Brazil. The scale consists of 2 self-report scales that assess state and trait anxiety. The scale comprises 20 items scored from 1 to 4 each, resulting in a total score ranging from 20 to 80 points. For each question, the corresponding score is assigned, but for positively framed questions, the score is reversed. Scores > 42 tend to indicate anxiety, while scores < 38 tend to indicate depression. The STAI Manual suggests using the title "Self-Assessment Questionnaire" instead of the term Anxiety.

    Measured: The participants' State-Trait Anxiety will be evaluated at baseline (T0), after 12 sessions (T1), at 3 months (T2), and at 6 months (T3).

  4. Fear Avoidance Beliefs

    The Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), translated into Brazilian Portuguese, contains two sub-scales that are evaluated separately: fear-avoidance beliefs related to work (FABQ-work) and physical activity (FABQ-physical). Fear avoidance related to physical activity will be considered present (score ≥15) or absent (<15), while fear avoidance related to work will be considered present if the FABQ-work score is ≥ 34.

    Measured: The participants' fear avoidance beliefs will be evaluated at baseline (T0), after 12 sessions (T1), at 3 months (T2), and at 6 months (T3).

Timeline

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

  1. First posted5 Jun 2024
  2. Study start1 Oct 2023
  3. Primary completion22 Dec 2024 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2025 (estimated)

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
Model description
A randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial, with a 1:1 allocation of 102 participants divided into two groups (intervention or control).
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
102 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06443229
Sponsor's protocol ID
5.991.168
Status last verified
Mar 2024
First submitted
14 May 2024
Last updated
5 Jun 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Batista de Souza IM, Vidali JR, Macena RG, Jorge IS, Williams DR, Marques AP. Effect of telerehabilitation on the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain in the Afro-Brazilian population: a randomized controlled trial protocol. Trials. 2026 Mar 16;27(1):316. doi: 10.1186/s13063-026-09433-9.

    PubMed 41840701

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Graded Activity based in exercises and educational approach and Educational Approach in people with Telerehabilitation and Low Back Pain, run by University of Sao Paulo General Hospital at 1 site in Brazil.

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 10 inclusion and 10 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2024. 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 Brazil. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

Results are not available in the source record.

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?

Pain intensity (time frame: The participants' pain intensity will be evaluated at baseline (T0), after 12 sessions (T1), at 3 months (T2), and at 6 months (T3).). 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 NCT06443229, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 5 Jun 2024.

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