Low Back PainNCT06516770
Movement Control and Motor Unit Behavior Responses to Different Types of Stimulation
A study testing Transcranial direct current stimulation, Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and Isometric exercise in people with Low Back Pain, run by Mahidol University at 1 site in Thailand.
Trial summary
This study aims to determine the effect of different stimulations including 1) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), 2) neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), 3) motor control exercise (MCE), and 4) isometric exercise (IE) on movement control and motor unit behavior in individuals with movement control… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Low Back Pain
- What is being tested?
- Transcranial direct current stimulation, Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and Isometric exercise
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 136 participants
- Where
- 1 siteThailand
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2024to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Between the ages of 18 and 40
- Both male and female
- Presence of movement control impairment (instability catch during clinical observation of active forward bend test)
- No current episode of low back pain
- No definitive neurologic signs including weakness or numbness in the lower extremity
- No previous spinal surgery
- Have not been diagnosed osteoporosis, severe spinal stenosis, inflammatory joint disease, and/or systemic disease
- Body mass index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2
Who cannot join
- Pregnancy
- Any lower extremity condition that would potentially alter trunk movement in standing
- Vestibular dysfunction
- Extreme psychosocial involvement
- Active treatment of another medical illness that would preclude participation in any aspect of the study
- Contraindication for tDCS including a history of head injury/surgery, seizure, cardiac pacemaker, metal/electrical/magnetic implantation, uncontrolled migraine headache
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Thailand1 site
Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University
Salaya, Changwat Nakhon Pathom, 73170
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Different Types of Stimulation on Movement Control and Motor Unit Behavior in Individuals With Lumbopelvic Movement Control Impairment
This study aims to determine the effect of different stimulations including 1) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), 2) neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), 3) motor control exercise (MCE), and 4) isometric exercise (IE) on movement control and motor unit behavior in individuals with movement control impairment, and determine the correlation between movement control and motor unit behavior.
Read the detailed description
After obtaining the written informed consent, all participants will fill out the information sheet for demographic data. Data collection will be conducted in private laboratory with closed environment. Only lab staffs can access to the lab. Female researchers will perform participant preparation. Participants will be informed that they have to change their cloth to lab tank top to expose their lower back area. However, they can decline to change their cloth. In this case, researchers will fold their cloth to expose the lower back. The body landmarks will be identified. These landmarks include 1) spinous processes (L1 and S1 levels), 2) lumbar multifidus (LM) (2 cm lateral to lower half of L4 spinous process), 3) bilateral lateral epicondyle of femur, and 4) bilateral lateral malleolus. Spinous process of L1, S2, bilateral lateral epicondyle of femur, and bilateral lateral malleolus will be used as locations for inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, while LM location will be used to place surface electrode for decomposition electromyography (dEMG). This preparation process will take about 20 minutes.
The participant will be asked to perform 1-minute active forward bend based on speed and load that can differentiate between healthy individuals and individuals with movement control impairment. IMU and dEMG data are concurrently collected. Five-minute rest will be provided to avoid muscle fatigue. After that, participant will be randomly assigned to one of four stimulations including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), isometric exercise (IE), and motor control exercise (MCE). Each stimulation will take approximately 20 minutes.
Types of stimulation Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): The participant will receive the tDCS using 5X7 cm electrodes. The anodal electrode will be placed on M1 representing the back muscles (1 cm anterior and 4 cm lateral to the vertex), while cathodal electrode will be placed on contralateral supraorbital area. The intensity will be set at 2 mA with 10-second fade in/out. The subject will be stimulated by tDCS for 20 minutes.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES): The participants will receive the NMES using interferential mode (6000 Hz, beat frequency 20-50 Hz, scanning effect) on bilateral LM. The intensity will be set at the subject's maximum tolerance. Stimulation will be set at 10 seconds on and 60 seconds off to minimize muscle fatigue. The total NMES time is 20 minutes.
Isometric exercise (IE): The participant will be instructed to perform isometric back extension exercise in modified Sorensen position. The participant will hold 60 seconds in neutral position for 5 repetitions with 3 minutes rest between repetitions.
Movement control exercise (MCE): The participant will be instructed to perform co-contraction of transverse abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscle, while performing self-selected pace forward bend. Emphasis will be given to move in control manner (smooth and symmetrical movement). The participant will perform 4 minutes of continuous movement for 4 sets with 1 minute rest between sets. This exercise is low intensity focusing on control of movement; therefore, the occurrence of muscle fatigue is unlikely.
After completion of one session stimulation, the participant will be asked to perform 1-minute active forward bend with the same speed and load again, while IMU and dEMG data will be simultaneously corrected. IMU data will be used to determine the effect of stimulation (tDCS, NMES, IE, and MCE) on movement control in individuals with movement control impairment. dEMG data will be used to determine the effect of each stimulation on motor unit behavior (spatial and temporal motor unit recruitment). In addition, IMU and dEMG data will be further used to determine the association between movement control and motor unit behavior. Data collection including 20-minute stimulation will take approximately 30 minutes.
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain
- Being tested
- Transcranial direct current stimulation, Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, Motor control exercise, Isometric exercise
- Keywords
- Transcranial direct current stimulation, Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, Motor control exercise, Isometric exercise, Motor unit behavior, Movement control, Lumbar multifidus muscle
- 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.
Transcranial direct current stimulationDevice
The subject will receive the tDCS using 5X7 cm electrodes. The anodal electrode will be placed on M1 representing the back muscles (1 cm anterior and 4 cm lateral to the vertex), while cathodal electrode will be placed on contralateral supraorbital area. The intensity will be set at 2 mA with 10-second fade in/out. The subject will be stimulated by tDCS for 20 minutes
Neuromuscular electrical stimulationDevice
The participants will receive the NMES using interferential mode (6000 Hz, beat frequency 20-50 Hz, scanning effect) on bilateral LM. The intensity will be set at the subject's maximum tolerance. Stimulation will be set at 10 seconds on and 60 seconds off to minimize muscle fatigue. The total NMES time is 20 minutes.
Motor control exerciseOther
The participant will be instructed to perform co-contraction of transverse abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscle, while performing self-selected pace forward bend. Emphasis will be given to move in control manner (smooth and symmetrical movement). The participant will perform 4 minutes of continuous movement for 4 sets with 1 minute rest between sets.
Isometric exerciseOther
The participant will be instructed to perform isometric back extension exercise in modified Sorensen position. The participant will hold 60 seconds in neutral position for 5 repetitions with 3 minutes rest between repetitions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial direct current stimulation | Experimental | The subject will receive transcranial direct current stimulation for 20 minutes. Receives: Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation |
| Neuromuscular electrical stimulation | Experimental | The subject will receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation for 20 minutes. Receives: Device: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation |
| Motor control exercise | Experimental | The subject will receive motor control exercise for 20 minutes. Receives: Other: Motor control exercise |
| Isometric exercise | Active comparator | The subject will receive isometric exercise for 20 minutes. Receives: Other: Isometric exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Segmental angular velocity in degrees/second
Segmental angular velocity will be derived from the inertial measurement units.
Measured: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Clinical observation
Clinical observation rating will be recorded as presence or absence of aberrant movement by two raters.
Measured: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Number of motor units
Number of motor units will be derived from decomposition of muscle activity using electromyography system.
Measured: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Motor unit action potential in millivolts
Motor unit action potential will be derived from decomposition of muscle activity using electromyography system.
Measured: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Motor unit firing rate in pulses/second
Motor unit firing rate will be derived from decomposition of muscle activity using electromyography system.
Measured: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Secondary outcomes (4)
Pain intensity
Pain intensity will be evaluated using numeric pain rating scale. The 11-point numeric scale ranges from '0' representing "no pain" to '10' representing "pain as bad as you can imagine" or "worst pain imaginable".
Measured: baseline
Level of disability in percentage
Level of disability will be evaluated using modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire. Questionnaire examines the level of disability in 10 everyday activities of daily living. Each item consist of 6 statements which are scored from 0 to 5. With 0 indicating the least disability and 5 the greatest then the total score is calculated as a percentage, with 0% indicating no disability and 100% indicating the highest level of disability.
Measured: baseline
Fear of movement level
Fear of movement will be evaluated using Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. The 17-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia total scores range from 17 to 68 where the lowest 17 means no or negligible kinesiophobia, and the higher scores indicate an increasing degree of kinesiophobia.
Measured: baseline
Perception of change
Perception of change will be evaluated using a Global Rating of Change Questionnaire. It is composed of a scale (-4 to +4) that assesses whether the patient condition has gotten worse, better, or stayed the same and to quantify the magnitude of that change after exercise. In the middle of the response scale is a "0" indicating no improvement or no change, the negative values towards the left indicate worsening symptoms or a deterioration in status, and positive values towards the right indicate improvement in the health status.
Measured: immediately after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jul 2024
- Study start1 Jul 2024
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (29)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Low Back PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 136 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Mahidol University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Peemongkon Wattananon, Mahidol University
- Investigators
- Peemongkon Wattananon, PhD, Principal investigator, Mahidol University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06516770
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MU-CIRB 2022/118.0711
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Jul 2024
- Last updated
- 13 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Hicks GE, Fritz JM, Delitto A, McGill SM. Preliminary development of a clinical prediction rule for determining which patients with low back pain will respond to a stabilization exercise program. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Sep;86(9):1753-62. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.03.033.
PubMed 16181938O'Sullivan P. Diagnosis and classification of chronic low back pain disorders: maladaptive movement and motor control impairments as underlying mechanism. Man Ther. 2005 Nov;10(4):242-55. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2005.07.001. Epub 2005 Sep 9.
PubMed 16154380Sahrmann S, Azevedo DC, Dillen LV. Diagnosis and treatment of movement system impairment syndromes. Braz J Phys Ther. 2017 Nov-Dec;21(6):391-399. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.08.001. Epub 2017 Sep 27.
PubMed 29097026Hodges PW, Danneels L. Changes in Structure and Function of the Back Muscles in Low Back Pain: Different Time Points, Observations, and Mechanisms. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):464-476. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.8827.
PubMed 31151377Panjabi MM. Clinical spinal instability and low back pain. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2003 Aug;13(4):371-9. doi: 10.1016/s1050-6411(03)00044-0.
PubMed 12832167Reeves NP, Cholewicki J, van Dieen JH, Kawchuk G, Hodges PW. Are Stability and Instability Relevant Concepts for Back Pain? J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):415-424. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.8144. Epub 2019 Apr 25.
PubMed 31021689van Dieen JH, Reeves NP, Kawchuk G, van Dillen LR, Hodges PW. Motor Control Changes in Low Back Pain: Divergence in Presentations and Mechanisms. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):370-379. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.7917. Epub 2018 Jun 12.
PubMed 29895230Biely SA, Silfies SP, Smith SS, Hicks GE. Clinical observation of standing trunk movements: what do the aberrant movement patterns tell us? J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Apr;44(4):262-72. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.4988. Epub 2014 Jan 22.
PubMed 24450372Kong-Oun S, Prasertkul W, Fungkiatphaiboon P, Wattananon P. The inter-rater reliability of clinical observation of prone hip extension and association between aberrant movement and chronic low back pain. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2022 Feb;57:102476. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102476. Epub 2021 Nov 6.
PubMed 34768224Luomajoki H, Kool J, de Bruin ED, Airaksinen O. Movement control tests of the low back; evaluation of the difference between patients with low back pain and healthy controls. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008 Dec 24;9:170. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-9-170.
PubMed 19108735Wattananon P, Ebaugh D, Biely SA, Smith SS, Hicks GE, Silfies SP. Kinematic characterization of clinically observed aberrant movement patterns in patients with non-specific low back pain: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017 Nov 15;18(1):455. doi: 10.1186/s12891-017-1820-x.
PubMed 29141615Laird RA, Kent P, Keating JL. Modifying patterns of movement in people with low back pain -does it help? A systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012 Sep 7;13:169. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-169.
PubMed 22958597Khobkhun F, Hollands MA, Richards J, Ajjimaporn A. Can We Accurately Measure Axial Segment Coordination during Turning Using Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs)? Sensors (Basel). 2020 Apr 29;20(9):2518. doi: 10.3390/s20092518.
PubMed 32365573Seel T, Raisch J, Schauer T. IMU-based joint angle measurement for gait analysis. Sensors (Basel). 2014 Apr 16;14(4):6891-909. doi: 10.3390/s140406891.
PubMed 24743160Hodges PW, Coppieters MW, MacDonald D, Cholewicki J. New insight into motor adaptation to pain revealed by a combination of modelling and empirical approaches. Eur J Pain. 2013 Sep;17(8):1138-46. doi: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2013.00286.x. Epub 2013 Jan 25.
PubMed 23349066
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Different Types of Stimulation on Movement Control and Motor Unit Behavior in Individuals With Lumbopelvic Movement Control Impairment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06516770
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MU-CIRB 2022/118.0711
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain
- Keywords
- Transcranial direct current stimulation, Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, Motor control exercise, Isometric exercise, Motor unit behavior, Movement control, Lumbar multifidus muscle
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 136 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Mahidol UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to determine the effect of different stimulations including 1) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), 2) neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), 3) motor control exercise (MCE), and 4) isometric exercise (IE) on movement control and motor unit behavior in individuals with movement control impairment, and determine the correlation between movement control and motor unit behavior.
Detailed description
After obtaining the written informed consent, all participants will fill out the information sheet for demographic data. Data collection will be conducted in private laboratory with closed environment. Only lab staffs can access to the lab. Female researchers will perform participant preparation. Participants will be informed that they have to change their cloth to lab tank top to expose their lower back area. However, they can decline to change their cloth. In this case, researchers will fold their cloth to expose the lower back. The body landmarks will be identified. These landmarks include 1) spinous processes (L1 and S1 levels), 2) lumbar multifidus (LM) (2 cm lateral to lower half of L4 spinous process), 3) bilateral lateral epicondyle of femur, and 4) bilateral lateral malleolus. Spinous process of L1, S2, bilateral lateral epicondyle of femur, and bilateral lateral malleolus will be used as locations for inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, while LM location will be used to place surface electrode for decomposition electromyography (dEMG). This preparation process will take about 20 minutes.
The participant will be asked to perform 1-minute active forward bend based on speed and load that can differentiate between healthy individuals and individuals with movement control impairment. IMU and dEMG data are concurrently collected. Five-minute rest will be provided to avoid muscle fatigue. After that, participant will be randomly assigned to one of four stimulations including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), isometric exercise (IE), and motor control exercise (MCE). Each stimulation will take approximately 20 minutes.
Types of stimulation Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): The participant will receive the tDCS using 5X7 cm electrodes. The anodal electrode will be placed on M1 representing the back muscles (1 cm anterior and 4 cm lateral to the vertex), while cathodal electrode will be placed on contralateral supraorbital area. The intensity will be set at 2 mA with 10-second fade in/out. The subject will be stimulated by tDCS for 20 minutes.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES): The participants will receive the NMES using interferential mode (6000 Hz, beat frequency 20-50 Hz, scanning effect) on bilateral LM. The intensity will be set at the subject's maximum tolerance. Stimulation will be set at 10 seconds on and 60 seconds off to minimize muscle fatigue. The total NMES time is 20 minutes.
Isometric exercise (IE): The participant will be instructed to perform isometric back extension exercise in modified Sorensen position. The participant will hold 60 seconds in neutral position for 5 repetitions with 3 minutes rest between repetitions.
Movement control exercise (MCE): The participant will be instructed to perform co-contraction of transverse abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscle, while performing self-selected pace forward bend. Emphasis will be given to move in control manner (smooth and symmetrical movement). The participant will perform 4 minutes of continuous movement for 4 sets with 1 minute rest between sets. This exercise is low intensity focusing on control of movement; therefore, the occurrence of muscle fatigue is unlikely.
After completion of one session stimulation, the participant will be asked to perform 1-minute active forward bend with the same speed and load again, while IMU and dEMG data will be simultaneously corrected. IMU data will be used to determine the effect of stimulation (tDCS, NMES, IE, and MCE) on movement control in individuals with movement control impairment. dEMG data will be used to determine the effect of each stimulation on motor unit behavior (spatial and temporal motor unit recruitment). In addition, IMU and dEMG data will be further used to determine the association between movement control and motor unit behavior. Data collection including 20-minute stimulation will take approximately 30 minutes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial direct current stimulation | Experimental | Device: Transcranial direct current stimulationThe subject will receive transcranial direct current stimulation for 20 minutes. |
| Neuromuscular electrical stimulation | Experimental | Device: Neuromuscular electrical stimulationThe subject will receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation for 20 minutes. |
| Motor control exercise | Experimental | Other: Motor control exerciseThe subject will receive motor control exercise for 20 minutes. |
| Isometric exercise | Active comparator | Other: Isometric exerciseThe subject will receive isometric exercise for 20 minutes. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Between the ages of 18 and 40
- Both male and female
- Presence of movement control impairment (instability catch during clinical observation of active forward bend test)
- No current episode of low back pain
- No definitive neurologic signs including weakness or numbness in the lower extremity
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Pregnancy
- Any lower extremity condition that would potentially alter trunk movement in standing
- Vestibular dysfunction
- Extreme psychosocial involvement
- Active treatment of another medical illness that would preclude participation in any aspect of the study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial direct current stimulationThe subject will receive the tDCS using 5X7 cm electrodes. The anodal electrode will be placed on M1 representing the back muscles (1 cm anterior and 4 cm lateral to the vertex), while cathodal electrode will be placed on contralateral supraorbital area. The intensity will be set at 2 mA with 10-second fade in/out. The subject will be stimulated by tDCS for 20 minutes | Device | Transcranial direct current stimulation |
| Neuromuscular electrical stimulationThe participants will receive the NMES using interferential mode (6000 Hz, beat frequency 20-50 Hz, scanning effect) on bilateral LM. The intensity will be set at the subject's maximum tolerance. Stimulation will be set at 10 seconds on and 60 seconds off to minimize muscle fatigue. The total NMES time is 20 minutes. | Device | Neuromuscular electrical stimulation |
| Motor control exerciseThe participant will be instructed to perform co-contraction of transverse abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscle, while performing self-selected pace forward bend. Emphasis will be given to move in control manner (smooth and symmetrical movement). The participant will perform 4 minutes of continuous movement for 4 sets with 1 minute rest between sets. | Other | Motor control exercise |
| Isometric exerciseThe participant will be instructed to perform isometric back extension exercise in modified Sorensen position. The participant will hold 60 seconds in neutral position for 5 repetitions with 3 minutes rest between repetitions. | Other | Isometric exercise |
Primary outcome
Segmental angular velocity in degrees/second
Time frame: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Segmental angular velocity will be derived from the inertial measurement units.
Clinical observation
Time frame: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Clinical observation rating will be recorded as presence or absence of aberrant movement by two raters.
Number of motor units
Time frame: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Number of motor units will be derived from decomposition of muscle activity using electromyography system.
Motor unit action potential in millivolts
Time frame: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Motor unit action potential will be derived from decomposition of muscle activity using electromyography system.
Motor unit firing rate in pulses/second
Time frame: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Motor unit firing rate will be derived from decomposition of muscle activity using electromyography system.
4 secondary outcomes
Pain intensity
Time frame: baseline
Level of disability in percentage
Time frame: baseline
Fear of movement level
Time frame: baseline
Perception of change
Time frame: immediately after the intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 16181938Hicks GE, Fritz JM, Delitto A, McGill SM. Preliminary development of a clinical prediction rule for determining which patients with low back pain will respond to a stabilization exercise program. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Sep;86(9):1753-62. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.03.033.
- Background: PubMed 16154380O'Sullivan P. Diagnosis and classification of chronic low back pain disorders: maladaptive movement and motor control impairments as underlying mechanism. Man Ther. 2005 Nov;10(4):242-55. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2005.07.001. Epub 2005 Sep 9.
- Background: PubMed 29097026Sahrmann S, Azevedo DC, Dillen LV. Diagnosis and treatment of movement system impairment syndromes. Braz J Phys Ther. 2017 Nov-Dec;21(6):391-399. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.08.001. Epub 2017 Sep 27.
- Background: PubMed 31151377Hodges PW, Danneels L. Changes in Structure and Function of the Back Muscles in Low Back Pain: Different Time Points, Observations, and Mechanisms. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):464-476. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.8827.
- Background: PubMed 12832167Panjabi MM. Clinical spinal instability and low back pain. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2003 Aug;13(4):371-9. doi: 10.1016/s1050-6411(03)00044-0.
- Background: PubMed 31021689Reeves NP, Cholewicki J, van Dieen JH, Kawchuk G, Hodges PW. Are Stability and Instability Relevant Concepts for Back Pain? J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):415-424. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.8144. Epub 2019 Apr 25.
- Background: PubMed 29895230van Dieen JH, Reeves NP, Kawchuk G, van Dillen LR, Hodges PW. Motor Control Changes in Low Back Pain: Divergence in Presentations and Mechanisms. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):370-379. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2019.7917. Epub 2018 Jun 12.
- Background: PubMed 24450372Biely SA, Silfies SP, Smith SS, Hicks GE. Clinical observation of standing trunk movements: what do the aberrant movement patterns tell us? J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Apr;44(4):262-72. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.4988. Epub 2014 Jan 22.
- Background: PubMed 34768224Kong-Oun S, Prasertkul W, Fungkiatphaiboon P, Wattananon P. The inter-rater reliability of clinical observation of prone hip extension and association between aberrant movement and chronic low back pain. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2022 Feb;57:102476. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102476. Epub 2021 Nov 6.
- Background: PubMed 19108735Luomajoki H, Kool J, de Bruin ED, Airaksinen O. Movement control tests of the low back; evaluation of the difference between patients with low back pain and healthy controls. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008 Dec 24;9:170. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-9-170.
- Background: PubMed 29141615Wattananon P, Ebaugh D, Biely SA, Smith SS, Hicks GE, Silfies SP. Kinematic characterization of clinically observed aberrant movement patterns in patients with non-specific low back pain: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017 Nov 15;18(1):455. doi: 10.1186/s12891-017-1820-x.
- Background: PubMed 22958597Laird RA, Kent P, Keating JL. Modifying patterns of movement in people with low back pain -does it help? A systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012 Sep 7;13:169. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-169.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Peemongkon Wattananon, PhD principal investigator
Mahidol University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Transcranial direct current stimulation, Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and Isometric exercise in people with Low Back Pain, run by Mahidol University at 1 site in Thailand.
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 8 inclusion and 6 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 May 2026. 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 Thailand. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Segmental angular velocity in degrees/second (time frame: baseline and immediately after the intervention). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT06516770, which also lists 29 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 13 May 2026.