Low Back PainNCT07118787
Active Release Technique Verses Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients Having Specific Low Back Pain
A study testing Active Release Technique and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in people with Low Back Pain, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Active Release Technique (ART) or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is more effective in improving hamstring flexibility in adults with specific low back pain. It will also look at how these treatments affect pain and movement. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Low Back Pain
- What is being tested?
- Active Release Technique and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 20 Nov 2025to 25 Dec 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 25 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients having chronic low backache having hamstring tightness referred from orthopedic department
- Patients having lumber disc budge, spinal spondylosis
- Age group 25-40 years, having pain more than 3 months
- Minimum 20-degree restriction in SLR unilaterally Both male and female
Who cannot join
- Any history of injury in lower extremities in past 3 months
- Knee osteoarthritis patients, knee deformities, discitis, osteomyelitis
- Patients with injury of back, constant or severe persistent pain, inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal infection lumber spondylolisthesis, and lumber spondylolysis.
- Any pregnancy, history of previous surgery or fracture and history of radiculopathy or neuropathic pain.
- -
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Lahore Poly Clinic, social security hospital
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Active Release Technique Verses Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients Having Specific Low Back Pain
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Active Release Technique (ART) or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is more effective in improving hamstring flexibility in adults with specific low back pain. It will also look at how these treatments affect pain and movement.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Read more
Does ART or PNF improve hamstring flexibility more in people with specific low back pain?
Do participants report reduced pain and better movement after receiving either treatment?
Researchers will compare the effects of ART and PNF to see which method works better for improving flexibility and reducing pain.
Participants will:
Receive either ART or PNF therapy for 2 weeks
Attend regular physiotherapy sessions during the treatment period
Be assessed before and after treatment for hamstring flexibility and pain levels
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of Active Release Technique (ART) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in improving hamstring flexibility among individuals with specific low back pain. Reduced hamstring flexibility is a common contributing factor in low back dysfunction, and identifying the most effective manual therapy technique can guide more targeted physical therapy interventions.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either ART or PNF over a 2-week intervention period. Both groups received treatment administered by trained physiotherapists using standardized protocols. ART focused on applying specific manual pressure to soft tissues while moving the muscle through its range of motion, while PNF employed contract-relax stretching techniques to promote muscle lengthening and neuromuscular facilitation.
Participants were evaluated at baseline and after the completion of the intervention for changes in hamstring flexibility, with secondary observations on pain reduction and functional improvement. The study adhered to ethical standards, and all participants provided informed consent prior to participation.
The trial contributes to evidence-based physiotherapy by offering comparative insight into two widely used manual techniques in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain
- Being tested
- Active Release Technique, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
- Keywords
- active release technique, low back pain, muscle stretching
- 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.
Active Release TechniqueOther
A manual therapy technique applied to release soft tissue tension in the hamstrings.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular FacilitationOther
A stretching technique involving passive stretching and isometric contractions of the hamstrings.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| active release technique | Experimental | This group receives Active Release Technique applied on the hamstring muscle group to improve flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session Receives: Other: Active Release Technique |
| Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation | Active comparator | This group receives PNF stretching for the hamstring to enhance flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session Receives: Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Hamstring Flexibility (measured by Passive Straight Leg Raise Test)
Flexibility of the hamstring muscle will be measured using a goniometer during the Passive Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test.
Measured: at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session
Secondary outcomes (1)
Pain Intensity (measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS)
Participants will rate their pain intensity on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).
Measured: at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Aug 2025
- Study start20 Nov 2025
- Primary completion20 Dec 2025
- Study completion25 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- 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
- Model description
- After screening the population based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants were included in the study. Participants signed a consent form regarding their willingness to participate in the study. The participants were divided equally into two groups where group one was evaluated for active release technique and group two was evaluated according to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique. The measurements were taken at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session. There were total 20 sessions, 5 sessions in a week for 4 weeks
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Montiha Azeem, DPT, Principal investigator, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07118787
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC-UOL-/103-04/2022
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 5 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 27 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Active Release Technique Verses Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients Having Specific Low Back Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07118787
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC-UOL-/103-04/2022
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain
- Keywords
- active release technique, low back pain, muscle stretching
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 25 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Aug 2025 (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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Active Release Technique (ART) or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is more effective in improving hamstring flexibility in adults with specific low back pain. It will also look at how these treatments affect pain and movement.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does ART or PNF improve hamstring flexibility more in people with specific low back pain?
Do participants report reduced pain and better movement after receiving either treatment?
Researchers will compare the effects of ART and PNF to see which method works better for improving flexibility and reducing pain.
Participants will:
Receive either ART or PNF therapy for 2 weeks
Attend regular physiotherapy sessions during the treatment period
Be assessed before and after treatment for hamstring flexibility and pain levels
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of Active Release Technique (ART) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in improving hamstring flexibility among individuals with specific low back pain. Reduced hamstring flexibility is a common contributing factor in low back dysfunction, and identifying the most effective manual therapy technique can guide more targeted physical therapy interventions.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either ART or PNF over a 2-week intervention period. Both groups received treatment administered by trained physiotherapists using standardized protocols. ART focused on applying specific manual pressure to soft tissues while moving the muscle through its range of motion, while PNF employed contract-relax stretching techniques to promote muscle lengthening and neuromuscular facilitation.
Participants were evaluated at baseline and after the completion of the intervention for changes in hamstring flexibility, with secondary observations on pain reduction and functional improvement. The study adhered to ethical standards, and all participants provided informed consent prior to participation.
The trial contributes to evidence-based physiotherapy by offering comparative insight into two widely used manual techniques in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- After screening the population based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants were included in the study. Participants signed a consent form regarding their willingness to participate in the study. The participants were divided equally into two groups where group one was evaluated for active release technique and group two was evaluated according to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique. The measurements were taken at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session. There were total 20 sessions, 5 sessions in a week for 4 weeks
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| active release technique | Experimental | Other: Active Release TechniqueThis group receives Active Release Technique applied on the hamstring muscle group to improve flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session |
| Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation | Active comparator | Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular FacilitationThis group receives PNF stretching for the hamstring to enhance flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients having chronic low backache having hamstring tightness referred from orthopedic department
- Patients having lumber disc budge, spinal spondylosis
- Age group 25-40 years, having pain more than 3 months
- Minimum 20-degree restriction in SLR unilaterally Both male and female
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Any history of injury in lower extremities in past 3 months
- Knee osteoarthritis patients, knee deformities, discitis, osteomyelitis
- Patients with injury of back, constant or severe persistent pain, inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal infection lumber spondylolisthesis, and lumber spondylolysis.
- Any pregnancy, history of previous surgery or fracture and history of radiculopathy or neuropathic pain.
- -
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Active Release TechniqueA manual therapy technique applied to release soft tissue tension in the hamstrings. | Other | active release technique |
| Proprioceptive Neuromuscular FacilitationA stretching technique involving passive stretching and isometric contractions of the hamstrings. | Other | Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation |
Primary outcome
Hamstring Flexibility (measured by Passive Straight Leg Raise Test)
Time frame: at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session
Flexibility of the hamstring muscle will be measured using a goniometer during the Passive Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test.
1 secondary outcome
Pain Intensity (measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS)
Time frame: at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Jan 2026.
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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.
Montiha Azeem, DPT principal investigator
University of Lahore
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active Release Technique and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in people with Low Back Pain, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 5 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 27 Jan 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 Pakistan. 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?
Hamstring Flexibility (measured by Passive Straight Leg Raise Test) (time frame: at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session). 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 27 Jan 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 28 Oct 2026.