Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)NCT07177040
Effect of Two Different Mobilization Techniques in the Treatment of Low Back Pain
A study testing Maitland and SNAG in people with Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP), run by Ehab Mohamed Kamel Ahmed at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.
Trial summary
Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is extensively musculoskeletal conditions, where manual therapy techniques have been widely employed in its management, but their short term efficacy in chronic low back pain still need more investigations. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)
- What is being tested?
- Maitland and SNAG
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSaudi Arabia
- Study dates
- 5 Oct 2025to 20 Jan 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 25 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 25 to 40 years.
- Diagnosed with chronic NSLBP persisting for more than three months.
- Pain intensity between 3 to 6 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during lumbar extension in a sitting position.
- Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score between 20% to 40%.
- Restriction of the movement only in flexion ROM with the ability to perform at least 40° of trunk flexion.
Who cannot join
- Specific causes of low back pain (e.g., herniated disc, spinal stenosis).
- History of spinal surgery or trauma.
- Neurological deficits or systemic diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system.
- Pregnancy.
- Current participation in other physiotherapy programs.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Saudi Arabia1 site
University Medical Clinics
Ha'il, 0000
Ehab Ahmed, Physiotherapist, +966564032363
About this study
Official title: Effect of SNAG Versus Maitland Techniques in the Management of Non-Specific Low Back Pain
Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is extensively musculoskeletal conditions, where manual therapy techniques have been widely employed in its management, but their short term efficacy in chronic low back pain still need more investigations. Objective: This study aimed to discuss the SNAG versus Maitland techniques in the management of NSLBP. Methods: 60 patients with chronic NSLBP will share in the study. Sessions will be conducted 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The outcomes will be evaluated for pain by the numerical rating pain scale (NPRS), disability through Oswestry Disability Index, flexion range of motion by back range of motion device, postural stability by Biodex system will be assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a four-week follow-up
- Conditions
- Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)
- Being tested
- Maitland, SNAG
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MaitlandProcedure or surgery
Maitland technique therapy, which consists of passive mobilizations applied to the lumbar facet joints in an anterocranial direction while the patient is in a prone lying position
SNAGProcedure or surgery
Also called sustained natural apophyseal glide
The technique involves applying a sustained glide to the lumbar facet joints while the patient is in a sitting position, and the pelvic girdle will be stabilized by a belt. Then the therapist will ask the patient for active forward flexion of the spine while the pressure on the facet joint is maintained during the movement till its end
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Maitland | Active comparator | Participants will receive Maitland technique therapy Receives: Procedure: Maitland; Procedure: SNAG |
| SNAG | Active comparator | Participants will receive SNAG therapy based on the Mulligan Concept Receives: Procedure: Maitland; Procedure: SNAG |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
The NPRS will be used to evaluate the level of pain by selecting a number on a rating scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst and unbearable pain).
Measured: 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
Functional disability
Assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) where according to the scale the disability will be indicated as follow: 0-4 no disability, 5-14 mild disability, 5-24 moderate disability, 25-34 severe disability, and 35-50 complete disability
Measured: 4 weeks
Lumbar flexion range of motion
Measured using a Back range of motion (BROM)
Measured: 4 weeks
overall stability index (OSI)
Repositioning error evaluated through proprioceptive testing provided by the Biodex Balance System, no need for cut off) as the measurement differences will be compared.
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Sep 2025
- Study start5 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion20 Jan 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)Studies 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
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ehab Mohamed Kamel Ahmed
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Hail
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ehab Mohamed Kamel Ahmed, University of Hail
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07177040
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H-2025-858
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 9 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 7 Oct 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: All the data will be obtained from the experiment is under the protection of the Scientific Research Deanship, University of Ha'il, Saudi Arabia as this project is funded from it with number RG-20 202.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Oct 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of SNAG Versus Maitland Techniques in the Management of Non-Specific Low Back Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07177040
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H-2025-858
- Conditions
- Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ehab Mohamed Kamel AhmedUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Hail
- Study start
- 5 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 20 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Sep 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.
Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is extensively musculoskeletal conditions, where manual therapy techniques have been widely employed in its management, but their short term efficacy in chronic low back pain still need more investigations. Objective: This study aimed to discuss the SNAG versus Maitland techniques in the management of NSLBP. Methods: 60 patients with chronic NSLBP will share in the study. Sessions will be conducted 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The outcomes will be evaluated for pain by the numerical rating pain scale (NPRS), disability through Oswestry Disability Index, flexion range of motion by back range of motion device, postural stability by Biodex system will be assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a four-week follow-up
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Maitland | Active comparator | Procedure: Maitland, Procedure: SNAGParticipants will receive Maitland technique therapy |
| SNAG | Active comparator | Procedure: Maitland, Procedure: SNAGParticipants will receive SNAG therapy based on the Mulligan Concept |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Adults aged 25 to 40 years.
- Diagnosed with chronic NSLBP persisting for more than three months.
- Pain intensity between 3 to 6 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during lumbar extension in a sitting position.
- Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score between 20% to 40%.
- Restriction of the movement only in flexion ROM with the ability to perform at least 40° of trunk flexion.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Specific causes of low back pain (e.g., herniated disc, spinal stenosis).
- History of spinal surgery or trauma.
- Neurological deficits or systemic diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system.
- Pregnancy.
- Current participation in other physiotherapy programs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| MaitlandMaitland technique therapy, which consists of passive mobilizations applied to the lumbar facet joints in an anterocranial direction while the patient is in a prone lying position | Procedure or surgery | Maitland, SNAG |
| SNAGAlso: sustained natural apophyseal glideThe technique involves applying a sustained glide to the lumbar facet joints while the patient is in a sitting position, and the pelvic girdle will be stabilized by a belt. Then the therapist will ask the patient for active forward flexion of the spine while the pressure on the facet joint is maintained during the movement till its end | Procedure or surgery | Maitland, SNAG |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: 4 weeks
The NPRS will be used to evaluate the level of pain by selecting a number on a rating scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst and unbearable pain).
3 secondary outcomes
Functional disability
Time frame: 4 weeks
Lumbar flexion range of motion
Time frame: 4 weeks
overall stability index (OSI)
Time frame: 4 weeks
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 7 Oct 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. All the data will be obtained from the experiment is under the protection of the Scientific Research Deanship, University of Ha'il, Saudi Arabia as this project is funded from it with number RG-20 202.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Maitland and SNAG in people with Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP), run by Ehab Mohamed Kamel Ahmed at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.
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 5 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Oct 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 Saudi Arabia. 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?
Contact Ehab Ahmed, PhD (+966564032363, em.ahmed@uoh.edu.sa), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (time frame: 4 weeks). 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 Oct 2025.