LBPLBPNCT07382232
Isometric Stability vs. Isotonic Mobility for Chronic LBP
A study testing Isometric exercises and Isotonic exercises in people with LBP, run by Palestine Ahliya University at 1 site in Palestinian Territories.
Trial summary
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, often requiring primary care management. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of isometric versus isotonic exercise programs for LBP. Methods: Sixty adults with LBP were randomly assigned to two groups. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- LBP
- What is being tested?
- Isometric exercises and Isotonic exercises
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePalestinian Territories
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2025to 1 Aug 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 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 60 years;
- Diagnosis of non-specific CLBP, defined as pain localized between the lower rib margin and the gluteal folds persisting for more than three months;
- Self-reported pain intensity score between 40 mm and 80 mm on a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), indicating moderate to severe pain;
- Pain experienced on at least three days in the month preceding enrollment, with documented interference in daily activities;
- A formal referral for physiotherapy management.
Who cannot join
- The presence of "red flag" pathologies (e.g., spinal tumor, infection, fracture); - Neurological signs or symptoms suggestive of radiculopathy or myelopathy;
- a history of spinal surgery or epidural steroid injections within the previous 12 months;
- Systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) or major neurological disorders;
- Pregnancy;
- Receipt of physiotherapy for low back pain within the last six months;
- Current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or inability to refrain from their use during the study period;
- Any diagnosed psychiatric condition.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Palestinian Territories1 site
Palestine Ahliya University
Bethlehem, West Bank, 3600700
About this study
Official title: An RCT of Isometric Stability Versus Isotonic Mobility for LBP Rehabilitation
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, often requiring primary care management.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of isometric versus isotonic exercise programs for LBP.
Methods: Sixty adults with LBP were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (n=30) performed isometric exercises, infrared therapy, and TENS. Group B (n=30) performed isotonic exercises with the same adjunct therapies. Pain (VAS), disability (MODI), and abdominal endurance were measured pre- and post-intervention.
Keywords: Exercise therapy; low back pain; disability evaluation
Read the detailed description
Group-Specific Exercise Protocols:
- Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session.
- Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP [13].
Adjunctive Therapies (Common to Both Groups):
- Infrared (IR) Therapy: A standard therapeutic infrared lamp was positioned 50 cm from the participant's lumbar spine at a 90-degree angle. Heat was applied for 15 minutes per session to promote muscle relaxation and local blood flow.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Electrodes were placed over the painful lumbar area. A low-frequency (<10 Hz) TENS unit was applied for 20 minutes per session. The analgesic mechanism of TENS is well-documented, involving the modulation of pain pathways via opioid and noradrenergic receptors in the central nervous system [16].
Both groups received a standardized four-week intervention program, consisting of three supervised sessions per week, totaling 12 sessions. Each 55-minute session included adjunctive therapies common to both groups, followed by the specific exercise protocol.
- Conditions
- LBP
- Being tested
- Isometric exercises, Isotonic exercises
- Keywords
- Exercise therapy, LBP, Disability
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Isometric exercisesOther
- Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session.
Isotonic exercisesOther
- Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP [13].
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| arm 1- Group A : Isometric Exercises | Experimental | • Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session. Receives: Other: Isometric exercises |
| arm2- Group B: Isotonic Exercises | Experimental | Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP Receives: Other: Isotonic exercises |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
VAS
Measured using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale , where 0 mm represents "no pain" and 100 mm represents "the worst pain imaginable." Participants marked a point on the line corresponding to their current pain level. The Arabic version of the VAS has been validated as a reliable and responsive tool for pain assessment in clinical populations [17].
Measured: 4 WEEKS
Secondary outcomes (2)
MODI
This self-administered questionnaire contains 10 items addressing various aspects of daily life (e.g., pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking). Each item is scored from 0 to 5, with the total sum converted to a percentage (0-100%); higher scores indicate greater disability. The MODI is a gold-standard tool with demonstrated high reliability, validity, and sensitivity to clinical change in patients with low back pain [18].
Measured: 4WEEKS
Muscular Endurance
Assessed via a standardized Abdominal Endurance Test. Participants were instructed to hold a partial curl-up position (trunk elevated at 30° from the plinth) for as long as possible while maintaining proper form. The time in seconds until failure was recorded. This test is a validated and reliable measure of core muscular endurance, a key component of lumbar stability [19].
Measured: 4WWEKS
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Feb 2025
- Primary completion1 Jun 2025
- Study completion1 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for LBPStudies 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
- Group A: Isometric Exercises Group B: Isotonic Exercises
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Palestine Ahliya University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Azzam Alarab, Palestine Ahliya University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07382232
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PAUB
- Acronym
- LBP
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An RCT of Isometric Stability Versus Isotonic Mobility for LBP Rehabilitation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07382232
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LBP / PAUB
- Conditions
- LBP
- Keywords
- Exercise therapy, LBP, Disability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Palestine Ahliya UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Feb 2026 (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.
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, often requiring primary care management.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of isometric versus isotonic exercise programs for LBP.
Methods: Sixty adults with LBP were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (n=30) performed isometric exercises, infrared therapy, and TENS. Group B (n=30) performed isotonic exercises with the same adjunct therapies. Pain (VAS), disability (MODI), and abdominal endurance were measured pre- and post-intervention.
Keywords: Exercise therapy; low back pain; disability evaluation
Detailed description
Group-Specific Exercise Protocols:
- Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session.
- Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP [13].
Adjunctive Therapies (Common to Both Groups):
- Infrared (IR) Therapy: A standard therapeutic infrared lamp was positioned 50 cm from the participant's lumbar spine at a 90-degree angle. Heat was applied for 15 minutes per session to promote muscle relaxation and local blood flow.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Electrodes were placed over the painful lumbar area. A low-frequency (<10 Hz) TENS unit was applied for 20 minutes per session. The analgesic mechanism of TENS is well-documented, involving the modulation of pain pathways via opioid and noradrenergic receptors in the central nervous system [16].
Both groups received a standardized four-week intervention program, consisting of three supervised sessions per week, totaling 12 sessions. Each 55-minute session included adjunctive therapies common to both groups, followed by the specific exercise protocol.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Group A: Isometric Exercises Group B: Isotonic Exercises
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| arm 1- Group A : Isometric Exercises | Experimental | Other: Isometric exercises• Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session. |
| arm2- Group B: Isotonic Exercises | Experimental | Other: Isotonic exercisesIsotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age between 18 and 60 years;
- Diagnosis of non-specific CLBP, defined as pain localized between the lower rib margin and the gluteal folds persisting for more than three months;
- Self-reported pain intensity score between 40 mm and 80 mm on a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), indicating moderate to severe pain;
- Pain experienced on at least three days in the month preceding enrollment, with documented interference in daily activities;
- A formal referral for physiotherapy management.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- The presence of "red flag" pathologies (e.g., spinal tumor, infection, fracture); - Neurological signs or symptoms suggestive of radiculopathy or myelopathy;
- a history of spinal surgery or epidural steroid injections within the previous 12 months;
- Systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) or major neurological disorders;
- Pregnancy;
- Receipt of physiotherapy for low back pain within the last six months;
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Isometric exercises• Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session. | Other | arm 1- Group A : Isometric Exercises |
| Isotonic exercises• Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP [13]. | Other | arm2- Group B: Isotonic Exercises |
Primary outcome
VAS
Time frame: 4 WEEKS
Measured using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale , where 0 mm represents "no pain" and 100 mm represents "the worst pain imaginable." Participants marked a point on the line corresponding to their current pain level. The Arabic version of the VAS has been validated as a reliable and responsive tool for pain assessment in clinical populations [17].
2 secondary outcomes
MODI
Time frame: 4WEEKS
Muscular Endurance
Time frame: 4WWEKS
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 2 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Isometric exercises and Isotonic exercises in people with LBP, run by Palestine Ahliya University at 1 site in Palestinian Territories.
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 7 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 2 Feb 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 Palestinian Territories. 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?
VAS (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 2 Feb 2026.