Non Specific Low Back PainNCT07426627
Comparative Effect of Muscle Energy Technique and Kinesiotherapy on Non Specific Low Back Pain
A study testing Standard Physical therapy, Muscle energy technique and Kinesiotherapy in people with Non Specific Low Back Pain, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The study was conducted to determine the comparative effect of muscle energy technique and kinesiotherapy on the patients of non specific low back pain Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Non Specific Low Back Pain
- What is being tested?
- Standard Physical therapy, Muscle energy technique and Kinesiotherapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 64 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 13 Jan 2025to 31 Oct 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 20 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Gender both male and female Age 20yr-40yr Prolong sitting hour (greater or equal to 3hr) Pain rating scale 4-6 on NPRS Individuals having localized lumber region pain (L1-L5) ODI score of ≥5 to ≤24 of having mild to moderate disability Negative Lasegue test
Who cannot join
- Spine pathology Spine surgery Spinal stenosis Trauma Neurological disorder Psychological issue Systemic disease
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Helping Hand for Relief and Development Center, Chakwal
Chakwal, Punjab Province
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effect of Muscle Energy Technique and Kinesiotherapy on Pain,ROM and Functional Disability on Non Specific Low Back Pain
The study was conducted to determine the comparative effect of muscle energy technique and kinesiotherapy on the patients of non specific low back pain
- Conditions
- Non Specific Low Back Pain
- Being tested
- Standard Physical therapy, Muscle energy technique, Kinesiotherapy
- Keywords
- Muscle Energy Technique, Kinesiotherapy, Range of motion, Non specific low back pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Standard Physical therapyOther
Core stability exercises Pelvic tilt exercises This exercise was done by keeping both hands behind the buttocks and pressing on them by flattening the spine and bending the pelvis up slightly, then holding for up to 10 seconds with 20 times of repetitions.
Partial curl The patient was in a supine position with knee bent and arms behind the head, the feet slightly away from the buttocks, then patient raise the upper body from the ground approximately 30 to 40 degrees, the abdominal muscles begin to contract, then the upper body was in lower to the ground
- Back extension exercise The patient needs to lie in a prone position on a mat with legs straightening with a pronated forearm, then lift the upper back. Hips should be pressed into the mat with the head and neck in a neutral position.
Hot pack for 10 mins on low back in prone position.
Muscle energy techniqueOther
The muscle energy techniques which involved isometric contraction of the agonist muscle for 10s. This contraction started just short of the restriction range. After that, the patient was asked to relax for 2-3 s, and then, the examiner stretched the contracted muscle in the opposite direction for 10 s. This was repeated three repetitions for each muscle bilaterally. This technique was applied to the quadratus lumborum, hamstring, and lower back muscles three times per week.
KinesiotherapyOther
Kinesiotherapy treatment will be performed using a therapeutic ball therapy kinesiotherapy protocol will perform weekly. For 1º to 4º weeks: stretches in chains Anterior, Posterior and Lateral performed at the beginning and end of the sessions; paravertebral strengthening in isometry; abdominals (straight anterior and oblique) concentric and eccentric, all performed on the therapeutic ball with increasing time and repetitions progressively. For 5º to 8º weeks: stretching exercises were repeated first month, increasing the degree of difficulty. Strengthening exercises have evolved for isotonic (concentric and eccentric) exercises, with increasing degree of difficulty.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle energy technique with conventional treatment | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Standard Physical therapy; Other: Muscle energy technique |
| Kinesiotherapy with conventional treatment | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Standard Physical therapy; Other: Kinesiotherapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), English version, was used to assess functional disability; it was a disease specific questionnaire that measures disability associated with low back pain. ODI is divided into 10 questions, which cover various areas of daily living activities and the scores are in percentage, the higher the score, the more disability a person
Measured: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
The intensity of pain was determined by means of Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), which is a 11-point self-report rating scale with a range of 0 to 10, where 10 is the worst imaginable pain and 0 is no pain. The respondents were requested to assess their present pain at res
Measured: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Inclinometer for ROM
A reflection of lumbar range of motion was established with the help of a handheld inclinometer, which is an objective measure of the spinal movement in degrees of lumbar flexion, lumbar extension, and side bending.
Measured: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks .
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Feb 2026
- Study start13 Jan 2025
- Primary completion31 May 2025
- Study completion31 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Non Specific Low Back PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Saba Rafiq, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07426627
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/24/01108
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Fahmy E, Shaker H, Ragab W, Helmy H, Gaber M. Efficacy of spinal extension exercise program versus muscle energy technique in treatment of chronic mechanical low back pain. The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. 2019;55(1):77.
Akram A, Imtiaz K, Maryem S, Mahmood W, Mahmood T, Babur MN. Comparison of Pilates exercises versus muscle energy technique with Kinesio taping in non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Khyber Medical University Journal. 2024;16(1):3-9
Khalid R, Hasan S, Anis T, Riaz SW, Maroof A, Arshad A, et al. Comparative Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) With or Without Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Pattern in Lumbosacral Dysfunction: Comparative Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique (MET). THE THERAPIST (Journal of Therapies & Rehabilitation Sciences). 2024:51-5.
Santos GK, Goncalves de Oliveira R, Campos de Oliveira L, Ferreira C de Oliveira C, Andraus RA, Ngomo S, Fusco A, Cortis C, DA Silva RA. Effectiveness of muscle energy technique in patients with nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2022 Dec;58(6):827-837. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.22.07424-X. Epub 2022 Sep 28.
PubMed 36169931Kosic M, Malnar D, Lekic A. A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, and Electrotherapy with and without Lumbosacral Kinesiotherapy. Med Sci Monit. 2024 Apr 1;30:e943732. doi: 10.12659/MSM.943732.
PubMed 38556775Yoon JD, Jung JH, Cho HY, Shin HJ. The Immediate Effects of Muscle Energy Technique in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients with Functional Leg Length Discrepancy: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Dec 26;12(1):53. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12010053.
PubMed 38200959Patel VD, Eapen C, Ceepee Z, Kamath R. Effect of muscle energy technique with and without strain-counterstrain technique in acute low back pain - A randomized clinical trial. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2018 Jun;38(1):41-51. doi: 10.1142/S1013702518500051. Epub 2018 Apr 4.
PubMed 30930578
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effect of Muscle Energy Technique and Kinesiotherapy on Pain,ROM and Functional Disability on Non Specific Low Back Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07426627
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/24/01108
- Conditions
- Non Specific Low Back Pain
- Keywords
- Muscle Energy Technique, Kinesiotherapy, Range of motion, Non specific low back pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 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.
The study was conducted to determine the comparative effect of muscle energy technique and kinesiotherapy on the patients of non specific low back pain
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle energy technique with conventional treatment | Experimental | Other: Standard Physical therapy, Other: Muscle energy technique |
| Kinesiotherapy with conventional treatment | Active comparator | Other: Standard Physical therapy, Other: Kinesiotherapy |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Gender both male and female Age 20yr-40yr Prolong sitting hour (greater or equal to 3hr) Pain rating scale 4-6 on NPRS Individuals having localized lumber region pain (L1-L5) ODI score of ≥5 to ≤24 of having mild to moderate disability Negative Lasegue test
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Spine pathology Spine surgery Spinal stenosis Trauma Neurological disorder Psychological issue Systemic disease
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Physical therapyCore stability exercises Pelvic tilt exercises This exercise was done by keeping both hands behind the buttocks and pressing on them by flattening the spine and bending the pelvis up slightly, then holding for up to 10 seconds with 20 times of repetitions. Partial curl The patient was in a supine position with knee bent and arms behind the head, the feet slightly away from the buttocks, then patient raise the upper body from the ground approximately 30 to 40 degrees, the abdominal muscles begin to contract, then the upper body was in lower to the ground 3. Back extension exercise The patient needs to lie in a prone position on a mat with legs straightening with a pronated forearm, then lift the upper back. Hips should be pressed into the mat with the head and neck in a neutral position. Hot pack for 10 mins on low back in prone position. | Other | Kinesiotherapy with conventional treatment, Muscle energy technique with conventional treatment |
| Muscle energy techniqueThe muscle energy techniques which involved isometric contraction of the agonist muscle for 10s. This contraction started just short of the restriction range. After that, the patient was asked to relax for 2-3 s, and then, the examiner stretched the contracted muscle in the opposite direction for 10 s. This was repeated three repetitions for each muscle bilaterally. This technique was applied to the quadratus lumborum, hamstring, and lower back muscles three times per week. | Other | Muscle energy technique with conventional treatment |
| KinesiotherapyKinesiotherapy treatment will be performed using a therapeutic ball therapy kinesiotherapy protocol will perform weekly. For 1º to 4º weeks: stretches in chains Anterior, Posterior and Lateral performed at the beginning and end of the sessions; paravertebral strengthening in isometry; abdominals (straight anterior and oblique) concentric and eccentric, all performed on the therapeutic ball with increasing time and repetitions progressively. For 5º to 8º weeks: stretching exercises were repeated first month, increasing the degree of difficulty. Strengthening exercises have evolved for isotonic (concentric and eccentric) exercises, with increasing degree of difficulty. | Other | Kinesiotherapy with conventional treatment |
Primary outcome
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), English version, was used to assess functional disability; it was a disease specific questionnaire that measures disability associated with low back pain. ODI is divided into 10 questions, which cover various areas of daily living activities and the scores are in percentage, the higher the score, the more disability a person
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks
The intensity of pain was determined by means of Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), which is a 11-point self-report rating scale with a range of 0 to 10, where 10 is the worst imaginable pain and 0 is no pain. The respondents were requested to assess their present pain at res
Inclinometer for ROM
Time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks .
A reflection of lumbar range of motion was established with the help of a handheld inclinometer, which is an objective measure of the spinal movement in degrees of lumbar flexion, lumbar extension, and side bending.
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 23 Feb 2026.
- BackgroundFahmy E, Shaker H, Ragab W, Helmy H, Gaber M. Efficacy of spinal extension exercise program versus muscle energy technique in treatment of chronic mechanical low back pain. The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. 2019;55(1):77.
- BackgroundAkram A, Imtiaz K, Maryem S, Mahmood W, Mahmood T, Babur MN. Comparison of Pilates exercises versus muscle energy technique with Kinesio taping in non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Khyber Medical University Journal. 2024;16(1):3-9
- BackgroundKhalid R, Hasan S, Anis T, Riaz SW, Maroof A, Arshad A, et al. Comparative Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) With or Without Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Pattern in Lumbosacral Dysfunction: Comparative Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique (MET). THE THERAPIST (Journal of Therapies & Rehabilitation Sciences). 2024:51-5.
- Background: PubMed 36169931Santos GK, Goncalves de Oliveira R, Campos de Oliveira L, Ferreira C de Oliveira C, Andraus RA, Ngomo S, Fusco A, Cortis C, DA Silva RA. Effectiveness of muscle energy technique in patients with nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2022 Dec;58(6):827-837. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.22.07424-X. Epub 2022 Sep 28.
- Background: PubMed 38556775Kosic M, Malnar D, Lekic A. A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, and Electrotherapy with and without Lumbosacral Kinesiotherapy. Med Sci Monit. 2024 Apr 1;30:e943732. doi: 10.12659/MSM.943732.
- Background: PubMed 38200959Yoon JD, Jung JH, Cho HY, Shin HJ. The Immediate Effects of Muscle Energy Technique in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients with Functional Leg Length Discrepancy: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Dec 26;12(1):53. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12010053.
- Background: PubMed 30930578Patel VD, Eapen C, Ceepee Z, Kamath R. Effect of muscle energy technique with and without strain-counterstrain technique in acute low back pain - A randomized clinical trial. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2018 Jun;38(1):41-51. doi: 10.1142/S1013702518500051. Epub 2018 Apr 4.
- 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.
Saba Rafiq principal investigator
Riphah International 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 Standard Physical therapy, Muscle energy technique and Kinesiotherapy in people with Non Specific Low Back Pain, run by Riphah International University 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 1 inclusion and 1 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 23 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 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?
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks.). The study lists 3 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 NCT07426627, which also lists 7 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 23 Feb 2026.