Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back PainNCT07480759
Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training Versus Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training in Male Athletes With Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain
A study testing Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR) and Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) in people with Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
his randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training and traditional heavy-load resistance training (HL-RT) on male athletes with sub-acute non-specific low back pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 24 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain
- What is being tested?
- Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR) and Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 64 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 10 Nov 2025to 10 Feb 2026
- 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 24 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- • Male athletes (Liu et al., 2025)
- Age 18-24 years (Liu et al., 2025)
- Athletes like wrestlers, weightlifters and sprinters
- Report pain and discomfort localized below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal folds. (Adhikari et al., 2021)
- Subacute low back pain - Pain lasting between 4 to 12 weeks. (Chou \& Atlas, 2023)
- Participants with moderate level of pain on Visual analogue scale.(Nambi et al., 2022)
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- Negative straight-leg-raising (SLR) test, which is useful for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation. (Jardim et al., 2022)
- No dominant leg pain from radicular or cauda equina disorders. (Liu et al., 2025)
- No history of previous lumbar or thoracolumbar spine surgery. (Jardim et al., 2022)
Who cannot join
- Any prior lumbar or thoracolumbar spine surgery (Liu et al., 2025)
- A history of cancer, spinal infection, rheumatologic diseases, spine fracture, red flag signs (such as significant and unexplained weight loss exceeding 10% of total body weight within the past six months, and presence of fever), psychological disorders, and previous spine surgery, radiculopathy, anatomical or congenital abnormalities. (Hernandez-Lucas et al., 2023)
- History of peripheral arterial disease or deep vein thrombosis. (Jardim et al., 2022)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
his randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training and traditional heavy-load resistance training (HL-RT) on male athletes with sub-acute non-specific low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the LL-BFR or HL-RT group for a specified intervention period. Both groups will perform supervised exercise sessions targeting core and lumbar stabilizing muscles. Outcomes including pain intensity, functional disability, and muscle strength will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The study seeks to determine whether LL-BFR can provide comparable or superior benefits to HL-RT while reducing mechanical stress on the lumbar spine.
- Conditions
- Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain
- Being tested
- Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR), Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT)
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR)Other
Participants will perform low-load resistance exercises with elastic occlusion cuffs on the proximal thighs, combined with four core exercises (Glute Bridge, Wall Sit, Step-Ups, Bird-Dog). Sessions last 50 minutes, three times per week for 4 weeks. Exercise intensity starts at 20% of 1RM and progresses to 35%, with sets and repetitions designed to improve core strength, reduce pain, and enhance spinal stabilization.
Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT)Other
Participants will perform high-load resistance exercises without occlusion cuffs, using the same four core exercises. Sessions last 55 minutes, three times per week for 4 weeks. Intensity starts at 50% of 1RM and progresses to 75-80%, with sets and repetitions aimed at improving muscle strength, core stability, and reducing pain and functional disability.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR); Other: Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) |
| Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR); Other: Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for Pain Intensity in Sub-Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain
Pain intensity in participants with sub-acute non-specific low back pain will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), an 11-point self-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Participants will be asked to rate their average low back pain during the past 24 hours by selecting a number from 0 to 10.
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Mar 2026
- Study start10 Nov 2025
- Primary completion10 Feb 2026
- Study completion10 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sub-acute Non-specific 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
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mahnoor Ijaz, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07480759
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Mahnoor Ijaz
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 20 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training Versus Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training in Male Athletes With Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07480759
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Mahnoor Ijaz
- Conditions
- Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Mar 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.
his randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training and traditional heavy-load resistance training (HL-RT) on male athletes with sub-acute non-specific low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the LL-BFR or HL-RT group for a specified intervention period. Both groups will perform supervised exercise sessions targeting core and lumbar stabilizing muscles. Outcomes including pain intensity, functional disability, and muscle strength will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The study seeks to determine whether LL-BFR can provide comparable or superior benefits to HL-RT while reducing mechanical stress on the lumbar spine.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR) | Experimental | Other: Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR), Other: Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) |
| Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) | Active comparator | Other: Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR), Other: Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 24 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- • Male athletes (Liu et al., 2025)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Any prior lumbar or thoracolumbar spine surgery (Liu et al., 2025)
- A history of cancer, spinal infection, rheumatologic diseases, spine fracture, red flag signs (such as significant and unexplained weight loss exceeding 10% of total body weight within the past six months, and presence of fever), psychological disorders, and previous spine surgery, radiculopathy, anatomical or congenital abnormalities. (Hernandez-Lucas et al., 2023)
- History of peripheral arterial disease or deep vein thrombosis. (Jardim et al., 2022)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR)Participants will perform low-load resistance exercises with elastic occlusion cuffs on the proximal thighs, combined with four core exercises (Glute Bridge, Wall Sit, Step-Ups, Bird-Dog). Sessions last 50 minutes, three times per week for 4 weeks. Exercise intensity starts at 20% of 1RM and progresses to 35%, with sets and repetitions designed to improve core strength, reduce pain, and enhance spinal stabilization. | Other | Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR), Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) |
| Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT)Participants will perform high-load resistance exercises without occlusion cuffs, using the same four core exercises. Sessions last 55 minutes, three times per week for 4 weeks. Intensity starts at 50% of 1RM and progresses to 75-80%, with sets and repetitions aimed at improving muscle strength, core stability, and reducing pain and functional disability. | Other | Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR), Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for Pain Intensity in Sub-Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain
Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
Pain intensity in participants with sub-acute non-specific low back pain will be assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), an 11-point self-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Participants will be asked to rate their average low back pain during the past 24 hours by selecting a number from 0 to 10.
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 20 Mar 2026.
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 Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training (LL-BFR) and Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training (HL-RT) in people with Sub-acute Non-specific 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 9 inclusion and 3 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 20 Mar 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?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for Pain Intensity in Sub-Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain (time frame: Baseline and 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 20 Mar 2026.