Chronic Low Back PainNCT07694219
Bowen Therapy and McGill Stabilization Exercises in Chronic Low Back Pain
A study testing Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise and Bowen Therapy in people with Chronic Low Back Pain and Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), run by Sehat Medical Complex at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy combined with McGill stabilization exercises versus Bowen Therapy alone in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 55 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Low Back Pain, Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)
- What is being tested?
- Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise and Bowen Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 22 Mar 2024to 15 Apr 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 55 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- With chronic localized low back pain lasting over three months
- Without any signs of pain below the gluteal fold
- Fulfills the recommended diagnostic criteria of nonspecific chronic low back pain.
Who cannot join
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Lumbar canal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylitis
- Radiculopathy
- Vertebral fracture
- Neurological deficits
- Pregnancy or radiating pain below the gluteal fold.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Bowen Therapy and McGill Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion, and Disability in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy combined with McGill stabilization exercises versus Bowen Therapy alone in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The study will evaluate changes in pain intensity, lumbar range of motion, and functional disability over a four-week intervention period. It is hypothesized that the combined intervention will produce greater improvements in clinical outcomes than Bowen Therapy alone.
Read the detailed description
This is a single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial conducted at Sehat Medical Complex. A total of 100 participants aged 25-55 years with chronic nonspecific low back pain of more than three months' duration will be randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups using a computer-generated randomization sequence.
Participants in the experimental group will receive Bowen Therapy combined with the McGill stabilization exercise program, while participants in the comparator group will receive Bowen Therapy alone. Both groups will receive standard physiotherapy modalities, including a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) before each treatment session. The intervention period will last four weeks, with treatment sessions conducted three times per week.
Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline and at Weeks 2 and 4. Pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), lumbar range of motion will be assessed using a bubble inclinometer, and functional disability will be evaluated using the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI). All assessments will be performed by the same trained physiotherapist to ensure measurement consistency.
The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Sehat Medical Complex (Approval No. IREB-UOL-SMC/001-26/2024) and will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before enrollment. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics will summarize baseline characteristics, the Shapiro-Wilk test will assess data normality, and repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) will be used to evaluate changes between groups over time. Statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05.
- Being tested
- Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise, Bowen Therapy
- Keywords
- Low back pain, Chronic low back pain, Bowen therapy, Disability index, Lumbar mobility, McGill stabilization, Pain reduction, Range of motion, Rehabilitation exercises
- 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.
Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization ExerciseProcedure or surgery
Bowen Therapy is a manual therapy involving gentle rolling movements applied over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs. Treatment consisted of standardized movement sequences with 2-5 minute intervals between sets to facilitate neuromuscular integration. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets, administered three times per week for six weeks.
The McGill stabilization exercise program consisted of evidence-based core stabilization exercises including the curl-up, side-bridge, and bird-dog. Exercises were performed three times per week on alternate days for six weeks, with 30 repetitions and a 10-second isometric hold during each repetition. Participants also performed conventional physiotherapy exercises, including single and double knee-to-chest stretches, prone lying, heel slides, supine bicycling, and bridging exercises.
Bowen TherapyProcedure or surgery
Bowen Therapy is a manual therapy involving gentle rolling movements applied over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs. Treatment consisted of standardized movement sequences with 2-5 minute intervals between sets to facilitate neuromuscular integration. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets, administered three times per week for six weeks. Participants in both study groups received Bowen Therapy according to the same standardized protocol.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise | Experimental | Participants received a combined intervention consisting of Bowen Therapy and McGill stabilization exercises for six weeks. The McGill exercise program included curl-up, side-bridge, and bird-dog exercises performed three sessions per week on alternate days, with 30 repetitions and a 10-second isometric hold per repetition. Conventional physiotherapy exercises, including single and double knee-to-chest stretches, prone lying, heel slides, supine bicycling, and bridging exercises, were also provided. Before each treatment session, participants received a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Receives: Procedure: Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise |
| Bowen Therapy Alone | Active comparator | Participants received Bowen Therapy alone for six weeks. Bowen Therapy consisted of gentle rolling manual movements applied to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs, with 2-5 minute intervals between movement sequences. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets following a standardized treatment protocol. Participants also received standard physiotherapy modalities, including a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) before each treatment session. Receives: Procedure: Bowen Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Measured: Baseline, Week 2 and Week 4
Secondary outcomes (1)
Functional Disability Measured by the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI)
Functional disability will be assessed using the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI). Scores range from 0% to 100%, with higher scores indicating greater disability.
Measured: Baseline, Week 2 and Week 4
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Jul 2026
- Study start22 Mar 2024
- Primary completion14 Dec 2024
- Study completion15 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Chronic 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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sehat Medical Complex
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Waseem Javaid, Sehat Medical Complex
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07694219
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-UOL-SMC/001-27/2024
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 24 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Fouladi N, Minoonejad H, Rajabi R. Comparing the effects of the postural restoration exercises with and without core stability exercises in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Journal of Modern Rehabilitation. 2023.
Opara JA, Saulicz E, Szczygiel JW, Szczygiel K. Is the Central Sensitization in Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Structural Phenomenon or Psychological Reaction? A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2025 Jan 17;14(2):577. doi: 10.3390/jcm14020577.
PubMed 39860583Baek JE, Kim SH, Shin HJ, Cho HY. Effect of a Healing Program Using Marine Resources on Reducing Pain and Improving Physical Function in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Jan 21;61(2):172. doi: 10.3390/medicina61020172.
PubMed 40005290
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Bowen Therapy and McGill Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion, and Disability in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07694219
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB-UOL-SMC/001-27/2024
- Keywords
- Low back pain, Chronic low back pain, Bowen therapy, Disability index, Lumbar mobility, McGill stabilization, Pain reduction, Range of motion
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Sehat Medical ComplexUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Jul 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.
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy combined with McGill stabilization exercises versus Bowen Therapy alone in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The study will evaluate changes in pain intensity, lumbar range of motion, and functional disability over a four-week intervention period. It is hypothesized that the combined intervention will produce greater improvements in clinical outcomes than Bowen Therapy alone.
Detailed description
This is a single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial conducted at Sehat Medical Complex. A total of 100 participants aged 25-55 years with chronic nonspecific low back pain of more than three months' duration will be randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups using a computer-generated randomization sequence.
Participants in the experimental group will receive Bowen Therapy combined with the McGill stabilization exercise program, while participants in the comparator group will receive Bowen Therapy alone. Both groups will receive standard physiotherapy modalities, including a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) before each treatment session. The intervention period will last four weeks, with treatment sessions conducted three times per week.
Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline and at Weeks 2 and 4. Pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), lumbar range of motion will be assessed using a bubble inclinometer, and functional disability will be evaluated using the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI). All assessments will be performed by the same trained physiotherapist to ensure measurement consistency.
The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Sehat Medical Complex (Approval No. IREB-UOL-SMC/001-26/2024) and will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before enrollment. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics will summarize baseline characteristics, the Shapiro-Wilk test will assess data normality, and repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) will be used to evaluate changes between groups over time. Statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise | Experimental | Procedure: Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization ExerciseParticipants received a combined intervention consisting of Bowen Therapy and McGill stabilization exercises for six weeks. The McGill exercise program included curl-up, side-bridge, and bird-dog exercises performed three sessions per week on alternate days, with 30 repetitions and a 10-second isometric hold per repetition. Conventional physiotherapy exercises, including single and double knee-to-chest stretches, prone lying, heel slides, supine bicycling, and bridging exercises, were also provided. Before each treatment session, participants received a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). |
| Bowen Therapy Alone | Active comparator | Procedure: Bowen TherapyParticipants received Bowen Therapy alone for six weeks. Bowen Therapy consisted of gentle rolling manual movements applied to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs, with 2-5 minute intervals between movement sequences. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets following a standardized treatment protocol. Participants also received standard physiotherapy modalities, including a 10-minute moist hot pack and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) before each treatment session. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- With chronic localized low back pain lasting over three months
- Without any signs of pain below the gluteal fold
- Fulfills the recommended diagnostic criteria of nonspecific chronic low back pain.
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Lumbar canal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylitis
- Radiculopathy
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization ExerciseBowen Therapy is a manual therapy involving gentle rolling movements applied over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs. Treatment consisted of standardized movement sequences with 2-5 minute intervals between sets to facilitate neuromuscular integration. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets, administered three times per week for six weeks. The McGill stabilization exercise program consisted of evidence-based core stabilization exercises including the curl-up, side-bridge, and bird-dog. Exercises were performed three times per week on alternate days for six weeks, with 30 repetitions and a 10-second isometric hold during each repetition. Participants also performed conventional physiotherapy exercises, including single and double knee-to-chest stretches, prone lying, heel slides, supine bicycling, and bridging exercises. | Procedure or surgery | Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise |
| Bowen TherapyBowen Therapy is a manual therapy involving gentle rolling movements applied over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia using the fingers or thumbs. Treatment consisted of standardized movement sequences with 2-5 minute intervals between sets to facilitate neuromuscular integration. Each session included two to three repetitions per set and four to five sets, administered three times per week for six weeks. Participants in both study groups received Bowen Therapy according to the same standardized protocol. | Procedure or surgery | Bowen Therapy Alone |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 2 and Week 4
Pain intensity will be assessed using the 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
1 secondary outcome
Functional Disability Measured by the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI)
Time frame: Baseline, Week 2 and Week 4
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 24 Sep 2026.
- BackgroundFouladi N, Minoonejad H, Rajabi R. Comparing the effects of the postural restoration exercises with and without core stability exercises in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Journal of Modern Rehabilitation. 2023.
- Background: PubMed 39860583Opara JA, Saulicz E, Szczygiel JW, Szczygiel K. Is the Central Sensitization in Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Structural Phenomenon or Psychological Reaction? A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2025 Jan 17;14(2):577. doi: 10.3390/jcm14020577.
- Background: PubMed 40005290Baek JE, Kim SH, Shin HJ, Cho HY. Effect of a Healing Program Using Marine Resources on Reducing Pain and Improving Physical Function in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Jan 21;61(2):172. doi: 10.3390/medicina61020172.
- 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 Bowen Therapy + McGill Stabilization Exercise and Bowen Therapy in people with Chronic Low Back Pain and Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), run by Sehat Medical Complex 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 3 inclusion and 8 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 24 Sep 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?
Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) (time frame: Baseline, Week 2 and Week 4). 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 NCT07694219, which also lists 3 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 24 Sep 2026.