SciaticaNCT07710924
Effects of Shockwave Therapy Versus Ultrasound Therapy Among Patients With Chronic Sciatica
A study testing Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound and Conventional Physiotherapy in people with Sciatica and Chronic Sciatica, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Sciatica is characterized by radiating pain, functional limitations, reduced flexibility, disturbed sleep, and impaired quality of life. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Therapeutic Ultrasound are commonly used physiotherapy modalities for pain relief and tissue healing; however, evidence directly comparing… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Sciatica, Chronic Sciatica, Lumbar Radiculopathy
- What is being tested?
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound and Conventional Physiotherapy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 66 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 30 Jun 2025to 12 Apr 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 20 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 20-45 years.
- Clinically diagnosed chronic sciatica.
- Radiating pain below the knee.
- Positive Straight Leg Raise test (30°-70°).
- Pain intensity ≥4/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale.
- Symptoms persisting for at least 3 months.
- Presence of tingling, numbness, lumbar radiculopathy, or piriformis syndrome.
Who cannot join
- Lumbar disc herniation.
- Progressive neurological disorders.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Paget disease.
- Tuberculosis.
- Malignancy.
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- Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory disorders.
- Previous spinal surgery or fracture.
- Fever, unexplained weight loss, or systemic illness.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Shockwave Therapy Versus Ultrasound Therapy Combined With Conventional Physiotherapy on Pain Intensity, Hamstring Range of Motion, Sleep Quality, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Chronic Sciatica: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Sciatica is characterized by radiating pain, functional limitations, reduced flexibility, disturbed sleep, and impaired quality of life. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Therapeutic Ultrasound are commonly used physiotherapy modalities for pain relief and tissue healing; however, evidence directly comparing their effectiveness remains limited. This randomized controlled trial compares the effects of Shockwave Therapy and Ultrasound Therapy, each combined with conventional physiotherapy, on pain intensity, hamstring range of motion, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with chronic sciatica.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial compares two physiotherapy interventions for chronic sciatica. Sixty-six participants will be randomly allocated to either Shockwave Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy or Ultrasound Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy. Both groups will receive identical conventional physiotherapy consisting of heat therapy, myofascial release, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Treatment will be administered four sessions per week for eight weeks. Outcomes including pain intensity, hamstring range of motion, sleep quality, and quality of life will be measured at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 by a blinded outcome assessor.
- Conditions
- Sciatica, Chronic Sciatica, Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Being tested
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound, Conventional Physiotherapy
- Keywords
- Sciatica, Chronic Sciatica, Lumbar Radiculopathy, Shockwave Therapy, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Sciatica, Radiculopathy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Extracorporeal Shockwave TherapyDevice
Also called ESWT, Radial Shockwave Therapy
Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy will be applied to the sciatic nerve origin and piriformis region using standardized treatment parameters for approximately 10 minutes during each treatment session.
Therapeutic UltrasoundDevice
Also called Ultrasound Therapy, Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound will be applied to the gluteal and lumbar regions using standardized frequency and intensity parameters for approximately 10 minutes during each treatment session.
Conventional PhysiotherapyOther
Conventional physiotherapy will include moist heat therapy, myofascial release, stretching exercises, and strengthening exercises administered during every treatment session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Shockwave Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy | Experimental | Participants will receive radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy in addition to standardized conventional physiotherapy four times per week for eight weeks. Receives: Device: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy; Other: Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Ultrasound Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy | Active comparator | Participants will receive therapeutic ultrasound in addition to standardized conventional physiotherapy four times per week for eight weeks. Receives: Device: Therapeutic Ultrasound; Other: Conventional Physiotherapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Intensity
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10). Higher scores indicate greater pain.
Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Hamstring Range of Motion
Hip flexion measured with a universal goniometer during the Straight Leg Raise test.
Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Secondary outcomes (1)
Sleep Quality
Sleep Quality Scale. Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality.
Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Jul 2026
- Study start30 Jun 2025
- Primary completion10 Mar 2026
- Study completion12 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for SciaticaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of LahoreThe 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
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Shockwave Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy or Ultrasound Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy. Both groups will receive the same conventional physiotherapy program, while the experimental intervention will differ according to treatment allocation. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 by a blinded assessor.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Rimsha Imtiaz, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07710924
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UOL/IREB/25/09/0054
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 17 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared because this study was conducted as an academic research project. The informed consent obtained from participants did not include provisions for public data sharing, and the dataset contains sensitive personal health information. Data will be stored securely and used only for academic and research purposes in accordance with institutional ethics approval.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Shockwave Therapy Versus Ultrasound Therapy Combined With Conventional Physiotherapy on Pain Intensity, Hamstring Range of Motion, Sleep Quality, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Chronic Sciatica: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07710924
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UOL/IREB/25/09/0054
- Conditions
- Sciatica, Chronic Sciatica, Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Keywords
- Sciatica, Chronic Sciatica, Lumbar Radiculopathy, Shockwave Therapy, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 17 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.
Sciatica is characterized by radiating pain, functional limitations, reduced flexibility, disturbed sleep, and impaired quality of life. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Therapeutic Ultrasound are commonly used physiotherapy modalities for pain relief and tissue healing; however, evidence directly comparing their effectiveness remains limited. This randomized controlled trial compares the effects of Shockwave Therapy and Ultrasound Therapy, each combined with conventional physiotherapy, on pain intensity, hamstring range of motion, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with chronic sciatica.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial compares two physiotherapy interventions for chronic sciatica. Sixty-six participants will be randomly allocated to either Shockwave Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy or Ultrasound Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy. Both groups will receive identical conventional physiotherapy consisting of heat therapy, myofascial release, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Treatment will be administered four sessions per week for eight weeks. Outcomes including pain intensity, hamstring range of motion, sleep quality, and quality of life will be measured at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 by a blinded outcome assessor.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Shockwave Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy or Ultrasound Therapy plus Conventional Physiotherapy. Both groups will receive the same conventional physiotherapy program, while the experimental intervention will differ according to treatment allocation. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 by a blinded assessor.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Shockwave Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy | Experimental | Device: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Other: Conventional PhysiotherapyParticipants will receive radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy in addition to standardized conventional physiotherapy four times per week for eight weeks. |
| Ultrasound Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy | Active comparator | Device: Therapeutic Ultrasound, Other: Conventional PhysiotherapyParticipants will receive therapeutic ultrasound in addition to standardized conventional physiotherapy four times per week for eight weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Adults aged 20-45 years.
- Clinically diagnosed chronic sciatica.
- Radiating pain below the knee.
- Positive Straight Leg Raise test (30°-70°).
- Pain intensity ≥4/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Lumbar disc herniation.
- Progressive neurological disorders.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Paget disease.
- Tuberculosis.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Extracorporeal Shockwave TherapyAlso: ESWT, Radial Shockwave TherapyRadial extracorporeal shockwave therapy will be applied to the sciatic nerve origin and piriformis region using standardized treatment parameters for approximately 10 minutes during each treatment session. | Device | Shockwave Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Therapeutic UltrasoundAlso: Ultrasound Therapy, UltrasoundTherapeutic ultrasound will be applied to the gluteal and lumbar regions using standardized frequency and intensity parameters for approximately 10 minutes during each treatment session. | Device | Ultrasound Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Conventional PhysiotherapyConventional physiotherapy will include moist heat therapy, myofascial release, stretching exercises, and strengthening exercises administered during every treatment session. | Other | Shockwave Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy, Ultrasound Therapy + Conventional Physiotherapy |
Primary outcome
Pain Intensity
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10). Higher scores indicate greater pain.
Hamstring Range of Motion
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
Hip flexion measured with a universal goniometer during the Straight Leg Raise test.
1 secondary outcome
Sleep Quality
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8
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 17 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared because this study was conducted as an academic research project. The informed consent obtained from participants did not include provisions for public data sharing, and the dataset contains sensitive personal health information. Data will be stored securely and used only for academic and research purposes in accordance with institutional ethics approval.
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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 Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound and Conventional Physiotherapy in people with Sciatica and Chronic Sciatica, 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 7 inclusion and 9 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 17 Jul 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 (time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 17 Jul 2026.