The Program in Physical Therapy is conducting a randomized, controlled clinical trial of two conservative low-back pain treatments to examine their effectiveness.
Principal investigator Linda Van Dillen, Ph.D., said both treatments include education, training in everyday activities and exercise.
One treatment includes education about low-back pain contributors; the natural history of low-back pain; the role of activity in managing low-back pain problem; training in everyday activities based on biomechanical principles; and exercise to increase trunk strength and flexibility.
The other treatment will include education about how the specific movements and alignments found during a standard examination contribute to the participant’s low-back pain and the importance of remaining active; training in changing the movements and alignments used during everyday activities that are related to low-back pain; and exercise to control symptoms and improve trunk control during trunk and limb movements.
Study participants must be 18-60 years old and have experienced mechanical low-back pain for at least one year. Participants will visit the Musculoskeletal Analysis Laboratory of the Program in Physical Therapy for a standard exam and laboratory testing. Those who qualify will receive six free physical therapy sessions by trained clinicians over six weeks.
Treatment will be provided at the University’s Physical Therapy Clinic or outpatient clinic at The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis. Follow-up includes a second lab visit and completion of questionnaires at six months and 12 months.
Participants will be compensated for their time.
For more information, contact Connie Trout, study coordinator, at 286-0557.