CompletedNot Applicable

ED Physical Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain

United States360 participantsStarted 2021-07-12

Plain-language summary

Emergency department (ED)-initiated physical therapy is a rapidly growing resource and represents a promising treatment approach to low back pain. This clinical trial will evaluate an innovative model of an emergency department "embedded" physical therapist to treat patients with acute low back pain, with a focus on improving patient functioning and reducing opioid use.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Low back pain (originating between 12th rib and buttocks) * Symptom duration ≤ 30 days (current episode) * Evaluated by a physician randomized to either study arm * Evaluated when ED physical therapy is available (e.g., Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm) * Likely to be discharged home (based on physician assessment) * Ability to complete follow-up data collection electronically or by telephone * English-speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic low back pain or prior lumbar surgery * Serious red-flag signs/symptoms (bladder/bowel incontinence, saddle anesthesia, debilitating motor weakness) * Obvious non-musculoskeletal etiology for low back pain (e.g., shingles, kidney stone) * Other concomitant injuries or pain (e.g., closed head injury, shoulder pain) * Unable to ambulate at baseline * Known pregnancy, under police custody, unable to consent

What they're measuring

PROMIS Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI)

Timeframe: Three months after the index ED visit.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04921449

SponsorNorthwestern University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-10-03

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Low Back Pain trials