RecruitingPhase 2

Modulation Effect of tACS on Chronic Low Back Pain

United States80 participantsStarted 2025-08-25

Plain-language summary

Investigating the modulation effect of tACS

Age range18 Years – 60 Years

SexALL

See this in plain English?

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

✓. Volunteers 18-60 years of age
✓. Meet the Classification Criteria of the chronic LBP (having low back pain for more than 6 months)
✓. At least 4/10 clinical pain on the 0-10 LBP NRS
✓. At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients understand all questions used in the assessment measures
✓. Meeting the MRI / MEG / EEG screening criteria

✕. Specific causes of back pain (eg, cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections)
✕. Complicated back problems (eg, prior back surgery, medicolegal issues)
✕. The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study
✕. History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome (for example: asthma or claustrophobia)
✕. Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning (for example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy, cannot lie still in fMRI scanner)
✕. Concomitant autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory, neoplastic, and psychiatric diseases
✕. Pregnant or lactating
✕. Conditions making study participation difficult (e.g., paralysis, psychoses, or other severe psychological problems as per the judgment of a study investigator during Session 1)

Alpha activity at rest

Timeframe: Baseline and week 4

TC resting state functional connectivity

Timeframe: Baseline and week 4

Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain intensity

Timeframe: Baseline and week 4

NCT IDNCT06568198

SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2028-02-01

JIAN KONG

Who can participate

Age range18 Years – 60 Years

SexALL

See this in plain English?

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

✓. Volunteers 18-60 years of age
✓. Meet the Classification Criteria of the chronic LBP (having low back pain for more than 6 months)
✓. At least 4/10 clinical pain on the 0-10 LBP NRS
✓. At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients understand all questions used in the assessment measures
✓. Meeting the MRI / MEG / EEG screening criteria

✕. Specific causes of back pain (eg, cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections)
✕. Complicated back problems (eg, prior back surgery, medicolegal issues)
✕. The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study
✕. History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome (for example: asthma or claustrophobia)
✕. Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning (for example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy, cannot lie still in fMRI scanner)
✕. Concomitant autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory, neoplastic, and psychiatric diseases
✕. Pregnant or lactating
✕. Conditions making study participation difficult (e.g., paralysis, psychoses, or other severe psychological problems as per the judgment of a study investigator during Session 1)