Workplace Exercise Therapy With or Without Manual Therapy in Chronic Spinal Pain (NCT07251959) | Clinical Trial Compass
By InvitationNot Applicable
Workplace Exercise Therapy With or Without Manual Therapy in Chronic Spinal Pain
Spain60 participantsStarted 2025-09-29
Plain-language summary
Implementing workplace strategies to manage symptoms in office workers with chronic nonspecific spinal pain (CNSP) may improve both health- and work-related outcomes, as adherence to these interventions is more feasible in this context. Exercise therapy is considered the first-line treatment for CNSP; however, the added value of combining exercise therapy with manual therapy remains inconclusive. This study aims to examine the effects of short sessions of exercise therapy plus manual therapy, compared with exercise therapy plus sham manual therapy, delivered in the workplace, on health- and work-related outcomes in office workers with CNSP.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Administrative professionals engaged in sedentary desk-based work utilizing visual display terminals (VDTs) for data processing and information management from the UCAM University
* Chronic nonspecific spinal pain defined as pain (≥4/10 on a numeric rating scale) persisting for at least the past 3 months and/or present on ≥50% of days during the previous 6 months
* The anatomical region of pain is defined from the occipital area to the gluteal folds
Exclusion Criteria:
* Participants with diagnosed conditions causing back pain, such as ankylosing spondylitis, infections, or other specific causes, including vertebral fractures
* Participants currently receiving any rehabilitative or pharmacological treatment for back pain during the 3 weeks prior to study enrollment
* Participants diagnosed with medical conditions that would prevent them from safely performing therapeutic exercise without medical supervision
* Participants who answer "Yes" to one or more questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+), indicating potential contraindications to physical activity, unless cleared by a healthcare provider
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial compares workplace exercise therapy with and without manual therapy for chronic back or neck pain — given my specific situation, would the exercise-only approach or the combined approach be more appropriate to discuss, and is there a reason one might suit me better than the other?
2Since this is a Phase NA study focused on measuring things like work productivity and disability scores, what does that tell us about how much is already known about the safety and effectiveness of these treatments, and are there standard care options I should consider first?
3The trial is enrolling by invitation only — can you tell me whether I would even be eligible to be considered, and what the process looks like for getting invited to participate?
4The study tracks adverse events as a primary outcome, which suggests they're carefully monitoring for potential harms — what kinds of side effects or risks are typically associated with manual therapy and workplace exercise programs for someone with my type of spinal pain?
5Since one of the main things being measured is work productivity and activity impairment, how might participating in a workplace-based program fit into my current work schedule and daily life, and what commitment would that realistically require from me?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Work productivity and pain-related activity impairment (WPAI: Pain)
Timeframe: At baseline, 8 weeks (end of treatment), 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment
2
Pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale)
Timeframe: At baseline, 8 weeks (end of treatment), 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment
3
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
Timeframe: At 8 weeks (end of treatment), 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment
4
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Timeframe: At baseline, 8 weeks (end of treatment), 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment
5
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
Timeframe: At baseline, 8 weeks (end of treatment), 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment