CompletedNot Applicable

Brain and Gene Expression Responses to Exercise in Chronic Back Pain

Canada57 participantsStarted 2017-03-31

Plain-language summary

This study is registered retrospectively for transparency. This mechanistic randomized controlled trial examined whether a 14-week supervised physical exercise training program reduces chronic low back pain (CLBP) by modulating frontostriatal brain connectivity and immune-related gene expression. Fifty-seven adults with CLBP were randomized to exercise training or wait-list control. Participants underwent pre- and post-intervention MRI, questionnaires, and blood sampling. The study tested whether reductions in nucleus accumbens-medial prefrontal cortex connectivity and changes in inflammatory gene expression mediated exercise-induced pain relief.

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: * Age ≥ 18 years * Chronic low back pain ≥ 3 months * Pain present at least half the days over the past 6 months * Average pain intensity ≥ 3/10 during week prior to enrollment Exclusion Criteria: * Diabetes * Neurological disorder * Psychiatric disorder * Significant cardiorespiratory disease * Under 18 years of age

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 is listed as completed — does that mean results are available yet, and if so, what did they find about whether exercise actually reduced chronic low back pain intensity?
2Since this study looked at both brain responses and gene expression changes related to exercise, what does my doctor think that approach tells us about why exercise might or might not work for my specific type of chronic back pain?
3The trial focused on measuring pain intensity as its main outcome — how does that compare to what matters most to me, like being able to function day-to-day or reduce my reliance on pain medication?
4Given that this trial is already completed and I can't enroll, are there similar or follow-up studies on exercise for chronic low back pain that my doctor thinks would be worth looking into for me?
5Before considering any exercise-based treatment approach that might come out of research like this, should I first try standard physical therapy or other established treatments for chronic low back pain, and how would my doctor decide what's the right sequence for my situation?

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

Chronic Low Back Pain Intensity

Timeframe: Assessed at Baseline (Pre-intervention, Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 14)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07480460

SponsorMcGill University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2021-12-14

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) trials