CompletedNot Applicable

Low Load Blood Flow Restriction Training Versus Traditional Heavy Load Resistance Training in Male Athletes With Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain

Pakistan64 participantsStarted 2025-11-10

Plain-language summary

his randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training and traditional heavy-load resistance training (HL-RT) on male athletes with sub-acute non-specific low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the LL-BFR or HL-RT group for a specified intervention period. Both groups will perform supervised exercise sessions targeting core and lumbar stabilizing muscles. Outcomes including pain intensity, functional disability, and muscle strength will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The study seeks to determine whether LL-BFR can provide comparable or superior benefits to HL-RT while reducing mechanical stress on the lumbar spine.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 24 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: * • Male athletes (Liu et al., 2025) * Age 18-24 years (Liu et al., 2025) * Athletes like wrestlers, weightlifters and sprinters * Report pain and discomfort localized below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal folds. (Adhikari et al., 2021) * Subacute low back pain - Pain lasting between 4 to 12 weeks. (Chou \& Atlas, 2023) * Participants with moderate level of pain on Visual analogue scale.(Nambi et al., 2022) * Negative straight-leg-raising (SLR) test, which is useful for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation. (Jardim et al., 2022) * No dominant leg pain from radicular or cauda equina disorders. (Liu et al., 2025) * No history of previous lumbar or thoracolumbar spine surgery. (Jardim et al., 2022) Exclusion Criteria: * Any prior lumbar or thoracolumbar spine surgery (Liu et al., 2025) * A history of cancer, spinal infection, rheumatologic diseases, spine fracture, red flag signs (such as significant and unexplained weight loss exceeding 10% of total body weight within the past six months, and presence of fever), psychological disorders, and previous spine surgery, radiculopathy, anatomical or congenital abnormalities. (Hernandez-Lucas et al., 2023) * History of peripheral arterial disease or deep vein thrombosis. (Jardim et al., 2022)

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.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

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

Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for Pain Intensity in Sub-Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Timeframe: Baseline and 4 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07480759

SponsorUniversity of Lahore

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-02-10

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Sub-acute Non-specific Low Back Pain trials