Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Self-Selected Versus Physiotherapist-Prescribed Resistance Training Program In People With Chronic Low Back Pain

34 participantsStarted 2026-09-01

Plain-language summary

Chronic low back pain is a public health issue affecting over 20% of the Spanish population, causing disability, reduced quality of life, and work absenteeism. Over the past decades, the benefits of physical exercise for improving symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain have been studied. Exercise has also been shown to improve quality of life, general health, self-efficacy, and fear of pain, regardless of pathology. Research on the effect of physical exercise in chronic low back pain patients has shown promising results. Therefore, the therapeutic exercise program proposed in this study may help participants adopt healthy habits that positively impact their quality of life. This will be a clinical trial in patients with chronic low back pain. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of a self-selected resistance training program versus physiotherapist-prescribed exercises in improving pain intensity and disability in adults with chronic low back pain. Secondary objectives include evaluating differences between the two groups after 12 weeks in treatment satisfaction, degree of compliance, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy, muscle endurance, and lumbar electromyographic activity. If you agree to participate, a member of the research team experienced in exercise programs for chronic low back pain will instruct you on how to perform the program. The follow-up study will include 34 participants randomly assigned to two groups: one group performing self-selected resistance exercises, and one group performing physiotherapist-prescribed exercises. The study will last 12 weeks, assessing your condition at the start and end of the study. You will complete questionnaires on pain intensity (Numerical Pain Rating Scale, NPRS), disability (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI), treatment satisfaction (CRES-4), adherence to treatment, kinesiophobia (TSK-11), self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, PSEQ), muscle endurance (Biering-Sørensen test), and surface electromyographic activity of the erector spinae (longissimus) muscle (sEMG-ESL) using the mDurance® device. POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND RISKS OF PARTICIPATION Expected direct benefits of participation may include improvements in pain intensity, disability, treatment satisfaction, adherence to therapeutic exercise, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy, muscle endurance, and electromyographic activity. However, it is possible that you may not experience any personal benefit. The information obtained will contribute to scientific knowledge about CLBP and may help others in the future. ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS Chronic low back pain is a pathological entity with extensive study, which can present different conservative therapeutic options, such as psychological therapy, regular physical exercise and the adoption of healthy habits. COMPENSATION Participation in this study will not incur any costs for you. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION Any new information discovered during your participation that may affect your willingness to participate in the study will be communicated to you by your doctor as soon as possible. If you decide to withdraw your consent to participate in this study, no new data will be added to the database, and if samples have already been collected, you may request the destruction of all previously obtained, identifiable samples to avoid further analysis. You should also be aware that you may be excluded from the study if the sponsor or researchers deem it necessary, either for safety reasons or because they believe you are not complying with the established procedures. In either case, you will receive a clear explanation of the reason for your withdrawal from the study. The sponsor may suspend the study for any of the reasons stipulated in current legislation. By signing the attached consent form, you agree to comply with the study procedures explained to you. When your participation is over, you will receive the best available treatment that your doctor considers most appropriate for your condition.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 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.

Exclusion criteria

. Lumbar radiculopathy or radicular pain syndrome, defined by clinical signs of nerve root involvement (e.g., dermatomal pain, neurological deficits, or positive neurodynamic tests)
. Serious spinal or non-spinal pathology explaining low back pain, identified through clinical assessment (e.g., malignancy, vertebral fracture, spinal infection, cauda equina syndrome, inflammatory spinal disease, vascular, visceral or other serious causes).
. Medical contraindications to exercise, as determined by the treating physician The presence of lumbar degenerative imaging findings (e.g., degenerative disc disease, lumbar spondylosis, facet joint osteoarthritis, or Modic changes) will not constitute an exclusion criterion, provided that the clinical presentation is consistent with chronic low back pain.

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

Pain-related distribution and intensity

Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Disability

Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07745465

SponsorUniversity of Cadiz

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-03

Contact for this trial

Luis González Gómez, PT, MSc

637958168 luis.gonzalezgomez@alum.uca.es

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More People With Chronic Low Back Pain trials