NCT03973788

Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Pain Thresholds in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Completed NA Last updated 9 January 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) in 40 participants. Completed in 13 January 2022.

Timeline

1 July 2019

Primary endpoint
31 January 2021

13 January 2022

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Texas Woman's University
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	40
Start date	1 July 2019
Primary completion	31 January 2021
Estimated completion	13 January 2022
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Conditions studied

• Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) — all drugs for Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) →

Sponsor

Texas Woman's University

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP). Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common reason for which patients are treated with opioids. Because the misuse of prescription opioids has become a serious problem in the Uinted States, finding effective alternative non-pharmaceutical interventions for chronic pain management has become an urgent matter. A phenomenon termed central sensitization (i.e. mal-adaption of the brain) has been hypothesized to be an underlying mechanism for the development of chronic pain, leading to sensory hypersensitivity to extremal stimuli. Therefore, non-invasive brain stimulation, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be an effective intervention to regulate brain excitability, thus reducing chronic pain. However, research has shown inconclusive evidence regarding the rTMS effects on chronic pain reduction, partly due to the heterogeneity of participants in studies to date. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate the immediate and short-term effects of rTMS on neurosensory changes (i.e., pain thresholds) in patients with CLBP. The secondary purpuse of the study is to explore the relationship between changes of cortical excitability (TMS parameters) and changes of pain thresholds after the rTMS intervention in patients with CLBP.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. The Role of Central Sensitization in Responsiveness to Brain Stimulation for Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain - An Exploratory Study.
   Wang-Price S, Zafereo J, Alkhathami K, Alshehre Y, et al · · 2026 · PMID 42093848 · DOI 10.2147/jpr.s590522