NCT05706103: ExTraS

Exercise Therapy for Recurrent Low Back Pain: Unraveling the Puzzle of Peripheral Muscle and Central Brain Changes (B670201420984)

Recruiting now NA Last updated 20 March 2025

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Specific skilled motor training in Low Back Pain, Recurrent in 62 participants. Currently enrolling.

Timeline

4 January 2021

Primary endpoint
31 December 2025

31 December 2025

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University Ghent
Phase	NA
Status	Recruiting now
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	double
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	62
Start date	4 January 2021
Primary completion	31 December 2025
Estimated completion	31 December 2025
Sites	1 location across Belgium

Drugs / interventions tested

• Specific skilled motor training
• General extension training

Conditions studied

• Low Back Pain, Recurrent — all drugs for Low Back Pain, Recurrent →

Sponsor

University Ghent

Who can join

Adults 18 to 45, any sex, with Low Back Pain, Recurrent. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Exercise therapy has been shown to be effective in decreasing pain and improving function for patients with recurrent low back pain (LBP). Research on the mechanisms that trigger and/or underlie the effects of exercise therapy on LBP problems is of critical importance for the prevention of recurring or persistence of this costly and common condition. One factor that seems to be crucial within this context is the dysfunction of the back muscles. Recent pioneering results have shown that individuals with recurring episodes of LBP have specific dysfunctions of these muscles (peripheral changes) and also dysfunctions at the cortical level (central changes). This work provides the foundation to take a fresh look at the interplay between peripheral and central aspects, and its potential involvement in exercise therapy. The current project will draw on this opportunity to address the following research questions: What are the immediate (after a single session) and the long-term effects (after 18 repeated sessions) of exercise training on: (1) back muscle structure; (2) back muscle function; (3) the structure of the brain; (4) and functional connectivity of the brain. This research project also aims to examine whether the effects are dependent on how the training was performed. Therefore a specific versus a general exercise program will be compared.

Publications & conference data

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

1. Efficacy of Specific Skilled Motor Versus General Exercise Training on Muscle and Neural Alterations in Recurrent Low Back Pain: Protocol of a Randomized Clinical Trial.
   Van Oosterwijck S, Wijnen J, Brandt M, Billens A, et al · · 2026 · PMID 42011735 · DOI 10.1177/00315125261441406