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Status unknownNCT03600207LBP_DTUpdated Dec 6, 2018

The Effect of Diaphragm Muscle Training on Chronic Low Back Pain

An interventional study of Complex training and Diaphragm training in Low Back Pain and Diaphragm, sponsored by Szeged University. Status unknown at 1 site in Hungary. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-12-06.

Sponsored by Szeged University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Dec 2018), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 9 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Sep 2017, registered Jun 2018).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
100
Allocation
Randomized
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Brief Summary: Low back pain is very common problem in all the developed countries and affects children to elderly. Based on the etiology the low back pain is divided into two type: nonspecific and specific low back pain. If the pathological reason is known it is defined as specific and if the reason for the pain is unknown it is defined as nonspecific low back pain. The postulated reason for nonspecific low back pain is the segmental instability of the lumbar spine. Diaphragm muscle has a role in maintaining the segmental stability. The aim of this study to reduce the severity of the low back pain with improving the stability of the lumbar spine by using diaphragm training.

Read the detailed description

The study is a randomized controlled trial. The participants are divided randomly into two groups. One of the groups take part in a complex training which contains stretching, strengthening, mobilizing exercises and proprioceptive training and this training is completed by diaphragm strengthening exercises. This group is defined as diaphragm training group. The members of the diaphragm training group use the POWERbreathe Medic Plus device. Opposed to the diaphragm training group the members of the control group take part only in the complex training without strengthening the diaphragm muscle. The pain intensity is assessed by Visual Analogue Scale and the diameter of the stabilizer muscles' belly is measured by B-mode ultrasound examination, using Zonare Z.One Ultrasound System (Mountain View, CA, USA). The thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle, the lumbar multifidus muscle and the diaphragm muscle is assessed in two different positions: during lying and during sitting position with weightlifting. The muscles are measured in two different states: a relaxed and a contracted state. Functional tests and a balance platform (NeuroCom) are used to measure the stability, and the function of the diaphragm is assessed by using a POWERbreathe KH2 device.

02

Conditions studied

  • Low Back Pain
  • Diaphragm

Keywords

  • Low Back Pain
  • Diaphragm
03

In context

Back Pain

2,373 studies on the registry are indexed under Back Pain; 284 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 60 across 1,941 interventional studies indexed under Back Pain.

Browse Back Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Szeged University is the lead sponsor of 53 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Chronic low back pain
  • Do not take part in other treatment
  • Be able to learn the usage of diaphragm trainer

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Balance problems with neurological cause
  • Malignant tumor
  • Serious organ disease
  • Respiratory disease
  • A previous surgical intervention which affected the trunk
  • The patient is unable to cooperate
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Control group -complex training

    complex training

    Other: Complex training

  • Active comparator
    Experimental group -diaphragm training

    diaphragm training

    Other: Complex training · Other: Diaphragm training

Interventions

  • OtherComplex training

    The training program contains stretching, mobilizing, strengthening exercises on the trunk and hip muscles and a proprioceptive training.

  • OtherDiaphragm training

    The training program contains strengthening exercises on the diaphragm muscle.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (followed by its scale information in the Description)

    The severity of the pain is measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and after the intervention. This is a semi-objective, self-report device that is used extensively to measure such complaints as pain. The sclale is a 10 cm line. The scale is anchored by 'no pain' (0 score) and 'worst imaginable pain' (score of 10). Therefore the higher values represent a worse outcome. When using the Visual Analogue Scale, the participants had to mark on a 10 cm long line the average severity of lumbar pain and we measured the distance of their mark from the zero point in cm-s.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  2. Thickness of the stabilizer muscles' belly

    The thickness of the stabilizer muscles's belly is measured with an ultrasound examination (Zonare Z.One Ultrasound System). The assessed muscles are transversus abdominis muscle, diaphragm muscle and lumbar multifidus muscle before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Respiratory muscles' function

    Respiratory muscles' function is measured with POWERbreathe KH2 device before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  2. Limits of stability in sitting

    It is measured by modified Functional and Lateral Reach Test before and after the intervention. Modified means the sitting position.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  3. Functional skills

    The functional skills are measured by the standard Timed Up and Go Test, Four Square Step Test and Fingertip to Toe Test before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: 8 week

  4. Balance and stability

    The balance and the stability of the participants is measured with a force platform (NeuroCom Basic Balance Master) using CTSIB and Unilateral Stance protocol before and after the intervention.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • SZTE-Egészségtudományi és Szociális Képzési Kar
    Szeged, 6726, Hungary
    Recruiting
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 6, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03600207
Lead sponsor
Szeged University
Responsible party
Tamás Bender (Clinical Professor, Szeged University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 26, 2018
Start date
Sep 4, 2017
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2018
Completion
Apr 2021 (estimated)
Last update
Dec 6, 2018

Study contacts

Tamás Bender, Prof.
Contact
bender.tamas@irgalmas.hu
+36 14388581
Regina Finta
Contact
fintaregina@etszk.u-szeged.hu
+3670884435

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is status unknown, as verified in Dec 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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