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CompletedNCT05015205Updated Aug 27, 2021

Effects of Muscle Energy Technique and Postural Correction Exercises in Lordotic Females Wearing High Heels

An interventional study of Muscle Energy Technique and Postural Correction Exercises in Lordosis and Low Back Pain, sponsored by Riphah International University. Completed at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-08-27.

Sponsored by Riphah International University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 2 years 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Apr 2019, registered Aug 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
28
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The key purpose was to determine the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Postural Correction Exercises on low back pain in females wearing high heels.

To determine the effects of muscle energy technique \& postural correction exercises in reducing pain, anterior pelvic tilt angle and increasing lumbar range of motion in subjects with chronic low back pain due to lordotic posture in females wearing high heels.

Read the detailed description

Body segments can be defined as the suitable posture positions. Body segments are placed in a way that center of gravity of each segment lies vertically. By this appropriate alignment, instead of excessive muscular activity, stability can be achieved by the body by the use of bone structures and ligament. Hence, in this way body structures experience the decreased tension. Besides the cosmetic effects of high heels, high heels results in increased risk of fall, fracture of bones particularly bones lower extremity, and also the change in normal kinematics of lower limb especially knee joint, and altered weight bearing on medial and longitudinal arches of foot. High heels change the line of gravity and posture of the body. Use of high heels change the posture which is compensated by the changes in different segments of the body like increased planter flexion of ankle as well as the displacements of the trunk and posterior pelvic tilting. The whole body mechanics gets affected in females wearing high heels. The center of gravity get disturbed with the use of high heel shoes. In body alignment, pelvis is known to have key importance. Any alteration in neutral position of pelvis leads to the compensatory altered movements in different regions, while, the segment which is considered to be the most effect is lumber spine.

02

Conditions studied

  • Lordosis
  • Low Back Pain

Keywords

  • Lordosis
  • METs
  • Postural Correction Exercise
03

In context

Lordosis

30 studies on the registry are indexed under Lordosis; 5 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 28 is below the median of 50 across 15 interventional studies indexed under Lordosis.

Browse Lordosis studies →

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University is the lead sponsor of 2,193 studies on the registry; 650 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Age 18-45 years
  2. Low back pain of no more than 12 weeks duration in lordotic females wearing high heel shoes.
  3. Females wearing 4 to 5 inches high heel shoes 6 hour per day.
  4. Increased lumbosacral angle
  5. An initial ODI score of 20 % to 60 %.
  6. Localized pain in lumbar spine with no radiating pain towards buttocks, hips or legs.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Any red flags (tumor, fracture, metabolic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, resting blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg, prolonged history of use, etc)
  2. Presented with involvement of nerve compression symptoms like radiating pain, change in normal sensory sensations with significant muscle weakness, or hypo reflexia or hyper reflexia.
  3. Presented with a diagnosis of Lumbar spinal stenosis.
  4. Presented with a diagnosis of Lumbar spinal spondylolisthesis.
  5. Prior surgery to the lumbar region.
  6. Patients who are already receiving treatment.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    MET Group

    Post isometric relaxation technique MET was applied in two muscle groups; Lumbar Extensors (Erector Spinae) and Hip Flexors (Iliopsoas). The exercises were performed 3 times per week for 4 weeks.

    Other: Muscle Energy Technique

  • Experimental
    Control Group

    Postural Correction Exercises was applied to one group. Exercises performed included stretching and strengthening exercises. The exercises were performed 3 times per week for 4 weeks.

    Other: Postural Correction Exercises

Interventions

  • OtherMuscle Energy Technique

    Post isometric relaxation technique MET was applied in two muscle groups; Lumbar Extensors (Erector Spinae) and Hip Flexors (Iliopsoas). The muscle was positioned in position and patient was asked to apply 20% force isometrically and hold the isometric contractions for 7-10 seconds. Then the patient was asked to relax for about seconds. On exhalation, therapist takes muscle to new restriction barrier. Hold this position for 30 seconds at the end barrier as an end-stretch with 3 repetitions.

  • OtherPostural Correction Exercises

    : Postural Correction Exercises was applied to one group. Exercises performed included stretching and strengthening exercises. Hip flexors and back extensors were stretched while hip extensors and abdominals were strengthened. Seated hip flexion used to stretch back extensors while lunge position used to stretch hip flexors. The abdominals were strengthened by using curl up exercises while hip extensors were strengthened by resisted contractions in prone lying.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

    This is subjective instrument that is widely used in clinical settings. The 11-point numeric scale ranges from '0' representing one pain extreme (e.g. "no pain") to '10' representing the other pain extreme (e.g. "pain as bad as you can imagine" or "worst pain imaginable").

    Time frame: 3 months

  2. Disability Index (DI)

    This is subjective instrument that is widely used in clinical settings. 0% to 20%: minimal disability: The patient can cope with most living activities. Usually no treatment is indicated apart from advice on lifting sitting and exercise. 21%-40%: moderate disability: The patient experiences more pain and difficulty with sitting, lifting and standing. Travel and social life are more difficult and they may be disabled from work. Personal care, sexual activity and sleeping are not grossly affected and the patient can usually be managed by conservative means. 41%-60%: severe disability: Pain remains the main problem in this group but activities of daily living are affected. These patients require a detailed investigation. 61%-80%: crippled: Back pain impinges on all aspects of the patient's life. Positive intervention is required. 81%-100%: These patients are either bed-bound or exaggerating their symptoms.

    Time frame: 3 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Nosheen Manzoor
    Faisalābad, Punjab 3800, Pakistan
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Apr 2019 to primary completion in Sep 2019, 5 months.

Of 11 interventional studies with no phase under Lordosis, half reached primary completion within 5 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 21. This study's 5 months is close to that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Aug 10, 2021
First posted
Aug 20, 2021
StartActual
Apr 2, 2019
Primary completionActual
Sep 30, 2019
CompletionActual
Sep 30, 2019
Last update
Aug 27, 2021
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 27, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05015205
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 20, 2021
Start date
Apr 2, 2019
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2019
Completion
Sep 30, 2019
Last update
Aug 27, 2021

Study contacts

Nosheen Manzoor, MS
principal investigator · Riphah International University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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