An interventional study of Mirror Image Spine Correction Exercises and Conservative Physiotherapy in Radiculopathy, Radiculopathy Lumbar and Sciatica, sponsored by University of Sharjah. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United Arab Emirates. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-30.
Sponsored by University of Sharjah · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Lumbar radiculopathy is a common condition caused by irritation or compression of a lumbar nerve root, often resulting in radiating leg pain, numbness, weakness, and functional limitation. Conservative physiotherapy is commonly used as first-line treatment, but outcomes vary among patients.
This randomized controlled trial will compare Mirror Image Spine Correction Exercises with standardized conservative physiotherapy in adults with lumbar radiculopathy. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups for 12 weeks.
The primary outcome is lumbar nerve root microstructural integrity measured using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), including Fractional Anisotropy and other diffusion parameters. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity, disability, spinal alignment, and adverse events.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a targeted posture-correction exercise approach provides greater improvement than conventional physiotherapy.
Lumbar radiculopathy is a neuromusculoskeletal disorder commonly caused by lumbar disc herniation or foraminal stenosis leading to nerve root irritation or compression. Symptoms commonly include radiating leg pain, paresthesia, weakness, altered reflexes, and reduced physical function.
Conservative physiotherapy is recommended as first-line management and may include education, graded exercise, mobility restoration, strengthening, neural mobilization, and symptom management. However, treatment response is heterogeneous, and many patients continue to experience persistent symptoms.
Most previous rehabilitation studies have relied primarily on patient-reported outcomes such as pain and disability. These measures are clinically important but may not fully reflect biological recovery of the affected nerve root.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is an advanced magnetic resonance imaging technique that can quantify neural tissue microstructure. Parameters such as Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Mean Diffusivity (MD), Axial Diffusivity (AD), and Radial Diffusivity (RD) may provide objective markers of nerve recovery.
Mirror Image Spine Correction Exercises are individualized posture-based exercises designed to move the trunk or pelvis opposite to identified alignment deviations. This approach may improve biomechanics, reduce abnormal loading, and decrease neural irritation.
This study is a prospective randomized, parallel-group, superiority trial. Eligible adults with unilateral lumbar radiculopathy will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to:
Mirror Image Spine Correction Exercise group Standardized Conservative Physiotherapy group Both groups will receive supervised treatment sessions three times per week for 12 weeks.
Primary Outcome:
Change in lumbar nerve root microstructural integrity measured by DTI at baseline and week 12.
Secondary Outcomes:
Pain intensity Disability (Oswestry Disability Index) Spinal alignment Safety outcomes and adverse events The study aims to determine whether Mirror Image Spine Correction Exercises produce superior clinical and imaging outcomes compared with conservative physiotherapy.
483 studies on the registry are indexed under Radiculopathy; 145 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 64 is close to the median of 60 across 373 interventional studies indexed under Radiculopathy.
Browse Radiculopathy studies →University of Sharjah is the lead sponsor of 42 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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.
MRI-confirmed lumbar nerve root compression or irritation consistent with symptoms.
Pain intensity of 3/10 or greater. Able to undergo MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Able to understand study procedures and provide written .
Exclusion Criteria:
Severe progressive neurological deficit requiring urgent treatment. to MRI (pacemaker, incompatible implants, severe claustrophobia).
Recent lumbar injections or surgery. Other neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting outcomes. Pregnancy if MRI contraindicated by local policy. Cognitive impairment or inability to follow instructions.
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.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will receive a supervised individualized Mirror Image Spine Correction Exercise program three sessions per week for 12 weeks. Exercises will be based on postural alignment findings and include a prescribed home exercise program.
Behavioral: Mirror Image Spine Correction Exercises
Participants will receive standardized conservative physiotherapy three sessions per week for 12 weeks including education, graded exercise, mobility training, strengthening, and clinically indicated adjunctive techniques.
Behavioral: Conservative Physiotherapy
Participants will receive an individualized supervised exercise program based on identified postural alignment deviations. Treatment will be delivered three sessions per week for 12 weeks and may include trunk and pelvic corrective movements, mobility, stabilization, and a prescribed home exercise program.
Participants will receive standardized conservative physiotherapy three sessions per week for 12 weeks including education, graded exercise, mobility exercises, strengthening, neural mobilization, and clinically indicated adjunctive non-invasive techniques.
Lumbar Nerve Root Fractional Anisotropy
Change in lumbar nerve root microstructural integrity measured using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Fractional Anisotropy.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Pain Intensity
Measured using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10).
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Spinal Alignment
Measured using digital posture analysis.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Additional DTI Parameters
Mean Diffusivity, Axial Diffusivity, and Radial Diffusivity.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified individual participant data may be shared upon reasonable request after publication, subject to ethics approval, institutional policy, and participant confidentiality protections.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form, Analytic code
Time frame: De-identified individual participant data and supporting documents will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the primary study results and will remain available for at least 5 years thereafter, subject to institutional data retention policies.
Access criteria: Qualified researchers with a methodologically sound proposal may request access to de-identified individual participant data, study protocol, statistical analysis plan, informed consent materials, and analytic code. Requests will be reviewed by the study investigators and institution to ensure scientific merit, participant confidentiality, and compliance with ethical approvals. Data will be shared through secure controlled-access electronic transfer following approval of a data use agreement where required.
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Aug 2027, 11 months later.
Of 203 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Radiculopathy, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 30. This study's planned 11 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 215 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 45.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Sharjah