Optimizing Impact of Manual Therapy on Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Description

Lumbar spinal stenosis, a common condition in older adults, can cause pain and difficulty walking (i.e., intermittent neurogenic claudication - INC). Patients with INC not infrequently undergo spinal surgery that fails to help them 1/3-1/2 the time. The purpose of this multi-site feasibility study is to prepare for the conduct of a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of manual therapy, exercise, and intramuscular electroacupuncture in reducing pain and improving walking ability for those with INC, and ultimately limiting the need for surgical referrals.

Conditions

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Lumbar spinal stenosis, a common condition in older adults, can cause pain and difficulty walking (i.e., intermittent neurogenic claudication - INC). Patients with INC not infrequently undergo spinal surgery that fails to help them 1/3-1/2 the time. The purpose of this multi-site feasibility study is to prepare for the conduct of a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of manual therapy, exercise, and intramuscular electroacupuncture in reducing pain and improving walking ability for those with INC, and ultimately limiting the need for surgical referrals.

Optimizing Impact of Manual Therapy and Exercise on Lumbar Spinal Stenosis With Neurogenic Claudication: A Multi-Site Feasibility Study

Optimizing Impact of Manual Therapy on Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Condition
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Orlando

Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, Florida, United States, 32827

Boston

Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Intermittent neurogenic claudication (INC), defined as pain or discomfort with walking or prolonged standing that radiates beyond the spinal area and is relieved with sitting (ascertained using a structured interview)
  • * Average pain/discomfort severity \> moderate
  • * Advanced imaging (e.g., MRI, CT scan, CT-myelogram) evidence of lumbar spinal stenosis (extracted from electronic medical record, or outside report provided by participant; advanced imaging will not be performed as part of our study procedures)
  • * Able to commit to 9 months of study participation
  • * English speaking
  • * Red flags indicative of serious underlying illness requiring urgent care (e.g., fever, change in bowel/ bladder function, sudden severe change in pain, unintentional weight loss, new leg weakness)
  • * Walking capacity over 2 miles
  • * Other conditions that significantly impact mobility (e.g., painful conditions such as advanced hip/knee osteoarthritis with pain more severe than INC pain, Parkinson's disease, stroke, vascular claudication, angina pectoris, pulmonary disease, morbid obesity (i.e., BMI \> 40).
  • * Prior lumbar surgery, because of its negative impact on spinal biomechanics;
  • * Positive screen for dementia (i.e., Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination);
  • * Acute medical or psychiatric illness, or active substance abuse that renders the patient incapable of being a reliable study participant;
  • * Prohibitive communication impairment (e.g., severe hearing or visual impairment)

Ages Eligible for Study

50 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Pittsburgh,

Study Record Dates

2026-07-31