The Effect of Adding Lumbar Extension Strengthening to Manual Therapy and Exercise in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

MIRROR will provide onsite research staff to support both ongoing and future research conducted by physical therapists enrolled in the Army-Baylor University Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy, as well as research led by Fellowship faculty and staff. These personnel will assist the Principal Investigator and study team with coordinating research activities, which may include clinical outcomes collection, participant recruitment, data collection and management, regulatory support, and other assigned tasks. Additionally, they will support report generation and project close-out activities.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of adding lumbar strengthening exercises to a program of manual therapy and motor control exercises in individuals with chronic low back pain. The primary aim is to compare patient-reported outcomes in individuals with chronic low back pain who receive lumbar extensor strengthening in addition to a standard program of manual therapy and motor control exercises versus those who receive manual therapy and motor control exercises alone. Secondary aims include comparing lumbar multifidus morphology (thickness) between the two groups, as well as evaluating differences in the amount and type of healthcare utilization during the 12-month period following enrollment in the study.