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NCT05023005 | RECRUITING | Low Back Pain, Mechanical

Strain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain
Sponsor:

Loma Linda University

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to provide an efficient and non-invasive treatment option for pain caused by the piriformis muscle.

Condition or disease

Low Back Pain, Mechanical

Piriformis Syndrome

Somatic Dysfunction of Sacral Region (Finding)

Intervention/treatment

Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle

Phase

NA

Detailed Description:

There are two arms to the study: treatment and sham. The treatment group will receive strain-counterstrain for the piriformis muscle. The sham group will receive strain-counterstrain treatment for the hamstring muscle. There will be two treatments, 1-2 weeks apart ideally. Participants will fill out the Oswestry Disability Index Questionnaire before the first treatment and after the second treatment (which is 1-2 weeks after the first treatment). Participants will also identify pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after each treatment. Participants will identify pain at rest prior to treatment using VAS. Participant will then identify pain at the start of treatment while pressure is applied to the piriformis muscle (4.5kg/cm2) and post treatment while pressure is applied to the piriformis muscle (4.5 kg/cm2). An algometer will be used pre and post each treatment (2 treatments that are 1-2 weeks apart) to objectively measure any change in pain pressure threshold.

Study Type : INTERVENTIONAL
Estimated Enrollment : 30 participants
Masking : DOUBLE
Masking Description : Participant will not know the true positioning for strain counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle versus hamstring muscle.
Primary Purpose : TREATMENT
Official Title : Strain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain
Actual Study Start Date : 2025-12
Estimated Primary Completion Date : 2026-09
Estimated Study Completion Date : 2026-09

Information not available for Arms and Intervention/treatment

Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study: ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: 1
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
  • * 18 to 65 years of age
  • * Tender point (or trigger point) in piriformis muscle determined by physical exam
  • Exclusion criteria
    • * Less than 45 degrees of active hip flexion, less than 5 degrees of active hip internal rotation or less than 30 degrees of active hip external rotation, on side of affected piriformis
    • * Unable to lay prone
    • * Non-English speaker
    • * Inability to attend 2 sessions within the same month
    • * Active cancer
    • * Pregnant
    • * Diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy
    • * Greater than grade 1 lumbar spondylolisthesis
    • * Presence of lumbar region Pars Defect
    • * Receiving massage, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, osteopathic treatments during study period.
Strain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain

Location Details

NCT05023005

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How to Participate

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Locations

RECRUITING

United States, California

Loma Linda University Health

Loma Linda, California, United States, 92350