Specific Treatment Of Problems of the Spine (STOPS) Trials: Effects of advice versus physiotherapy functional restoration on pain and function for people with lumbar disc herniation and associated radiculopathy.

Effects of advice versus physiotherapy functional restoration on pain and function for people with lumbar disc herniation and associated radiculopathy: A randomised controlled trial.

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12609000205235

Acronym

STOPS

Enrollment

150

Registered

2009-04-23

Start date

2009-04-28

Completion date

2011-11-14

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

The primary aim of this trial is to compare the outcomes and adverse events of two different physiotherapy treatment approaches for people with clinical and radiological confirmation of lumbar disc herniation with associated radiculopathy. A secondary aim is to determine the perspectives of participants on the functional restoration program utilised in the trial.

Interventions

Ten sessions of physiotherapy functional restoration (30-minute sessions at variable frequency) over a 10-week period. This will involve core stabilising exercises, progressive functional exercises, and condition-specific education and advice.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Leg pain radiating below the knee (or into the anterior thigh for high lumbar disc herniations) for duration of 6 weeks to 6 months. At least one neurological sign (reflex deficit, sensory deficit, motor deficit, or positive straight-leg-raise). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerised tomography (CT) confirming the presence of a lumbar disc herniation. Able to understand and read English.

Exclusion criteria

Causes of symptoms other than disc herniation (spondylolisthesis, bony or ligamentous stenosis). Previous lumbar spine surgery. Compensable injury. Cauda equina syndrome or progressive lower limb weakness. Had injections into the back in the previous 6 weeks. Active cancer. Inability to walk safely.

Outcome results