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Hyperventilation in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Hyperventilation in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04074798
Acronym
HELBP
Enrollment
90
Registered
2019-08-30
Start date
2020-03-01
Completion date
2026-09-01
Last updated
2026-09-17

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

Conditions

Hyperventilation Syndrome, Low Back Pain, Recurrent

Brief summary

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Impaired postural control is a key factor in the development and maintenance of LBP. Moreover, the prevalence of LBP is associated with impairments in diaphragm function, symptoms of dyspnea, and dysfunctional breathing. However, the association between LBP (and more specifically postural control) and hyperventilation remains unknown. The main objective of this project is to investigate whether the presence of recurrent non-specific LBP is related to the presence of hyperventilation, when classified either objectively by decreased carbon dioxide values (demonstrating hypocapnia) or by symptoms while showing normal carbon dioxide values. Moreover, the investigators will explore whether psychosocial factors play a role in this relation. Subsequently, the investigators will examine whether hyperventilation in LBP patients is related to impaired postural control, and more specifically to a decreased postural contribution of the diaphragm.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALassessment of hyperventilation, postural control and psychological behavior

assessment of hyperventilation, postural control and psychological behavior

Sponsors

Hasselt University
Lead SponsorOTHER
ZOL
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Intervention model description

Patients with low back pain are compared to patients without low back pain (healthy controls).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Patients: * Chronic primary low back pain (\>12 weeks) as diagnosed by a medical doctor Inclusion Criteria Healthy controls: * No low back pain

Exclusion criteria

* Insufficient understanding of Dutch language * Previous spinal surgery * Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, Interstitial Lung Disease, pulmonary vascular disease, asthma except for exertional asthma * Acute cardiovascular or gastrointestinal disorders * Neuromuscular disease interfering with normal lower limb or trunk functioning * Acute pain or secondary chronic pain * Pregnant and lactating women * Major psychiatric conditions * Acute lower limb problems * Vestibular disorders

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Nijmegen questionnaireDay 1Questionnaire evaluating hyperventilation symptoms, 16 items, total score range 0-64
PetCO2Day 1End-tidal carbon dioxide pressure measured with a capnograph
Postural controlDay 1upright standing balance measured by center of pressure by force plate

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Breathing frequencyDay 1amount of breaths per minute, inspiratory and expiratory time
Breathing pattern (abominal and thoracic)Day 1abdominal or thoracic contribution to one breath measured by respiratory inductance plethysmography
Numerical Rating Scale for low back pain (NRS)Day 111 point Likert scale evaluating severity/intensity of back pain, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 11 (worst pain imaginable)
Oswestry Disability Index version 2.1a (ODI-2.1a)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating disability. 10 items Total score range from 0-100
12-item Short form Health Survey (SF-12)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating physical and mental components of health related quality of life. 12 items. Total score range 12-56.
Fear Avoidance Component Scale (FACS)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating fear-avoidance related to pain. 20 items Total score range from 0-100
Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating kinesiophobia related to pain. 17 items. Total score range from 17-68
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating catastrophizing. 13 items, 5 point Likert scale. Total score 0-52
Need for Controllability and Predictability Questionnaire (NCP-Q)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating the need for being able to control and predict situations. 15 items, 5 point Likert scale. Total score range 15 - 75
Positive And Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating positive and negative affect. 10 items positive affect, 10 items negative affect, 5 point Likert scale. Total score range per affect: 10 - 50
Pain Solutions Questionnaire (PaSoL)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating assimilative and accommodative responses to problems associated with pain. 14 items, 7 point Likert scale. Total score range 0 - 84
Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating characteristics linked to alexithymia. 20 items, 3 factors. Total score range 20 - 100
Interoceptive Awareness Questionnaire (IAQ)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating adaptive and maladaptive body awareness. 19 items, 5 point Likert scale.
Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating back specific perceptual awareness. 9 items, 5 point Likert scale. Total score range 0-36
Vragenlijst belastende ervaringen (VBE) - short versionDay 1Questionnaire evaluating aversive experiences in adult life. 11 items should be scored with yes or no. If yes a score on a 5 point Likert scale should be given.
Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism. 35 items, 5 point Likert scale. Total score range 35 - 175
International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF)Day 1Questionnaire evaluating subjective level of physical activity. 7 questions regarding amount of time spent on certain activities.

Countries

Belgium

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORLotte Janssens, PhD, PT

Hasselt University

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 18, 2026