Effect of Standard Physical Exercises for Non-specific Low Back Pain Combined with Multimodal Osteopathy Treatment on Pain Intensity and Functional Capacity: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims: The aim of the proposed study is to determine the effect of a standard treatment for non-specific low back (CNSLBP) combined with multimodal osteopathy treatment on pain intensity and functional capacity.

Materials and Methods: This will be a blind randomized clinical trial, with 44 patients with CNSLBP, randomly assigned into two groups: Experimental group (EG) treated with therapeutic exercises and multimodal osteopathy treatment (n=22) and Control group (CG) treated with therapeutic exercises (n=22). Participants will receive treatment twice a week (total of 16 sessions). The primary outcome is pain, measured by numeric rating scale (NRS: score 0-11 points). Secondary outcomes are: Patient-specific functional scale (scored from 0 to 30), Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), finger-to-floor distance test (FFD). Participants will be evaluated pre- and post-treatment and after 1 and 3 months (follow-up).

Results: Analysis will be by intention to treat using linear mixed models. Comparisons between groups before and after treatment will demonstrate whether osteopathy treatment exerts a supplementary effect on pain and functional capacity in patients with CNSLBP. The data will be published after the study is completed. The study will support the practice of evidence-based physical therapy for individuals with CNSLBP. This protocol was registered (NCT06566144) and received ethical approval (CAEE: 6.275.345).