Emergency Department Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain
(FEED-PT Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores a new method to assist people with low back pain directly in the emergency room. Instead of waiting weeks to see a physical therapist, patients receive immediate care while still in the ER. The trial assesses the feasibility of this approach and collects data over time to prepare for a larger study. Individuals who have recently visited the ER for low back pain and speak English or Spanish may qualify, provided they do not have serious underlying issues. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to receive immediate care and contribute to innovative research that could enhance ER treatment for low back pain.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What prior data suggests that this embedded ED physical therapy model is safe for patients with low back pain?
Research has shown that providing physical therapy in the emergency department (ED) is a safe method for treating low back pain. Studies have found that patients respond well to this type of treatment. Physical therapists employ exercises and techniques identical to those used in regular physical therapy sessions. Studies have reported no negative effects from this approach. Since these methods are standard practice, no experimental treatments, devices, or drugs are involved. This suggests the treatment is likely as safe as regular physical therapy.12345
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about embedded emergency department physical therapy for lower back pain because it offers immediate, hands-on care right in the emergency room. Unlike the usual practice, where patients might wait weeks for a physical therapy referral, this approach allows for instant intervention, potentially alleviating pain sooner. By integrating physical therapists into the emergency department, this method aims to reduce reliance on pain medications and improve the overall patient experience by providing timely and targeted care.
What evidence suggests that embedded emergency department physical therapy is effective for low back pain?
This trial will compare the effectiveness of embedding a physical therapist in the emergency department (ED) with usual care for patients with low back pain. Studies have shown that having a physical therapist in the ED can expedite treatment for low back pain. In a previous trial, this approach resulted in better pain relief and fewer follow-up visits compared to usual care, which often involves medications and delayed physical therapy referrals. Research indicates this method can quickly ease pain and improve movement, reducing the need for pain medication. Early evidence also suggests that having a physical therapist available in the ED helps patients start exercises and receive guidance immediately, which can speed up recovery. Overall, this new model shows promise in managing low back pain more effectively than traditional methods.36789
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for individuals experiencing low back pain who visit the emergency departments at Northwestern Medicine and University of Utah Health systems. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants would need to meet certain health conditions to be included.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Planning and Preparation
Milestone-driven planning and preparation phase before the trial begins
Active Intervention
Embedded ED physical therapy intervention is conducted at two sites
Longitudinal Data Collection
Collection of longitudinal patient-reported outcome data and electronic health record data
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Embedded Emergency Department Physical Therapy
Trial Overview
The study tests a new care model where a physical therapist provides immediate treatment in the ED for low back pain, compared with usual care. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive this embedded physical therapy or continue with standard practices.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Usual care treatment for low back pain presenting in the emergency department (ED). Usual care consists of any ED testing or treatment not involving an ED physical therapist in accordance with the treating physician's usual and customary practice. This could include diagnostic imaging, patient education and resources, and administration and/or prescribing of analgesic medications.
We place a physical therapist directly in the emergency department to initiate timely care for patients with low back pain rather than waiting on an outpatient referral to physical therapy, which can often take weeks to accomplish, if ever at all. The actual techniques and approaches used by the embedded ED physical therapist in this study (e.g., exercises, maneuvers, coaching) are standard-of-care and do not involve investigational interventions, devices, or drugs.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Northwestern University
Lead Sponsor
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborator
University of Utah
Collaborator
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Collaborator
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Collaborator
Citations
Embedded emergency department physical therapy versus ...
This is a single-centre cluster-randomised trial of an embedded ED physical therapy intervention for acute low back pain.
ED Physical Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain
This clinical trial will evaluate an innovative model of an emergency department "embedded" physical therapist to treat patients with acute low back pain, with ...
a protocol for the NEED-PT randomised trial
This is a single-centre cluster-randomised trial of an embedded ED physical therapy intervention for acute low back pain.
4.
trial.medpath.com
trial.medpath.com/clinical-trial/dd41f3c3894b4587/cluster-randomized-trial-emergency-physical-therapy-low-back-painED Physical Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain | MedPath
Despite this aggressive medication-based approach, patient outcomes after an ED visit for back pain remain poor: after three months, nearly half of all patients ...
Study Details | NCT07224945 | A Multi-Site Feasibility Trial ...
This is a multi-site feasibility trial of an embedded emergency department (ED) physical therapy care model for low back pain at two EDs in ...
a protocol for the NEED-PT randomised trial
This is a single-centre cluster-randomised trial of an embedded ED physical therapy intervention for acute low back pain.
ED Physical Therapy for Acute Low Back Pain ...
This clinical trial will evaluate an innovative model of an emergency department "embedded" physical therapist to treat patients with acute low back pain, with ...
Embedded emergency department physical therapy versus ...
In a prior observational study we demonstrated that ED. PT for low back pain is associated with greater improve- ments in pain- related ...
Embedded emergency department physical therapy versus ...
Embedded emergency department physical therapy versus usual care for acute low back pain: a protocol for the NEED-PT randomised trial. BMJ Group.
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