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Telehealth or In-Clinic Physical Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain

This study, called the TeleBACK Clinical Trial, is looking at how well telerehabilitation (physical therapy through video calls) compares to traditional in-clinic physical therapy for people with chronic low back pain. Researchers want to see if these two approaches help reduce pain and disability. You might be able to join if you are 18 to 64 years old, have had a primary care visit for low back pain recently, and experience at least moderate pain and disability (Oswestry score ≥24% and average pain ≥ 4/10). The main goal is to measure changes in your disability levels three months after starting treatment. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is a randomized clinical trial, meaning you would be assigned by chance to either telerehabilitation or in-clinic physical therapy. The study plans to enroll 1000 participants.
What's involved
If in the telerehabilitation group, you would have an initial evaluation and 7 follow-up sessions via video. If in the in-clinic group, you would receive all physical therapy sessions in a clinic.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your disability levels will be measured at 3 months after treatment begins.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06821607

Telerehabilitation for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain (TeleBACK Clinical Trial)

Recruiting
NAAges 18–64InterventionalTreatment
Johns Hopkins University
~1,000 participants
Updated 2026-08-21 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:In-Clinic Physical TherapyTelehealth Physical Therapy (Telerehabilitation)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
3 of 3 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Oswestry Disability Index
Measured over Change from baseline to 3 months after treatment initiation

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain

Explore related trials

Chronic low back pain

Where it's being run

3 sites across 2 states
Utah2
Maryland1

Study leadership

  • Richard L. Skolasky, Sc.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins University
  • Kevin McLaughlin, D.P.T. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Who to contact

Richard L Skolasky, Sc.D.
[email protected]
410-502-7975
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Primary care visit in the past 90 days with an LBP-related ICD-10 diagnosis.
At least moderate levels of pain and disability requiring Oswestry score ≥24% and average pain rating ≥ 4/10 points.
Meets NIH Task Force2 definition of chronic LBP based on two questions: 1) How long has LBP has been an ongoing problem? and 2) How often has LBP been an ongoing problem over the past 6 months? A response of greater than 3 months to question 1, and "at least half the days in the past 6 months" to question 2 is required to satisfy the NIH definition of chronic LBP.
Can speak and understand English or Spanish (Utah sites only).

Exclusion

Recent history (last 6 months) of lumbar spine surgery.
Possible non-musculoskeletal cause for low back pain symptoms (e.g., pregnancy).
Evidence of serious pathology as a cause of LBP including neoplasm, inflammatory disease (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis), vertebral osteomyelitis, etc.
Neurological disorder resulting in severe movement disorder, or schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder.
Knowingly pregnant

What this trial measures

  • Change in Oswestry Disability IndexChange from baseline to 3 months after treatment initiation

    LBP-related disability. The total score range is \[0, 100\] with higher values representing greater pain-related disability.