Study of Weekly Medical Massage Therapy Plus Provider Care Versus Provider Care Alone for Active-Duty Service Members With Subacute Lower Back Pain

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether adding Medical Massage Therapy MMT to provider-directed care can shorten the time active-duty service members with subacute lower back pain LBP spend on medically restricted duty. This trial focuses on subacute LBP, a common cause of musculoskeletal injuries among service members, and aims to reduce pain, healthcare use, and improve recovery compared to provider-directed care alone. The study involves 200 participants and addresses the lack of strong evidence for effective LBP treatments. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving only provider-directed care such as physical therapy, and the other receiving both provider-directed care and weekly MMT sessions by licensed therapists. The treatment period lasts approximately 12 weeks, with participants following their assigned care plan and completing study forms. A final follow-up visit occurs up to four weeks after the last treatment. During the study, participants will undergo regular assessments including pain scales, disability indexes, and questionnaires about pain, work productivity, and sleep quality at baseline, weekly visits, and follow-up. Researchers will monitor medical restricted duty days, medication use, and healthcare utilization. Data collection continues for up to 16 weeks after the baseline visit to evaluate the impact of MMT alongside standard care on recovery and quality of life.

Investigating Medical Massage Therapy for Patients With Sub-Acute Lower Back Pain