Do you have low back pain? Join our study

In this study, we are looking to better understand low back pain treatments that do not involve medication. To do this, we will offer chiropractic or physical therapy as the first line of treatment before seeing your primary care physician. We will compare the differences between patients who begin their low back pain treatment with a chiropractor or physical therapist—also known as primary spine practitioners—and those who begin treatment with a primary care physician.

Six primary care clinics at Iowa—five Family Medicine clinics and the General Internal Medicine clinic—are taking part in this study. Patients at three clinics will be offered the choice to see a primary spine practitioner, while patients at the other three clinics will be seen by a primary care physician.

The six participating clinics are: 

• North Liberty Family Medicine
• UIHC Family Medicine Clinic 
• UIHC Internal Medicine
• Scott Boulevard Family Medicine
• River Crossing Family Medicine
• Iowa River Landing East Family Medicine

Patients aged 18 and older who are seeking treatment for low back pain and schedule a visit at one of our six participating six primary care clinics.

If you agree to participate in the study, you will respond to an initial questionnaire followed by a series of questionnaires at one, three, six, 12, and 24 months. These questionnaires can be answered online, over the phone, or by mail.

You will receive $20 for completing each questionnaire.

Enrollment in the study happens at the time that you make the appointment for your low back pain. You can also call toll free 866-890-5963 to enroll in the study and have a scheduling assistant help you make your appointment. Hours for making appointments are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Participation in the study is voluntary. If you do not wish to take part, the scheduling assistant will schedule an appointment as usual without enrolling you in the study. You can change your mind and remove yourself from the study at any time.

This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

If you would like to learn more about the study, please call toll free 866-890-5963 or email [email protected]. You can also visit this website impactlbp.org/ for more information about the study.