Côté‐Picard 2020.

Study name	Effect of thermal therapy and exercises on acute low back pain: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Methods	Study design: RCT Statistical analysis: generalised linear mixed models for all outcomes
Participants	Number: 69 Inclusion Criteria LBP of duration < 6 weeks (with or without leg pain) that limits activities or changed the daily routine for > 1 day No pain for ≥ 3 months before onset of current LBP episode Exclusion Criteria "Red flag" signs that may suggest serious spinal pathology History of spinal surgery Obvious lower limb radiculopathy Fibromyalgia Rheumatoid arthritis Important skin lesion in the lumbar area Alteration of cutaneous sensations or temperature perception Pregnancy or plan to become pregnant
Interventions	EG: exercise therapy and thermal therapy CG1: thermal therapy CG2: control (a sham non‐heat lumbar belt)
Outcomes	Disability Pain Intensity Pain‐related fear Self‐efficacy Perception of change Number of steps walked
Starting date	June 2019
Contact information	Hugo Massé‐Alarie 418‐529‐9141 ext 6930 hugo.masse-alarie@fmed.ulaval.ca Jean Tittley 418‐529‐9141 ext 2478 jean.tittley@cirris.ulaval.ca
Notes	Registered at clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03986047. Has started recruiting. Funding: Laval University and Quebec Pain Research Network