Effectiveness of Tricortin 1000 in Patients Affected by Chronic Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clinical diagnosis of mechanical (mild, moderate degenerative process of disc andfacet) chronic LBP, for at least 3 months but no more than 6 months, confirmed (thanksto instrumental analysis obtained within 9 months before the Screening visit) by CT orMRI. In case a MRI/CT performed in the previous 9 months is not available, thediagnosis should be confirmed by means of a MRI performed between Screening visit (Visit 1) and Baseline visit (Visit 2)
2. A moderate to severe acute exacerbation of Chronic LBP at study entry, defined as ascore ≥4 and ≤8 rated on the NRS-11
3. Age greater than or equal to 40 and less than or equal to 70 years
4. Patient able to maintain a Diary during the study
5. Patient with a Body Mass Index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2
6. Discontinuation of any analgesic/NSAID therapy, opioids, corticosteroids, skeletalmuscle relaxants and any other medication or non-pharmacological therapy (if it wouldinterfere with the study assessments), with no intent to resume during study
7. Patients who did not receive antidepressant medications and/or benzodiazepines for atleast 60 days
8. Patient able to read and understand the language and content of the study material,understand the requirements for follow-up visits, is willing to provide information atthe scheduled evaluations and is willing and able to comply with the studyrequirements
9. Patient has undergone the informed consent process and has signed an approved consentform
10. If female, patient must have a negative urine pregnancy test and use a highlyeffective form of contraception for at least one month prior to screening andthroughout the study; or females must be surgically sterile, or postmenopausal asdocumented in medical history for at least one year. Highly effective birth controlmethods include: combined hormonal contraception (containing estrogen and progestogen)associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, intravaginal, transdermal);progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral,injectable, implantable); intrauterine device (IUD); intrauterine hormone-releasingsystem (IUS); bilateral tubal occlusion; vasectomised partner; sexual abstinence*
11. Patients who did not use Tricortin 1000 in the past to treat LBP or other pathologicalconditions.

• Note: According to 4.1 paragraph "Birth control methods which may be consideredas highly effective" of the CTFG/Recommendations related to contraception andpregnancy testing in clinical trials Baseline Inclusion Criteria:

1. In aptients for which a MRI/CT performed in the previous 9 months is not available,the diagnosis of chronic LBP should be confirmed by means of a MRI performed betweenscreening visit (Visit 1) and baseline (Visit 2)
2. LBP with score ≥ 5 and ≤ 8 in the NRS-11 (off medication except for paracetamol, studyrescue medication)
3. Patient has discontinued use of all analgesic/NSAIDs, opioids, corticosteroids,skeletal muscle relaxants, and any other medication or non-pharmacological therapy (ifit would interfere with the study assessments) at V1 (except for patients that willperform the MRI between Screening and Baseline visit) and agree not to resume themduring study (except for paracetamol, study rescue medication). These medication mustbe discontinued for at least 14 days before the Baseline visit (Visit 2/ Day 0), i.e.can be taken for maximum 7 days during the 14-21 days of Screening phase, in case thatthe screening phase is prolonged up to 21 days in patients that will perform the MRIbetween screening and baseline visit.
4. Patient has complied with the requirements for rescue medication (no more than 4tablets - 2 grams - of paracetamol per day up to 4 days per week) and no paracetamolintake in the 24 hours before baseline visit
5. Patient continues to meet all Screening inclusion/exclusion criteria at the Baselinevisit, with the exception of screening inclusion criterion 2 which is replaced bybaseline inclusion criterion 2

Exclusion Criteria: Related to patients

1. Patients suffering of chronic non-specific LBP
2. Females who are pregnant or breast-feeding
3. Patients who are not able to give informed consent
4. Patients who cannot commit to the entire duration of the study
5. Patients with back pain referred from a mechanical cause (except for mild, moderatedegenerative process of disc and facet) non spinal source or back pain associated withanother specific spinal cause
6. Patients who have a primary bone disease, cancer, infection (except for osteoporosispatients without fracture history)
7. Other conditions which may confound the interpretation of the study, such as carpal,rheumatoid arthritis, severe venous diseases, peripheral arterial diseases, transientischemic attack, stroke, current symptoms of coronary artery disease
8. History of narcotic abuse at any time in the past and/or drug or alcohol abuse in thepast year
9. Patients who have had a previous treatment with physical therapy for LBP in the last 4weeks before the screening visit or are going through a course of physical therapy orchiropractic treatment at the time of planned enrolment
10. Participation in another research study
11. History of epilepsy
12. Patients who have an unstable psychiatric condition Red flags as possible indicators of serious spinal pathology:
13. Unexplained serious thoracic pain
14. Any recent trauma, which may raise the possibility of a fracture
15. Fever and unexplained weight loss
16. Bladder or bowel dysfunction
17. History of carcinoma
18. Progressive neurological deficit
19. Disturbed gait, saddle anaesthesia Musculoskeletal related
20. Radicular syndromes of idiopathic,metabolic, toxic, infective, demyelinating orneoplastic aetiology
21. Patients with spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis or ankylosing spondylitis.
22. Patients with scoliosis of 15° or more
23. Patients with inflammatory arthritis or severe degenerative process of disc and facet
24. Patients who have had prior spine surgery, including rhizotomy as like as, patientswho are planning or have been advised to have spine surgery. Concomitant conditions, diseases, medications and/or clinical history
25. Patients with any concomitant chronic disease(s) or condition(s) that may predisposethem to a high probability of interfering with the completion of the follow-up of thestudy such as peptic ulcer, liver disease, severe coronary disease, renal disease,cancer, pregnancy, alcoholism, mental state, or other clinically significant condition
26. Patients with history of active or suspected oesophageal, gastric, pyloric channel, orduodenal ulceration or bleeding in the last 12 weeks before the screening visit
27. Patients requiring chronic use of analgesia for pain
28. Patients with known allergies or hypersensitivity or intolerance to Tricortin 1000,NSAIDs and/or paracetamol, and/or to active or inactive excipients of formulation
29. Patients in treatment with neuroleptics (antipsychotics)
30. Patients affected by diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis or Amyotrophic LateralSclerosis
31. Any contraindications to either prone distraction or side posture manipulation
32. Any contraindications as reported in the Patient Information Leaflet of Tricortin 1000or Diclofenac sodium medicated plaster.