Aspecific low back pain Musculoskeletal Diseases Low back pain
Conditions
Interventions
Specific strengthening of the lumbar extensor muscles versus usual care for aspecific low back pain.
Sponsors
Royal Netherlands Army (The Netherlands)
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Military employees of the RNLA between the age of 18 and 54 years 2. At least 4 weeks of continuous or recurrent (at least three times a week) episodes of low back pain (LBP) pain localised 3. Between posterior iliac crests and angulus inferior scapulae 4. Availability to visit the local military health centre two times a week during 10 consecutive weeks 5. No more than two sessions of absence due to job-related activities (e.g. military exercise, course, leave) 6. Willingness to abandon other treatment interventions for the lower back during the intervention period 7. Signed informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Spinal surgery in the last 2 years 2. Specific treatment for LBP in the last 4 weeks (e.g. physiotherapy, manual therapy) 3. Severe LBP which hinders in performing maximal isometric strength efforts 4. Specific LBP, defined as herniated disc, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylolisthesis 5. Neurological diseases
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Global perceived effect, measured by self-assessment on a 7-point scale 2. Patient-specific functional status, measured by a questionnaire following a patient-specific approach 3. Low-back specific functional status, measured by the validated Dutch version of the Roland Disability Questionnaire Beside a baseline measurement, follow-up data are gathered at two short-term intervals and two long-term intervals. Short-term follow-up measurements are at 5 and 10 weeks after randomisation. Long-term follow-up measurements are at 6 months and one year after the end of the intervention, respectively. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Fear of movement or re-injury, measured by the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia 2. Mental health, measured by the Dutch translation of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire 3. Social health, measured by a subscale of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire 4. Overall work status 5. Individual back extension strength progression 6. Patient satisfaction, measured at the end of the treatment program Beside a baseline measurement, follow-up data are gathered at two short-term intervals and two long-term intervals. Short-term follow-up measurements are at 5 and 10 weeks after randomisation. Long-term follow-up measurements are at 6 months and one year after the end of the intervention, respectively. | — |
Countries
Germany, Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed