Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain, Low Back Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Low Back Pain, Telerehabilitation, Exercise Therapy
Brief summary
Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain (NLBP) is a common condition that occurs without a specific underlying pathology, resulting in muscle tension, pain, and a decreased quality of life. Office workers are particularly at risk due to prolonged sitting, ergonomic errors, and low physical activity. While exercise therapy is a primary approach for management, low adherence rates often limit its effectiveness. Telerehabilitation (remote, technology-supported physiotherapy) stands out for its potential to increase access and support continuity of care. This study is a randomized controlled trial that will be conducted with 45 office workers aged 18-65 diagnosed with chronic NLBP. Participants will be randomly assigned to three parallel groups: traditional exercise (brochure-based), synchronous telerehabilitation (live sessions), and asynchronous telerehabilitation (pre-recorded videos). The intervention protocol will be implemented for 8 weeks. Evaluations will be performed before and after the 8-week period using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain intensity, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional disability, Short Form-36 (SF-36) for health-related quality of life, and a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of traditional, synchronous, and asynchronous telerehabilitation approaches on pain, disability, quality of life, and satisfaction to determine the most effective management model for office workers with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALFace-to-Face Clinic-Based Exercise
The exercise protocol consists of stretching, core stabilization, and motor control exercises for low back pain. Frequency: Performed 3 days a week for 8 weeks, consisting of 2 sets of 10 repetitions (approximately 45-60 minutes per session). It will be delivered face-to-face by a physiotherapist in a clinical environment at Istanbul Aydin University.
BEHAVIORALSynchronous Telerehabilitation Exercise
The exercise protocol consists of stretching, core stabilization, and motor control exercises for low back pain. Frequency: Performed 3 days a week for 8 weeks, consisting of 2 sets of 10 repetitions (approximately 45-60 minutes per session). It will be delivered via live, real-time online video sessions supervised by a physiotherapist.
BEHAVIORALAsynchronous Telerehabilitation Exercise
The exercise protocol consists of stretching, core stabilization, and motor control exercises for low back pain. Frequency: Performed 3 days a week for 8 weeks, consisting of 2 sets of 10 repetitions (approximately 45-60 minutes per session). Participants will be provided with pre-recorded instructional exercise videos and follow the exercises individually at their own convenience.
Sponsors
Istanbul Aydın University
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Being an office worker aged between 18 and 65 years. * Diagnosed with chronic non-specific low back pain (symptoms persisting for more than 3 months). * Volunteering to participate in the study and signing the informed consent form. * Having a computer, smartphone, or tablet with a stable internet connection capable of supporting video calls.
Exclusion criteria
* \- History of spinal surgery, structural spinal deformities (e.g., severe scoliosis), or specific causes of low back pain (e.g., disc herniation with severe radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis). * Diagnosis of systemic, rheumatological, neurological, or inflammatory diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system. * Serious cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions that contraindicate physical exercise. * Currently receiving active physical therapy or regular medical intervention for low back pain elsewhere. * Pregnancy.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Disability Level | Baseline and Post-intervention (Week 8) | Evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure functional disability related to low back pain. The questionnaire consists of 10 items, and the total score is expressed as a percentage ranging from 0% to 100%. A score of 0% indicates no disability, while 100% represents the highest possible level of functional disability. Higher percentages mean a worse functional outcome. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Health-Related Quality of Life | Baseline and Post-intervention (Week 8) | Evaluated using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, which measures 8 health domains. Scores range from 0 to 100 for each domain, where higher scores represent a better health-related quality of life. |
| Pain Intensity Assessed via Visual Analog Scale (VAS) | Baseline and Post-intervention (Week 8) | Measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for low back pain, where participants rate their pain on a 10-centimeter horizontal line. Scores range from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the most severe imaginable pain. Higher scores represent worse pain outcomes. |
| Patient Satisfaction | Post-intervention (Week 8) | Measured using the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Total scores range from 0 to 100 (converted from the multi-item scale), where 0 indicates total dissatisfaction and 100 indicates the highest level of satisfaction. Higher scores mean a better outcome. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
CONTACTÖzge Mine YILMAZ, Ass Prof
Outcome results
None listed