Does a graded exercise program of lumbar stabilizing exercises reduce pain and disability, compared to a walking program, for patients with recurrent low back pain?

First, the details.

• 71 patients with recurrent mechanical low back pain (at least 8 weeks duration, with at least 1 pain-free period during the past year) and without leg pain were randomly assigned to a treatment group for 8 weeks.
• The exercise program was individually supervised by a physiotherapist weekly for 45 minutes.
  • Walking program: Walk 30 minutes daily at the fastest pace that did not aggravate pain.
  • Stabilizing exercises for the lumbar spine: Re-learning activation of the transversus abdominis and multifidus muscles, with assistance of a pressure biofeedback cuff.
• Exercises progressed according to clinical judgment, pain levels, and movement control and quality.

And, the results.

• At 12 months 86% of patients were followed-up.
• There was no clinically-important difference between the groups with respect to change in pain or disability.

The bottom line?
The author concluded, “Lumbar stabilizing exercises appear to have a similar effect on pain and disability for patients with recurrent low back pain as a daily walking program.”

6/18/09 20:10 JR