RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF SPECIFIC SPINAL STABILIZATION EXERCISES AND CONVENTIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR RECURRENT LOW BACK PAIN

Cairns MC, Foster NE, Wright C. Spine 2006;31:E670–81

Background:

Spinal stabilisation exercises are a popular form of physiotherapy management for low back pain (LBP), and previous small-scale studies on specific LBP subgroups have identified improvement in outcomes as a result.

Research question/s:

Does the addition of specific spinal stabilisation exercises to conventional physiotherapy for patients with LBP improve pain and function over a 12-month period?

Methodology:

Subjects: 97 patients with recurrent LBP (age 18­–60 yrs) (70%) provided 12-month follow-up data.

Experimental procedure: Using a stratified randomisation (for laterality of symptoms, duration of symptoms, and disability), subjects were assigned to either “conventional” physiotherapy (CON = 50; general active exercise and manual therapy) or “conventional” physiotherapy plus specific spinal stabilisation exercises (CON+SS = 47). Back-specific functional disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire), pain, quality of life and psychological measures were collected at 6 and 12 month, and 12 months was the primary outcome.

Measure of outcome: Physical functioning (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire) at 12 months.

Main finding/s:

There was improved physical functioning, pain intensity, and physical component of quality of life in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion/s:

In a 12-month follow-up clinical trial, the addition of spinal stabilisation exercises to …