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Running is acceptable and efficacious in adults with non-specific chronic low back pain: the ASTEROID randomised controlled trial
  1. Christopher Neason1,2,
  2. Claire L Samanna1,2,
  3. Scott D Tagliaferri3,4,
  4. Daniel L Belavý5,
  5. Steve J Bowe6,
  6. Matthew J Clarkson7,
  7. Emma A Craige8,
  8. Romina Gollan2,
  9. Luana C Main2,
  10. Clint T Miller2,
  11. Ulrike H Mitchell9,
  12. Niamh L Mundell2,
  13. David Scott2,10,
  14. Jamie L Tait2,
  15. Grace E Vincent8,
  16. Patrick J Owen1,2,11
  1. 1Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. 2Institute of Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
  3. 3Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  4. 4Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. 5Hochschule für Gesundheit (University of Applied Sciences), Department of Applied Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Bochum, Germany
  6. 6School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
  7. 7Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia
  8. 8Appleton Institute, School of Health, Medical, and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
  9. 9Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
  10. 10School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  11. 11Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Associate Professor Patrick J Owen; patrick.owen{at}easternhealth.org.au

Abstract

Objectives Running is one of the most accessible forms of exercise, yet its suitability for adults with chronic low back pain (LBP) is unknown. This study assessed the efficacy and acceptability of running in adults with chronic LBP.

Methods This two-arm parallel (1:1) individually randomised controlled trial allocated 40 participants (mean (SD) age: 33 (6) years, female: 50%) with non-specific chronic LBP to a 12-week intervention or waitlist control. The intervention was a progressive run–walk interval programme comprising three 30-min sessions per week that were digitally delivered and remotely supported by an exercise physiologist. Efficacy outcomes were self-reported pain intensity (100-point visual analogue scale) and disability (Oswestry Disability Index). Acceptability outcomes were attrition, adherence and adverse events.

Results At 12-week follow-up, the intervention improved average pain intensity (mean net difference (95% CI): −15.30 (–25.33, –5.27) points, p=0.003), current pain intensity (−19.35 (–32.01, –6.69) points, p=0.003) and disability (−5.20 (–10.12, –0.24) points, P=0.038), compared with control. There was no attrition, and mean (SD) training adherence was 70% (20%; ie, 2.1 of 3 sessions per week). Nine non-serious adverse events deemed likely study-related were reported (lower limb injury/pain: n=7, syncope associated with an underlying condition: n=1, LBP: n=1).

Conclusions A run–walk programme was considered an acceptable intervention by the participants to improve the pain intensity and disability in individuals aged 18–45 years with non-specific chronic LBP when compared with the control. An individualised and conservative run–walk programme should be considered a suitable form of physical activity for adults with chronic LBP.

Trial registration number Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12622001276741. Registered on 29 September 2022.

  • Exercise training
  • Physical activity
  • Physiology
  • Walking

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request. The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108245

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available upon reasonable request. The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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    Footnotes

    • X @chris_neason, @ClaireLSamanna, @BelavyProf, @mattjclarkson, @LuanaCMain, @PatrickOwenPhD

    • Contributors Guarantor: PJO. Conceptualisation: SDT, DLB, UHM and PJO. Data curation: CN and CLS. Formal analysis: CN. Funding acquisition: DLB, SJB, UHM, DS and PJO. Investigation: CN, CLS and PJO. Methodology: all. Project administration: CN, CLS, SDT and PJO. Resources: PJO. Software: CN and PJO. Supervision: CM, NM, DS and PJO. Validation: SJB and PJO. Visualisation: CN and PJO. Writing—original draft: CN. Writing—review and editing: all.

    • Funding This work was supported by internal funding (Deakin University). DS is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (GNT1174886). CN and CLS are supported by Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of this research.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.