Home-based exercise therapy for treating non-specific chronic low back pain

Abstract

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To evaluate pain, functional capacity, and quality of life of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain, after home-based exercise therapy with different kinds of supervision. METHOD Thirty individuals of both gender, between 18 and 65 years old, performed the proposed exercises three times a week, for eight weeks. Group A (N = 17) performed the exercises after a single supervised session. Group B (N = 13) was supervised once a week at the rehabilitation center. Both groups received a booklet with instructions, and questionnaires to evaluate pain, functional capacity and quality of life; during the initial evaluation, after four and eight weeks. RESULTS There was an improvement in pain and functional capacity between the initial evaluation and week 4, and the initial evaluation and week 8 in both groups (p <0.05). In the quality of life evaluation, the criteria for pain, functional capacity, and physical aspects had significant improvement after 8 weeks (p <0.05). There was no difference when comparing groups A and B (p >0,05). CONCLUSION Home-based exercise therapy, when performed in a period of eight weeks, using the booklet, was effective for improving level of pain, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. The weekly supervision did not significantly influence the final outcome between the groups.

Efficacy of an innovative smartphone application for office workers with chronic non-specific low back pain: a pilot randomized controlled trial

“…8 Home exercise programme showed to be effective in treatment of chronic low back pain, but there was low adherence to and improper application of exercises. 6,9 All of these are available in numerous smartphone applications educating patients for self-management of low back pain. However, these applications were not developed by professionals, not based on scientific evidence, and/or their effectiveness was not established.…”

Home physical exercise program: analysis of the impact on the clinical evolution of patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus

“…An important concern about home physical exercise programs is related to patient adherence without supervision. Kanas et al 34 evaluated home exercises in patients with chronic low back pain for a period of eight weeks, comparing two groups, with and without the supervision of a health professional, but with the help of a booklet, and concluded that the latter was effective for pain improvement, functional capacity and quality of life. The supervision did not significantly influence the final result when comparing the groups 34 .…”

“…Kanas et al 34 evaluated home exercises in patients with chronic low back pain for a period of eight weeks, comparing two groups, with and without the supervision of a health professional, but with the help of a booklet, and concluded that the latter was effective for pain improvement, functional capacity and quality of life. The supervision did not significantly influence the final result when comparing the groups 34 . These data corroborate the present study; even with the patients not being personally supervised, they had good adherence to the program and, with the completion of an exercise diary, it was possible to follow the evolution of patients.…”

Letter to the Editor: Tele-rehabilitation of Back Pain Patients in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

“…Evidence reports that home-based exercise therapy, when performed has been found to be effective for improving level of pain, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain [2]. Rehabilitation services by use of digital technology is cost effective, helps to maintain continuity of care, educate patients through remote consultation, also allows for performing a physical assessment, plan a targeted therapeutic exercise program, and monitor patients' progress, providing them continuous supervision and feedback.…”

“…Use of mobile-app platform of the McKenzie extension protocol has comparable clinical outcomes with the traditional clinic-based McKenzie therapy, and thus an effective supplementary platform for care of patients with low-back pain [ 4 ]. Thus, preliminary evidence suggests adopting tele-rehabilitation in substitute of face-to-face physical rehabilitation for improving pain scores and quality of life in patients affected by back pain [ 2 - 4 ].…”