The longitudinal effects of a physical activity programme on the physical fitness and disability of back pain patients: Service evaluation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the longitudinal effect of a group physical activity service to help patients self-manage un-resolving back pain. BACKGROUND: Back pain is one of the most common and costly conditions. Large scale trials have demonstrated a role for less traditional treatment including exercise, yet the long term effects of patient centred, group physical activity programmes remains unclear. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-one un-resolving back pain patients (aged 53 ± 17 years) completed a 6 × 2 h physical activity programme. All activities were relevant to activities of daily living and incorporated activities to develop aerobic fitness, flexibility, core activation, and muscular strength and endurance. Dietary advice, home diaries and pedometers were provided. RESULTS: Measures of back pain, aerobic fitness, muscular endurance and body composition showed significant (p< 0.05) pre-post intervention improvements. Disability rating decreased by 19% alongside improvements in aerobic fitness (15%), back extension (36%) back flexion (16%) and grip strength (5%). Six month follow up identified (p< 0.05) reductions in body fat (6.5%) whilst aerobic fitness, disability rating and muscular strength and endurance remained stable. CONCLUSION: Group physical activity programmes could contribute to the self-management of back pain, enabling sustained improvements in fitness, physical activity and body fatness.