Physiotherapy, muscle conditioning, and aerobics were effective for chronic low back pain

Mannion AF, Muntener M, Taimela S, Dvorak J. A randomized clinical trial of three active therapies for chronic low back pain. Spine. 1999 Dec 1; 24:2435-48. Question: In patients with chronic low back pain (LBP), what is the relative efficacy of physiotherapy, muscle conditioning using training devices, and aerobics/stretching for pain and disability? Design: Randomized (unclear allocation concealment), unblinded, controlled trial with 6-month follow-up. Setting: A hospital in Zurich, Switzerland. Patients: 148 patients who were <65 years of age (mean age, 45 years) and had continual or recurrent low back pain for 3 months that was serious enough to cause absence from work or require medical attention. Other inclusion criteria were the ability to …